El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-08-27
Will. THE SHOPMEN TAKE THE RAISE
OR COURT DISASTER WITH A.STRIKE?f

DRESIDENT WILSON'S proposal to representatives of
the six railroad shop crafts that the wages Of shopmen
De increased about four cents hour the basis Of
hours pay for eight hours work viii be received with
mixed emotions by the American public. Those
been earnest declaring that the shop crafts already
ngny pad and should receive no increase VIII be dis
appointed at the presidents suggestion while others who
expressed sympathy with the shipments demands viii be
disappointed also but because the 1un 25 percent increase
asked by the demand has not been acceded to by Mr.
Wilson Perhaps body of public sentiment larger THAI
either Of those above named viii relief the
suggested increase is larger and viii hope that the
sh0pmen accept It instead Of holding for their original
demands There is certainty however that the pres
dents ofer VIII be accepted by the raiToades It merely
has been submitted to them by their representatives for
acceptance rejection.
While the increase is to be four cents an hOur-arger
IN some cases such as the raise Of getting So cents
hour to g. ceHts-t actually viii be much greater
that because Of the provision that the to get
hours pay for eight hours work So the base VIII be
$50 While dispatches do 90 into the matter of
time, it probably would be computed the Of time
and half, making dollar hour. So If the work
ten hours instead Of eight their pay viii be about $50
day they accept the presidents offer. This Tate is
specified TO apply to certain classes Of shopmeu in
spectors and repairmen."
President Wilson told the committee of 100 representing
The shop crafts that any greater increase would
greatly increase the cost Of living and therefore would
be inadvisable
Any increase at all, he might have added means an
increase in the of living for the shopmen and every
body else The difference that the shopmen would get
Of back in the form Of higher pay, recompene
iened the rest Of
An increase in the pay of these crafts means an in
operating and which must be made up out Of the
pockets Of the people, either by still lofty freight
rates. which automatically would force the cost Of food
clothing medicines machinery and everything else to new
high levels by taxation That much must be said so
that the public may have clear understanding Of what
wage raise for railroad workers will mean It viii mean
that good many millions Of dollars additional must
Of the purses of and that viii
be all Of US.
On the other hand It is plain that the country must
sither become IecOnced to paying the shopmen more
whether not they already adequately pad0r face
the consequences nationwide strike with all the bust
paralysis and physical privaton that that would
tail President Wilson had that to think about and first
peTuss Of his offer leads to the belief that he felt forced
tender the shopmen much OF increase be could
ard the time to let off easily possible the
public who must pay the bill
This ought be the final word far the president
concerned If It is and the shopmen reject it and Try
20 paralyze the country with nationwide strike they
vii find It very hard to get much support Most other
people having too close IN making ends meet
be impatient with anything that threatens to make
living still harder The public may be wiling under the
,ircums tances, to take extra load such IN
Of the shipments wages would mean, but that viii
De about all If the railroad Try to force the issue
through general strike, they VIII be counting reprisa
gpon themselves and indirectly upon all organized labor
threshiRg this matter out, it IS to be hoped that
sense OF accommodation and fair play may govern.
There are two Josephus Daniels in the navy but the
army worrying along with only NeEton D. Baker,