New-York tribune., 1919-08-11
Demands of brotherhood
Leaders for Increase
of ofAbout$8OO, 100000
Likely To Be Granted
Striking king Shopmen
May Be Dismissed
Plumb Plan Likely To Be
Indorsed at National
Conference in October
NeW York Tribune
WGshi3,otO7t Bur.ou

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1O.-A definite
move by President Wilson to meet the
railroad emergency created by the de-
mand of the railroad brothcrhoods for
increases in wages approxmatine
$500, 900 is expected within the next
seven days.
President Wilson is on record as fa-
voring increases in wages where iusti-
fed by advanced living costs. He is on
record also as favoring advances in
freight rates to provide funds if the
pay Of transportation workers is in
creased. The President has the power
to advance both wages and rates and
he is expected ultimately to take this
way out.
The one bar to immediate settlement
is the strike of railroad shop workers
in many parts of the country in viola
tion of the orders of their interna-
tional officers. Many of the strikers
have voted. however, to return to work
tomorrow. Those who Go not return
during the next few days, it is said,
probably will be elected from Iheir
unions and discharged by the Rai,road
Administration so that the nego!ia-
tlons may proceed.
Strikers Press Plumb Plan
Settlement of the wage question will
ease the situation for the present, but
will not dispose of the major demand
of the railroad brotherhoods the
transportation systems be nationalizcd.
hn,. y, J,
question as practically settled, al
though no negotiations have yet been
begun, and are devoting most of their
energies to forwarding the Plumb plan
for government ownership.
A national conference to consider
the entire railroad question, and pass
upon all plans that have been suggest
ed for dealing with it, was called BY the
preliminary conference which met with
the officials of the railroad brother
hoods to-day. The conference will be
statement of principles by Chief JUS
tice Walter Clark, of the Supreme
Court of North Carolina, who acted as
chairman of the preliminary confer
ence, left no doubt that the gathering
in October will indorse the Plumb plan
and organize to put it through.
Principles of Conference
The principles laid down by Justice
Clark on behalf Of the conference
were:
/. 1t is the duty of the govern
ment to provide transportation to
the people at cost;
2. Any plan for final solution of
the railroad problem must provide
for a share by the workers in the
managements and in profits arising
from increased efficiency;
3. Payment to the owners of cap
ital invested in the railroads should
not exceed "the amount actually
necessary to secure their invest
meat.
These principles were approved by a
committee including Governor Allen, of
Kansas; former Governor Dunno, of
Illinois; Frederic c. Howe, Commis-
sioncr of immigration, port Of New
York; Basil Murphy, former joint
chairman of the National War Labor
Board; A. B. Garretson, adviser to the
Order Of Railway Conductors; j. A. II.
Hopkins, of New Jersey, and Glenn E.
Plumb
Plan Denounced by Bourne
The Plumb plan was denounced by
former Senator Jonathan Bourne, jr.,
to-day as tne entering WeuSS III al dl-
tempt to "Bolshevise" the industries Of
the nation He predicted that the
President would yield again to the de-
mands of the railway brotherh oods, and
called upon Congress to stand against
this first onslaught against free gov
ernment in America"
The international officers of the rail-
road brotherhoods will seek a confer
ence with President Wilson early next
week in an effort to find out how he
regards their movement for the demo
crati7aticn Of industry" in the United
States. They VIII seek, and feel conf
dent of ultimately securing, his sup
port for the Plumb plan.
However, the President was so gen.
erously praised III Congress and 80 Wig
orously applauded throughout the
country for his stand in opposing
threats OF strikes In his recent address
that some observers incline to the be-
lief that he might decide 80 take a
position in opposition TO the brother
hoods on their demands Tor railroad
naturalization.
May Ask Appropriation
There is some doubt in Congress that
the President in his present fight
against the high cost Of living will
advance freight rates sufficiently to
meet the wage increases asked by the
brotherhoods. Director General Hines
in a recent statement indicated his
belief that rates could not be greatly