The sun., 1919-08-26
MUST RUN
Says Task Is More Difficult
Than That Confronting
Us in War.
HIS APPEAL Is FORCEFUL
Happiness, Prosperity and
Even Life of People In
vOlved, He Writes.

|
WASHINGTON. Aug 25.-Efforts Of
railroad employees throughout the
country to increase railroad wages
generally met with an abrupt halt
to-day when President Wilson took
determined stand against general In
creases at this time.
In acting upon the demands of the
six national unions of railroad shop
men. involving increases approxlmat-
ing $165, 100000 year, the President
issued two direct appeals, one to the
| workmen involved and another to the
American people, to keep a cool head
and steady hand in a time Of ma
tlonal crisis and peril.
The two statements probably are
the most forceful that have come
from the White House since the days
of Theodore. Roosevelt. President
| Wilson urged the most thoughtful
consideration of a grave national sit
uation and declared that demands
uhNiSCIs
sisted upon at this time menace the
peace and prosperity of the country
as nothing else could"
Small Advances Granted.
Increases of cents an hour are
granted to the shopmen for all crafts
with the exception of car repairers
and car inspectors, some Of whom
are Increased 8 cents an hour. The
demands were for increases ranging
| from II to 81 cents an hour.
The Presidents action, which SUD-
ports in full the recommendations Of
Director-General Hines, was based
upon several important questions of
national welfare, which he forcefully
set forth in his appeal to the shop
men and the other organized workers
for second thought.
In an hours conference with the
officers of the six shop unions and
b. M. Jewell, president of the rail-
way employees department Of the
American Federation of Labor, at the
White House President wilson urged
these leaders to set the entire wage
! question before the men, as he had
stated 1t to them, and to ask for
further consideration In this new
light, This the union officers prom
ised to do. In the meantime they will
make no public statement.
Just what action the men will take
cannot Of course be stated. There Is
no Disgusting the fact, however, that
officials on both sides are deeply ap-
prehensive. In many quarters in Of
fetal Washington a nationwide rail-
road strike that would bring disaster
to the country is believed imminent
unless calmer Judgment prevails
among the men.
The American Federation of Labor
is just completing the tabulation of
strike vote among the 100000 or
more men involved. The vote was
upon the question of whether the men
could accept the solution of the wage
demand suggested by Dlrector-Gen-
eral Hines-its settlement by a COM
mission to be created by Congress
or whether they should strike to en-
force their original demands. The
vote Is nearly unanimous for strike
unless the demands are met.
President Wilson stated to the
10, IAn hat
upon mo longer has any life in It,"
and he wants reconsideration by the
men of the situation as he stated IL
TO them and to the American people
Just what the situation will bring
forward must be determined it seems
by the men themselves, and another
vote is regarded as likely. 1t would
take upward Of month to take and
count the vote by mail.
President Wilson's action brought
considerable surprise In many quar-.
ters in Washington. 1t was tine gen.
eral thought that much larger in
crease would he granted than was
provided In the decision. There was
no indication from any source that
the President would take stand
upon railroad wage demands, from
which there appears to be no reces.
sion.
Adds s45, 900 n Year.
Figures on the wage Increases
granted to the men have not been
totalled and tabulated by the Rail.