The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-08-07
WILSON PROPOSAL
REJECTED BY MEN
Rail Men Say Only Big Increases
Prevent Strike.
CHIEFS ATTEND CONFERENCE
Stone Repeats Statements He Made
to President in Presence of Lead
ers Of 100000 Workers at
n. c. of L. Meet.


Washington, Aug. 5.-Ofiicials of the
six big railway shopmens unions told
President Wilson they could not APP
prove of his plan for the settlement of
railway wage problems and asked the
Immediate granting of increases aver
aging approximately. % per cent, which
were demanded last January.
Declaring that 100000 shop men al
ready have walked out on "unauthor-
tied strike" the union officials said
If there Yves further delay in granting
the demands the situation would get
beyond their control
The union leaders on leaving the
president announced that they were
cndeavoring to have all the strikers re-
turn to work 50 that IL n strike be-
came necessary it could be called in
the regular manner.
Want Immediate Action.
+. NJ. Jewell. acting president of the
railway employees department of the
American Federation of Labor head
ed the delegation, which was composed
of W. II. Johnson Of the machinists;
Fred c. Bolam of the hlackSmiths and
helpers; William Atkinson of the boil
ermakerS; ]. 7. NOonan, electrical
workers, and Martin +. Ryan of the
railway car men.
Mr.. Jewell said that all railway
workers were opposed to the presi-
dents plan to have congress settle the
wage problem and that such a plan
would fail and fan of its own weight.
He said immediate action was nee
essary and that the proposal for con-
gresSional commission would be too
slow a process.
The executive coupcil of the railway
employees department of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor went into con-
ference with President wilson. 1t was
said the union officials expected to re-
ceive some assurance that the govern
ment would hasten its steps toward re-
Iieving the high cost Of living or Civ
ing adequate increases in wages to on
set the growth in prices.
All railroad officials now in Wash
ington were asked by Director Cen
eral Hines to meet with him for con
ference on the high cost of living.
Besides the chiefs Of the engineers
and railway trainmen, who already
have made demands for increased
wages to meet high living costs, the
heads of the other two brotherhoods
md of the organizations of the shop
men and clerks attended the meeting.
Thus majority of the 100000 rail-
road workers was represented.
Why Appeal Is Made to Congress.
Mr.. Hines explained to the railway
men that he had asked President Will
son to have congress take up the ques-
ton of increased wages because he be-
lieved the railroad administration vir-
tually had been shorn of the power
to increase rates to meet such adj
vances.
The director general said passage of
a bill by the senate to restore to the
interstate commerce commission its
power to suspend proposed increases
was tantamount to putting the direc-
tor general on notice that congress dis
approved of increases except by the
rate-making body.
Mr.. Hines also explained the finan-
cial situation of the railroad admins
tratlon and invited the railroad men to
give any suggestions they cared to
have Incorporated in the bill which he
plans to present to congress,
Warren S. Stone grand chief of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
repeated to Mr.. Hines the statements
ne made to President Wilson that new
wage increases would only mean an
other cycle of increasing prices and
that the situation growing out of the
high cost of living could best be met
by return to normal economic condi-
lions.
In the discussion of high prices, the
talk turned frequently to shoes, with
several speakers charging gross prof
itcering. One union man declared he
recently attempted to buy n pair Of
shoes and was asked to pay 70 cents
more than he previously had paid for
n pair Of the same lot. When he asked
the reason he was told the increase
was to offset increased freight charges.
He pointed out that the freight on
pair of shoes would he less than five
cents
100000 More Make Demand.
Four hGndred and fifty thousand
members of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way and Steamship Clerks, Freight
Handlers, Express and Station EN-
ployecs today Joined with other rail
way workers in demanding that I'M
less something he done materially to
vcduce the cost Of living our wages
must be raised to give us immediate
yelicf." The demands have been trans
1nitted 10 the railroad administration,
]. J. FORESTER, president Of the broth
.rhood announced.