Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-08-29

PROBABILITY only LOT limited IlIu0.
Increases in wages, moreover, GER
| tainly result in still further increas-
ing the costs of production, and,
therefore, the cost of living, and we
should only have to go through the
same process again.
"Any substantial increase of wages
In leading lines of industry at this
! time would utterly crush the general
campaign which the government is
| waging, with energy, vigor and sub
stantfal hope Of success, to reduce the
high cost of living.
"And the increases in the cost of
| transportation which would necessar-
| lily result from increases in the wages
of railway employees would more GER
tainly and more Immediately have that
effect than any other enhanced wage
| costs.
Increase VS.. Fight on n. C. L.
"Only by keeping the cost of produc-
ton on its present level, by increasing
production, and by rigid economy and
saving on the part of the people can
we hope for large decreases in the
burdensome cost of living which now
weighs us down.
"The director general of railroads
and l have felt that peculiar respon-
sibility rests upon us, because in deter
mining this question we are not study
ing the balance sheets of corporations
merely; we are in effect determining
the burden of taxation which muse fall
upon the people of the country in gem
eral. We are acting, not for private
corporations, but in the name of the
government and the public, and must
assess our responsibility accordingly.
"For it is neither wise nor feasible
to take care of increases in the wages
of railroad employees at this time by
increases in freight rates. 1t is i'm
possible at this time, until peace has
come and normal conditions are re-
store, to estimate what. the earning
capacity Of the railroads will be when
ordinary conditions return.
ssThere is no certain basis, there
fore for calculating what the increases
L
necessary, for the time being, at any
rate, to take care OF all increases in
the wages of railway employees
through appropriations from the public
treasury.
TN such circumstances it seems
clear to me, and 1 believe will seem
clear to every thoughtful American,
including the shopmen themselves,
when they have taken second thought,
and to all wage earners of every kind,
that we ought to postpone questions
of this sort until normal conditions
come again and we have the oppor-
tunity for certain calculation as to
the relation between wages and the
cost of living.
1T is the duty of every citizen of
the country to insist upon truce in
such contests until intelligent settle.
ments can be made, and made by
peaceful and effective common cOun-
sell
II appeal to my fellow citizens of
every employment of cooperate in in
sisting upon and maintaining such
truce, and to cooperate also in sus-
tanning the government in what / con-,
ceive to be the only course which con-
scientious public servants can pursue.
Demands unwisely made and pas
sionately insisted upon at this time
menace the peace and prosperity of
the country as nothing else could, and
thus contribute to bring about the
very results which such demands are
intended to remedy.
'There is, however, one claim made
by the railway shopmen which ought
to be met They claim that they are
not enjoying the same advantages that
other railway employees are enjoy
ing because their wages are calculat-
ed upon a different basis. The wages
of other railway employees are based
upon the rule that they are to receive
for eight hours work the same pay
they received for the longer workday
that was the usual standard of the
)re-war period.
Claim Well Founded: Granted.
.This claim is, / am told, well
founded; and / concur in the conclu-
sion of the director general that the
shopmen ought to be given the addi-
tional four cents an hour which the
reimbursement asked for will justify.
sThere are certain other adjust
ments also pointed out in the report
Of the director general, which ought
in fairness to be made, and which will
be made.
'rLet me add, also, that the position
which the government must in con-
science take against general increases
in wage levels while the present ex-
ceptional and temporary circum-
stances exist will Of course not pre-
clude the railway administration from
giving prompt and careful considera-
ton to any claim that may be made
by other classes of employees for re-
adjustments believed to be proper to
secure impartial treatment for all who
work in the railway service.
"WOODROW WILSON,"
CHICAGO BARS ARE RAIDED