The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-08-14

struction period following the Civil
war Not that there is an immediate
danger of armed attempt to over
come the present body polite and
theories of government, but because
the American Federation OF Labor,
which claims membership of 81
100000 men, is determined that the
ultimatum of 1,S20,660 railroad en-
ployes who demand increased wages
and the naturalization of railways
must be accepted by the congress of
the United States or the transporta-
tion and commerce of the nation will
be tied up through a great national
strike.
In order that the American public
may have full and unbiased under
standing of the extce situation, the
American Mining Congress, represent
ing 65 per cent of the tonnoge ship
ped over American railways, issues
this prepared statement and warning:
MANY misleading statements have
found their way into print during the
past few days. Among them are
stories emanating from railroad men
showing that an excess of 250, 900 shop
men were already out and that the
ranks of the strikers were daily in
creasing According to the official
reports of the Railway Administration
the total number of strikers has not
at any time exceeded 10000 and large
numbers of these men returned to
their work even befare President
Wilson demanded their return. The
total number of shop men employed
in all lines of work is 100000. The
increases in wages demanded by the
shopmen are, by classification, as fol-
lows
Machinists, first class, increase
asked from 68 cents to 85 cents per
hour; tool makers, from 68 cents to
80 cents; tool grinders from 68 cents
to S5 cents; boied makers, sheet metal
workers, coach and locomotive car
penters and painters, from 68 cents
to 85 cents; blacksmiths and cable
splicers, from So cents to S5 cents
hammer runners, from 45 cents to go
cents; riveterS, from 45 cents to 60 |
cents; apprentices, from 25 cents to
35 cents for the first six months and |
from so cents to 60 cents for the |
eighth six months; helper apprentices,
from As cents to 60 cents in the first
six months and from 55 cents to 20
cents in the sixth six months The
total increases estimated by govern
nent analysis for the 1000 shop
men would be S230,000,00O per year.
In addition the retroactive increase
demanded from January 1st until the
Increase is granted, which could not
)e before September 1st, would mean
IN actual bonus of $153, 1888, 1872.
In addition to the demands of the
hop men already analyzed, there are
low before Director Hines and his
associates, demands for similar in
reases in wages covering practically
III of the remaining employees. The
hopmen have given flat ultimatum 5
hat unless their increases are granted
efore August oath all work in the !
hops in the United States railroads t
will cease. The total wages paid for |
he calendar year of 1918 was ST. +
81 ,884,559. The number of hours i
worked during the year was 4,929,-
85,725. The total increase demanded s
nder the brotherhood plan would t
mean about $800,000,00O and the ret :
oactive application of these from
anuary 1, 1919, would reach the +
rand total of 465,00O,0OO The in
reased wage for the year, added to :
he bonus demanded would make a 6
rand total of $1,265 100000 and
otal per capita tax would be levied
gainst every man, woman and child 9
l the entire United States, of $12.65 +
rhich would mean to the average
amily of five persons an excess of =
$500. This. tax would be levied :
gainst SO per cent of the population :
the United States for the benefit 7
the other 2 per cent.
The number of railroad employees '
/ the United States previous to the I
overnment control was 1,723,732 !,
hey received in wages $1,730, ,057 ,342. y
he increase in 1918 from 1917 in the q
of employees was Sc The :
crease for wages alone in 1918 over y
III reached $S5,S27, PIT, and the &c. l.
'6 added employees increased the =
Terage hours of work but 4.6 The
lcrease Of employees under the c
our day law is accompanied by an II
crease in traffic represented by 2.7
sr cent increase in revenue ton u
lies and per cent in revenue pas
niger miles In 1918 there was a II
tai decrease of 5.3 in the total train L
ileage, while February 1919, as cam
lred with December 1917, showed e
total increase in employees of 8 per :.
mt and decrease in the total hours v
4 per cent In other words, ac-
riding to the statistics of the Rail
ay Administration, the increases in
npIoyes alleged to have been caused ..
rough an establishment of the s. u
'ur day, and the increase in wages a
legged to have been necessary to L
eet the increased expenses of liv- q
g. have resulted in a decrease in d
ficiency according to the evidence v
veloped in the hearing this week II
fore the Congressional committee, dt
ans are being made to raise by sub tn
ription or otherwise, money to the L
lout of $2,500,00O and "ten million re
necessary" for the purpose of ed p
ating the public to the so-called b.
umb Plan of operation of the the BY
ilroads, which will not be a pur en-
ase of the railroads of the United ca
ates, but in effect and in fact, a fl
zure by congress at the behest of
IS than 100000 railroad men back ns
by 2,500000 additional members of tn
} Federation of Labor and the in re
llation of communistic theory of tn