The Washington herald., 1919-08-29
Then Allow Wages to De-
crease as Living Costs ar,
Hammered Down, Bryar
Urges IN Statement tc
The Public Last Night.
A. F. OIL. EXECUTIVES
IN SESSION IN THIS CITY
Shopmen sOhcials Agreete
Abide with President's
Request for Truce; Lane
Asks for Conference oi
Employees and Labor.

William Jennings Brun, h
Washington last night, announce,
that he does not agree with Presi
dent Wilson's suggested solutior
Of wage disputes by lowering Iiy.
ing costs.
The Presidents propositfor
docs not quite meet the situation
said BRYAN.
He offered what he terms !
fairer plan. Under /, The exten,
10 which prices hzv, increased
would be determined. and wagcr
would be raised proro-tionatcIv
The increases would Be temporary
and subject to reduction whc-
prices are lowered.
Bryan's disagreemen, with IN,
leader of hi. party arous,F r--a,
interest in political circle =
some quarters It Va predicted
the Nebrasksn will cndczvo- Il
put himself forth as the politics,
leader Of elements hardes' HI, hv
high prices, and most a~ti~, :r
efforts 10 force = chang in N,
economic situation
Statement strateFicsIIy T1m~d.
Issuance OF his statement wEy 4trr,.-
eR1cally timed. ~ was pointed out
The executive council Of the Amer
ican Federation Of labor IS meeting
in extraordinary session 10 atternpt
10 evolve a policy for labor in what
President Wilson has termed an eI-
ceedinglv acute situation Steer and
iron workers are restive. demanding
higher wages and better working con
ditiOns. and IN some instances strfk-
ing to enforce their demands Al
ratlrosd workerr have asked in
creases
II Bryan wishes 70 pront by thl.
condition and by the tendency L,
radicslism IN many sections Of tn.
country. he has chosen an oppo-~
tune moment. Observer say
Bryan Explains His Plan.
Here is the statement issued BY
Bryan
II the wage question IL based ~
the theory that the cost OF living has
advanced more rapidly than wages
SO that measured by their purchasins
power wages are really lower than
they were before the increase in the
living cost began. It seems 70 me thsr.
can be no reasonable answer given
10 tho demands Of wage esrners. The
Presidents position does not quit,
meet the situation; to say thAs ws
hope 10 reduce the level of prices
does not relieve the situation. orrt
because no guarantees can be Ffven
that a reduction will he made, ~
what It will be q made. and second
the temporary injustice IL not oured
and no one Is able TO say how Iona
the temporary injustice VIII conttnu.
+ even II il IS permanently remedied
r "A fairer plan would be 20 hnd out
As quickly as possible the e1ao,
changes in the level OF prices ana
. therefore the amount needed-thsi
ought not to take many days-snd
7 then allow an increase sufficient 70
cover that on condition Il is tempor-
ary and Will be proportionately ~
duced as the cost Of living Is reduoed.
/ This gives an immediate remedy and
vet makes II only temporary II the
. level Of prices is reduced"
National Leaders Back Wilson.
! other developments OF the day indi-
/ Gated that the national -s-s OF
( labor are willing to sts he
! President g. - -
/ industrio
dvwr pri, Leaders expressed some
fear. how 4. that they will not
be able 70 hold 'he rank and file OF
their organizations in check. psrtsco-
larry shopmen and steel and iron
workers.
Omcials Of tho shopmen's unions
| showed their Willingness to acoed.
I 10 the Presidents -uuEestion that
/ they accept fow w-cCnt-sn-hour In
CONTINUED on PAGE THRxK