New-York tribune., 1919-08-29

case of the steel workers and their
threatened strike is cited as being
salicntly in point.
May Demand Participation
But beyond these specific matters the
council Will at this session deliberate
regarding definite formulation of
iaoors position, in the present time
or ftux and change, respecting a new
relation between labor and canital
looking to larger degree of labor
anticipation in the direction of in
dustry
This general subject will be consid
cred in connection with direct partisan
political action by organized labor
such as that proposed by the new Labor
party One outcome of the councils
deliberations may be an Endorsement of
the suggestion that national confer
ence of capital and labor be called to
lay down new general principles gov
erning their cooperation. Secretary of
the Interior Lane to-day made a public
statement urging the President to call
such conference at once, and the A.
+. of l.. council may adopt resolution
favorng such a course.
The letters addressed to the locals
by the executive committee of the shop
men begins by quoting the letter re-
~. II,
man of the Board of Railroad Wages
and Working Conditions, by Director
General Hines, which is held to be ct
such Importance as warrants the
placing of it in the hands Of the entire
membership"
The Hines letter is interpreted by
the committee to mean that "there
shall be no further general increase
in railroad wages unless the efforts of
the United States authorities prove un-
availing in reducing the present high
living cost" and from it the conclusion
is reached that the shopmen will be
treated equally with the other 78 per
cent Of railway employees in the in
crease of wages that "must and will be
made" if the cost of living is not re-
duced. The letter concludes as fol-
lows:
"If the federated shop trades strike
now, they carry the full burden of Sc
curing the same general increase for the
have not yet decided what action they
propose to take. We do not believe
that we should allow ourselves to be
placed in that position.
Ninety Days VIII Decide
"In our opinion tho next ninety days
will bring the entire situation to q
head, and il strike is to take place
every class Of railroad employees should
be willing to join i'll the movement,
share their full measure Of RESPONSE
decided by the 22 per cent OF the rail
road employees represented by the fed
Grated trades.
"The adjustment in wages that has
been offered to the federated shop
trades, if accepted will establish in
creases that are practically equivalent
to the increases granted any other
class of railroad employees. This must
not be lost sight Of in considering the
situation we now face. 1t is conceiv-
able that men may decide TO do q thing
in a manner that Will lessen their
chances Of ultimate success, but com
mon sense dictates that % per cent of
the railroad employees should not un-
dertake to fight the battle for IS per
cent who have asked for general wage
increases, and VINO have been denied,
as we have, any further general in-
creases, unless the effort to increase
the purchasing value Of the dollar by
reducing living costs prove unsuc-
cessful
Some UniOnists Unreasonable
with reasonable degree of Ger
talnty, we recognize that this letter
coupled with the recommendation we
propose to make, will draw criticisms
from the individuals in our organiza-
tions who have not yet indicated
desire to listen to reason or abide by
any criticism not of their own making
There is not now. nor has there
ever been. objection TO honest criti-
clsm. Such criticism is not objection
able; on the contrary, it is welcome.
and this comment is made for the eX-
press purpose of directing the atten-
ton of the membership to members
who have by various means introduced
methods of procedure which must ap-
peal to every right thinking union man
as being detrimental to the organiza-
tion we have perfected as the result Of
thirty years untiring effort and gen
orally against every obstacle that could
be invented to defeat us.
I'm view of the facts as above stated
your executive officers and national
agreement committee recommended that
the question of suspending work be
left in our hands, with the understand
ing that no strike order will be issued
unless such action becomes absolutely
necessary to meet the conditions aris-
ing from the present situation, or in
joint action with other railroad organ
lZatlons tor general wage increase.
THE above recommendation is msde