The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-08-08
HIGH COST PUT up ]
/ TO THE PRESIDENT.
Railroad Engineers Ask Him to
Force Down Prices
-PRoFlTEERlNG IS CHARGED
Breaking OF Endless Chain OF Price
And Wage Increases Asked-Great
Interests Declared Conscience
less In Extortion.

WaSnlngJOn.-Wafr stone, preSl.
dent Of the Brotherhood of Locomo
tive Engineers, and the advisory board
Of that organization requested Presi'
dent Wilson and his Cabinet to take
immediate steps to lower the cost of
living. Otherwise, the President was
told, wage increases will be asked. The
request was in the form of a state.
ment, presented personally to the Pres.
ident by Stone and other members Of
the delegation.
The statement charges conscience
less profteering" and expresses the
belief that wage increase would bring
only temporary relief. in view Of con-
tinually soaring prices, and in effect
asks that the endless chain" of wage
increases followed by price increases,
be broken.
AT a meeting of this board, held in
Cleveland, the matter of an increase in
compensation commensurate with the
condition we find because of the con.
stantly increasing cost of living COM
modities was thoroughly and studious'
ly considered We know that wide
spread spirit of unrest exists among all
classes, especially among wage-earn-
ers whose wages will no longer pro-
vide adequate food, shelter and raj
ment for themselves and families.
I'VE believe this situation is brought
about mainly by conscienceless prof.
teering by the great interests which
have secured control of all the neces
saries Of life. At this time we find our.
selves obliged to again request an in
crease in wages to meet the mounting
cost of living, but we feel that, should
this request be granted, the relief
would be but temporary should prices
continue to soar.
I'VE believe the true remedy for the
situation, and one that will result in
lifting the burden under which the
whole people are struggling, is for the
Government to take some adequate
measures to reduce the cost of the nee
essaries of life to figure that the
present wages and income of the peo-
pie will meet. Should this not be con-
sidered feasible, we will be forced to
urge that those whom we represent be
granted an increase in wages to meet
the dollar, be that what it may, which
can be easily determined by competent
authority.
''This action may be unique and it
may be properly termed a pioneer
movement in the history Of labor or
CARNATIONS in seeking an audience
with the Chief Executive of our coun-
try and, in a manner, suggesting to
him the converting Of the members Of
his Cabinet, or that portion that may
be quickly assembled. Moreover, the
result sought seems to us to justify
the means, and should our efforts in
this direction completely fail, then we
will be forced to request for those
whom we represent the granting Of
an increase in wages to enable them
to live according to the American
standard.
I'VE invite your attention to the fact
that approximately II per cent. of the
locomotive engineers are American
born citizens, and it may be safely
stated that the remaining per cent. are
naturalized citizens, and they have, OF
course, a great interest in not only
their own welfare but in the welfare
of all the people, and they are not UNI
mindful of your past efforts in behalf
of the people, and they believe that
they should exert every effort not only
for themselves but for the country in
general, as well as the administra-
lion. Yet we find ourselves today
earning less money then we did prior
the war. This can be demonstrated
by simply taking. as an illustration, a
daily wage of SIS prior to the war,
which at that time was worth 500
cents, and today it is worth approx
mately. judging from competent au-
thority, only $2.15.
$50, while it may be stated that we
have had substantial increase in COM
pensation, when considering the dol
lar only as medium of exchange, our
income has been substantially de-
creased when compared with pre-war
prices"