Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-08-08
Rai|roaders Must Recognize
Authority of Organization or
Matter at StandstiII, Presi-
dent Informs Them.~ @
WALL STREET LOOTS
ROADS,. PLUMB SAYS
Financiers Have Systematic
ca|Iy P|undered Transporta-
tion Facilities for Years,
He Tells House Committee.
By The Associated Press.

Washington, Aug. President
Wilson tonight notified Director
General Hines that he was author
lied to take up the demands of~xail-
road shop employees for higher
wages and decide them on their
merits.
The president said the letter sent
him by Senator Cummins, chairman
of the committee on interstate COM
merce. "had set me free o~deal as
| think best with the difficult ques-
tion of the wages of certain classes
of the railroad employees" but
added:
THE chief obstacle to decision
has been created by the men them
selves. They have gone out on a
strike and reppdiated the authority
of their officers at the very moment
when they were urging action In
regard to their interests"
The presidents decision was an
nounced from the White House in.
the form of letter sent by him to
Mr.. Hines, The president said that
until the employees return to work
and again recognize the authority
of their organization. the whole
matter must be at standstill."
Presidents Letter.
The presidents letter follows:
MY Dear Mr.. Director General:
81 am just in receipt of the letter
from Senator Albert B. Cummins,
chairman of the senate committee of
interstate commerce, which set me
free to deal as l think. best with the
difficult question of the wages of.
certain classes of railway employees.
and | take advantage of the occa-
sion to write you this letter, in order
that | may both in the public in
terest and interests of the railroad
employees themselves, make the
present situation as clear and def
mite as possible. ,' A.
"I thought it my duty to lay the
question in its present pressing
form before the committee of the
senate, because I thought l should
not act upon this matter within the
brief interval of government con-
troll remaining, without their ac-
quiescence and approval. Senator
Cummins' letter. which speaks fhe
unanimous judgment of the COM
mittee, leaves me free and indeed
imposes upon me the duty to act
Must Dispose of Matter.
"The question of the wages Of
railroad shopment was submitted.
you will remember, to the board of
railroad wages and working con-
ditions on the railroad administra-
ton last February, but was not re-
ported upon by the board until the
10th of July. The delay was un-
avoidable, because the board was
continuously engaged in dealing
with several wage matters affecting
classes of employees who had not
|pfeviously received consideration.
The board now having apprised US
of this inability, at any rate for The
time being, to agree upon recon-
mendation, it is clearly our duty to
proceed with the matter in the hope
of disposing of it.
You are therefore authorized 10
say to the railroad shop employees
that the question of wages they
have raised will be taken up and
considered on its merits by the di-#
Eector general in conference with
their duly accredited representatives.
| hope that you will make it clear
to the men that the railroad admin