Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-08
TELLS ShoPMEN TO
RETURN TO WORK OR FOR.
FELT RIGHTS TO RAISE.
WILL NOT NEGOTIATE
WITH plsLoYAL UNioNlsTs
Presidents Action Follows Closely
Notice by Senator Cummins That
President Has Full Power-Direetor
Hines Instructed to Take Up Wage
Increase Question If Men Return.


son took the railroad wage crisis into
his own hands last night and told the
striking railroad shop employees to go
back to work if they wanted their de-
nands for increases considered.
His request for legislation having
been regarded as unnecessary by the
senate committee on interstate COM
merce. the president said a duty had
been imposed upon him TO act and he
did so in no uncertain way in letter
TO Director General Hines. which, In
effect, orders railroad strikers back 10
work and to obey the authority OF
their national organizations.
The president notified the director
general TO inform the railroad shopmen
that their demand for increases would
be considered on its merits, put that:
Until the employees return to work
and again recognize the authority or
their own organization the whole mat
ter must be at a stand3till.
The president also said. referring to
the careful consideration" which the
administration is giving 10 the high
cost of living, that this was time
when every employe of the railways
should help to make the processes of
transportation more easy and econom-
iCal rather than less, and employees
who are on strike are deliberately de-
laying settlement OF their wage prob
lem and of their standard of living
'"They should promptly return to
work" the presidents letter to Direc-
J. hot.
you will urge upon their representa-
tWes the immediate necessity for their
doing So"
Hines Writes 70 Strikers.
Immediately upon receipt of the
presidents letter Director Hines urged
the strikers to return to work in the
following letter:
Washington, d. c.. Aug. Exec
utive Council. Railway Employees De-
partment, Anne rican Federation of La
Dor. B. NJ Jewell. Acting President
Dear Sir: l inclose a letter / have just
received from the president relative TO
the wage matter II is obvious that it
is of the highest importance. not only
in the interest of the public but in the
interest of the employees themselves.
that they shall Immediately return to
work.
Eager 70 Take Up Problem.
The situation having been clarified
by the definite indication that congress
does not wish to take action in the
premises, the railroad administration
stands ready to take up the wage ques-
ton on its merits with the duly accred-
tied international officers and their
authorized representatives as soon as
the employees return to work.
Walker d. Hines.
director General of Railroads"
The Presidents Letter.
Tho presidents letter. written TO
Director General Hines after the latter
had conferred with him regarding the
senate interstate commerce commit
tees decision that no legislation in the
wage issue was necessary, follows:
My Dear Mr.. Director General: i
am just in receipt of letter from SEN
ator Albert r. Cummins, chairman of
the senate committee on interstate
commerce, which sets me free to deal
as think best with the difficult ques-
ton Of the wages of certain classes Of
railway employees. and take advan-
tage of the occasion to. write you this
letter, in order that 7 may, both in the
public interest and interest of the rail-
way employees themselves, make the
present situation as clear and definite
as possible.
Sought Senate's Approval.
II thought it my duty to lay the
question in it's present pressing form
before the committee of the senate,
because I thought that l should not
act upon this matter within the brief
interval of government control remain
ing. without their acquiescence and APP
prevail.
Senator Cummins' letter. which
speaks the unanimous judgment Of the
committee. leaves me free and indeed
imposes upon me the duty to act
THE question Of the wages of rail-
road shopmen was submitted, you will
remember. to the board of railroad
wages and working conditions of the
railroad administration last FEBRUARY,
but was not reported upon by the
board until the 18th Of July.
Delay Couldn't Be Helped.
1.-THE delay was unavoidable because
the board was continually engaged in
dealing with several wage matters at
fecting classes of employees who had
not previously received consideration.
The board now having appraised us Of
it's inability at any rate for the time
being, to agree upon recommendations,
it is clearly your dut yto proceed with
the matter in the hope of disposing of
it,
You are, therefore. authorized to
say to the railroad shop employees that
the question Of wages they have raised
will be taken up and considered on it's
merits by the director general in con-
ference with their duly elected rep
resentatives.
Deal Only With Officials.
II hope that you will make It clear
to the men concerned that the railroad
administration cannot deal with prob
lens of this sort or with any problems
affecting the men, except thru the
duly chosen international officers of
the regularly constituted "rsa,,izst-
tons and their authorized committee.
Matters Of SO various a nature and at
fecting so many men cannot be dealt
with except in this way.
"An action which brings the au-
thority Of the authorized representa-
tives of the organization into question
or discredits it must interfere with, II
not prevent action altogether.
'"The chief obstacle to decision has
been created by the men themselves
| They have gone out on strike and re-
| pudiated the authority OF their officers
| at the very moment when they were
urging action in regard to their inter-