The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-08
SOLUTION OF STRIKE PUT
UP TO MEN BY PRESIDENT
Tells Director General Hines Will Do Nothing
on Increases Until Men Return to Work
and Recognize Own Union Heads.
hnnot Treat With Men Save Through Duly Authorized
Union Leaders Hines Has No New Plans, but it Is
Evident Any Increase in Wage Must Be Met
NJ hY Increase in Freight Passenger Rates.

washing eoh, aug o. La cCIOi :
General Hines today awaited word
from the unions that all of the strik-
ing shopmen had returned to work
before undertaking to carry out
President Wilson's instructions to
settle the wage controversy on it's
merits. The telegraph system of the
railroad administration was put at
the disposal of the union officers and
should go back to the job went out
to 500 local chairmen.
Until the men have resumed work,
railroad administration officials said
they would not discuss the procedure
to he employed in adjusting the wage
demands. AS the shipments reasons
for wanting a rs per cent. increase
have. been considered thoroughly by
the board of railroad wages and
working conditions. which divided
three to three, 1t was believed possi-
BILE that the evidence in that case
would be put Immediately before the
director general for a decision.
Other unions have demands pend
ing, however, which will necessitate
the presentation of evidence and to
, hear this a new board may be con-
stituted or the old board enlarged to
twelve in accordance with the sug-
gestions of union men. Equal rep
resentation between the two sides
would be retained, but men specially
qualified to deal with the subject in
hand would be appointed to handle
the different classes of wages.
Mr. Hines is understood to con-
slider that. two main points are in
yolved in the settlement of wage de-
mands: First-How much has the
cost Of living increased beyond the
INCREASE In wages; and second, what
are the wages being paid in other in
dustries for the same class of work.
Any advances granted will be
proportioned to enable the employees
10 maintain their standard of life
ana to retain competent men who
might otherwise be attracted to other
employment.
Washington, Aug. 3.-With the
declaration by President Wilson that
until the men return to work and
again recognize the authority of their
own organization the whole matter
OF wage increases must be at a stand
still the next step in the railroad
strike situation, thus put squarely up
TO the employees themselves, was be-
Ing awaited today. The few reports
that had been received early today
indicated willingness on the part
OF some of the striking shopmen to
he
believed nearly all of the 10000 n,n
reported idle yesterday would follow
suit.
President Wilson's statement was
contained in communication to Di-
rector General Hines, in which the
director general was authorized to
take up the wage demands of the
brotherhood members and decide
them on their merits It followed a
letter received by the president from
Chairman Cummins, of the senate
interstate commerce committee, in |
which was expressed THE opinion of !
the committee that the chief execu-
tive had ample authority to deal with |
the situation growing out of the de-
mands of the railroad men without |
additional legislation by congress.
Must Take II Up.
After synoptical discussion of the |
shopmen's wage demands, which were
submitted to the board of railroad
wages and working conditions last
February, but which were unavoid-
ably delayed because other wage mat
ters that had right of way were be-
ing considered, Mr.. Wilson in his let
ter to Mr.. Hines said: TT is clearly
our duty to proceed with the matter
in the hope of disposing of it." At
the same time he expressed the hope
that the director general would make
1t clear to the men concerned that
the railroad administration cannot
deal with any problems affecting
them except through the duly chosen
officers and committees of their or
ganizations.
the present case, he wrote, was Gre
Rted by the men themselves in that
they had gone out on strike and re-
pudiated the authority of their Off
GERS "They should promptly return
to work." he wrote, land hope you
will urge upon their representatives
the immediate necessity for their do
lng So"
Mr.. Hines Immediately notified the
unions of the presidents decision, in
closing a copy of Mr.. Wilson's letter
and announcing that he was ready
70 take up the questions involved "as
soon as the employees return to work"
There still was no indication today
as to how Mr.. Hines would attempt
TO settle the matter should the rail-
way men agree to call off the strike
now on and those contemplated.
Since the railroad administration is
operating at a loss, any increase in
wages would have to be met by an
advance in freight and passenger
afas or fhrnnph conversational an