The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1919-08-28
PRESIDENT APPEALS TO PUBLIC
War Demands of Railway Shopmen
Postponed by President.

Washington, Aug. .25-The Presl'
dents statement addressed to the
public follows:
"My fellow citizens:
"a situation has arisen in con-
nection with the administration OF
the railways which is of such general
significance that think it my duty
to make a public statement concern
ing it, in order that the whole coun-
try may know what is involved.
1.-The railroad shopmen have de-
manded a large increase in wages.
They are now receiving fifty-eight
sixty-three and sixty-eight cents per
hour. They demand eighty-five cents
per hour. This demand has been
given careful and serious considera-
tion by the board which was consti-
tuted by the railroad administration
to adjust questions of wages, a
board consisting of an equal number
of representatives of employees and of
the operating managers of the rail-
road companies. This board has been
unable to come to an agreement and
it has therefore developed upon the
director general of railroads and my
self to act upon the merits Of the case.
Case Not Parallel.
"The shopmen urge they ale en-
titled to higher wages because of the
higher wages for the present received
by men doing similar work in ship
yards, navy yards and arsenals, as
we'll as in a number of private in
but 1 concur with the direc-
tor general in thinking that there is
no real basis of comparison between
the settled employment afforded me-
chanics by the railroads under living
conditions as various as the location
and surroundings of the railway
shops themselves and the fluctuating
afforded in Industries ex-
ceptionally and temporarily stimulat-
ed by the war and located almost
without exception in industrial CEN
ters where the cost of living is high
est.
"The substantial argument which
the shopmen urge is the very serious
increase in the cost of living. This is
a very potent argument indeed. But
the fact is that the. cost of living
has certainly reached its peak and
will be probably lowered by the eff
forts which are now everywhere being
and carried out. 1t will GER
tainly be lowered so soon as there
are settled conditions of productions
and of commerce, that is so soon as
the treaty of peace is ratified and in
operation and merchants, manufac-
turers. farmers, miners all have a
certain basis of calculations as to
what their business will be and what
the conditions will be under which it
must be conducted, therefore and all
similar demands are in effect this:
THAT We make increase in wages,
which are likely to be permanent in
order to meet temporary situation
which will last nobody can certainly
tell how long, but in all probabili-
ties only for limited time. Increase
In wages will, moreover, certainly re-
suit in still further increasing the
costs of production and. therefore,
the cost of living and we should only
have to go through the same process
again. Any substantial increase Of
wages in leading lines Of industry at
this time would utterly crush the
general campaign which the govern
ment is waging with energy, vigor
and, substantial hope of success, TO
reduce the high cost of living. And
the increase in the cost Of transporta-
tion which would necessarily result
from increased in the wages of rail
way employees would more certainly
and more Immediately have that eff
feet than any other enhanced wage
costs. Only by keeping the cost of
production on its present level, by
increasing production and by rigid
economy and saving On the part OF
the people can we hope for large de-
creases in the burdnsome cost Of liv-
ing which now weights us down."
THE Dirtcor General of Railroads
and have felt that peculiar respon-
sibility rests upon us because in de-
termining this question We are not
studying the balance sheets of cor
porations but in effect determining
the burden of taxation which must
fall upon the people of the country
in general. We are acting not for
private corporations, but in the name
of the government and the public,
and must assess our responsibility
accordingly. For it is neither wise nor
feasible to take care of the increases
in the wages Of railroad employees at
this time by increasing freight rates.
1t is impossible at this time, until
peace has come and normal condi-
tions are restored, to estimate what
the earning capacity of the railroads
will be when ordinary conditions re-
turn. There is no certain basis. there
fore, for calculating what the in
creases of freight rates should be, and
it is necessary, for the time being al
any rate. to take care of all employees
through appropriations from the pub.
lie treasury.
Would Postpone Action.
''In such circumstances it seems
clear to me, and l believe will seem
clear to every thoughtful American