The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-05
I.....
Higher Wages or Reduction
in Living Costs, Say Rail
Men to President.
THREATEN A BIG TIEUP
Speedy Action by Congress
or Plumb Plan of Oper-
alton Sought.
GET HEARING TOMORROW
Other Labor Leaders Act With
BrothesPoods in Drive for
Government Ownership.
Special Despatch to The suN.

WASHINGTON, Aug. r. Haiiroad
Strikes all over the country were
called off to-day by the union leaders.
but only pending the taking Of strike
votes throughout the various organi-
cations. With all railroad employees
united for the first time in history,
their drive for Government owner
ship is now In full swing and the halt
in the strike means only temporary
relief.
Developments in the railroad situa-
tion came thick and fast to-day, with
these features outstanding:
Though the strikes are called off
union leaders repeated to the Presi
dent and to Director General Hines
that they would have great difficulty
in keeping their men from striking
even pending the strike votes.
Union leaders conferred with Presi-
dent Wilson and Director General
Hines, demanding of the latter that
he act ON their demands and not
pass the buck to Congress.
Leaders or the employees organi-
zations denied any attempted coercion
in their campaign. despite the plain
threat put ont by them two days ago,
ami itsSrepetitIon since then.
Wilson'S wage Board Discarded.
Opposition was expressed by the
Il ,IInnSa Intnpstuta lsnr,, IN aro.. Commit
tee 10 the wage board sought by the
/ President on the ground that 1t would
emaSculnte the powers of the Inter
state Commerce Commission. and
bill was reported giving the commits
sion its pre-war rate powers.
Evidence that the railroad clerks
nre thoroughly in sympathy with the
other workers and Will take action
with them t,to enforce their joint
demands.
| Railway clerks, freight handlers. ex-
| press and station employees, with
100000 members. and many other
bodies of railway employees which
We're not organized two years ago
have lined up behind the demands of
the Brotheiiood and the American
! Federation of Labor for the so-called
Decentralization Of industry, begin
ming with the railroads.
Leaders of virtually all the rail
goads are prepared to oppose the rec
concentrations of the President and
Director-General Hines for solution
by Congress.
In fnce of the formal statement tina
there was no effort at coercion b. NJ.
| Jewell, head of the railway depart
ment of the American Federation ot
| Labor, made the statement that the
country would he tied up tight In
September unless abor's demands were
met. He said that the shopmen were
voting on the issue, and there was
little doubt in the minds of union Of
hcIals that the. shopmen would have
to receive a $165 100000 increase or
strike.
Marrow Choice Ii Given.
In the view of Mr.. Jewell only one
of two alternatives Will prevent
paralyzing strike-first, speedy action
by Congress in furnishing cash to
meet these wage demands or speedy
adoption of the so-called Plumb plan,
Sr similar scheme for the operation
and control of the railroads.
Labor leaders in Washington ex-
press the view that the Plumb plan
should be carried to other basic in
dustries, such as the steel industries
Eirector-General Hines summoned
the representatives of all the fourteen
railroad organizations In Washington
| TO a conference. He told them the
Railroad Administration was power
less to grant the relief they asked
without Congress action. He indi-
Gated to them that Congress was dis
posed to place the rate making power
back in the hands of the Interstate
p, Comn'o.C" commission ana that the
Railroad Administration was without
the necessary funds. He told them
: that everything possible was being
done TO grant relief and outlined some
Of the step InuugurHted by him TO
bring down the cost Of living, as was
outlined by the brotherhoods.
The labor Representatives, however,
cid not recede from their announced