The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-08-25
Wages #
RhI[fOAD
EMP PLOYES
President Wilson Devotes
Whole Attention to Labor
Situation at Conference
This Afternoon.
SHOPMEN ASK FOR RAISE
Rail Director Hines May Give Answer
Today to Demand for an
Increase In
Wagca
SHOPMEN ASK FOR RAISE

EBy Ralph F. Couch, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25-President
Wilson today cancelled all engage
ments except one, to give his whole
attention to the railroad labor sttua-
ton which he will take up at 2:1S p.
10. at a conference with Rail Director
Hines and officials of the railroad
shopmen's union.
Shopmen at the conference expect
to receive an answer to demands Tor
wage increases averaging twenty-five
per cent put forward by 50O,o0o
workers.
/ Rail Director Hines Friday closed q
series Of conferences with shopmen
union officials, at which the demands
were put up to him by President Burt
M. Jewell, Of the railway department,
American Federation of Labor, ana
other union heads.
Railroad shop machinists now are
receiving sixty-three cents an hour'
They are asking eighty cents. Their
demands include clause providing
that the seventeen cent increase ask
eo be made retroactive from January
n This clause alone would mean the
expenditure of millions, rail officials
say.
Union officials said they had been
notified they might expect an answer
from Hines today.
nationwide vote of all shopmen
on the question of strike is being
counted today at headquarters OF the
American Federation of Labor. The
polls closed last midnight.
The ballots contained two questions.
whether union officials should accede
10 the plan proposed by President
Wilson. that the demands be heard
and passed upon by special commls-
sion to be appointed under law 10
he passed by congress, or whether tne
men want to stand on their full de-
mands.
A circular accompanying the ballots
explained that it might be necessary
to call a strike to gain the full de-
mands.
Rallots already counted indicate
strong sentiment in favor or strlhe
unless the full demands are granted
tit was learned at American Feoera-
ton of Labor headquarters.
President Burt NJ. Jewell OF tne
railway department, A. F. OF L., sala
today he fears moro unauthorlzeu
strikes if an unfavorable answer
should be made public immedlateiy.
For this reason he planned 10 ASH
Hines not to make public MS answer
until union officials have had une 10
transmit it to the local unions 'o
gether with their recommendauons-
IF Hines grants the full oenahas
we shall make no objection 10 slSlns
the full details to the public imllieaF
ately," said Jewell. .,,
! The railroad labor situation WIN
respect to the shopmen became acute
three weeks ago when Rall Dlrec'ol
Hines received the recomm enaatioil'
Z NJ the adjustment board on the shop
mems demands that increased h'ins
costs had reduced the buying power OF
the wages now received oy 'ie s'Ao'
men.
resenting organized laoor' in
nlended an immediate wage lncled
The other three members, represent
ing railroad managers, recolnIne,'ie
rat the government try 10 avoid an
s,.osa Of this time by taking steps
tt, reduce prices rr.,-
-o, mot the whole matter be put up
to congress, .ba
MANY shopmen throughout the
oountrv took this TO be refusal 20
ersnt their demands and began un,
ss-.+borized strikes which ended after
prasident II.s.s Wilson ordered Hines not
~ reopen negotiations with the shop
non ~ mil the strikes were terminated
investigation Ordered.
| 2S-klll
0irector Hines today ordered an I'M
-,aSiate investigation OF the railroad
labor conditions in Los Angeles