The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1919-08-08
WILSON
TELLS MPLOYEES
Of the Railroads That They
Must Return to Work Be
fore He Can
TREAT WITH THEM


Washington, Aug President
Wilson last night notified Director
General Hines that he was authoriz-
ed to take up the demands of rail-
road shop empIoyes for higher wages
and decide them on their merits.
The President said that the letter
sent him by Senator Cummings,
chairman of the committee on inter
STATE commerce, mad set me free
tc deal as think best with the diff
Ificult question of the wages of GER
tain classes of the railroad employ
|es,'' but added:
.tThe chief obstacle to decision
has been created by the men them
selves. They have gone out on a
,strike and repudiated the authority
lof their officials AT the very NOM.
ent when they were urging action
in regard to their interests
HThe Presidents decision was an
bounced tonight from the White
House, in the form o. a letter sent
by him to Mr.. Hines. The President
said that until the employees return
Ito work and again recognize the au-
|thority of their organiza ton the
whole matter must he at standsill.''
The Presidents letter to Director
Hines follows:
81 am Just in receipt of the letter
from Senator Albert B. Cummings,
chairman of the Senate committee on
Interstate commerce, which sets me
free to deal as think best with the
difficult question of the wage of
Fcertain classes of railway employees
and 1 take advantage of the occas-
ion to write you this letter in order
that may, both in the public inter
Jest and in the interests of the rail-
road employees themselves, make
he present situation as clear and
.efinite as possible.
81 thought it my duty to lay the
question in its present pressing form
before the committee of the Senate,
because thought I should not act
interval of government control re-
manning without their acquiescence
land approval. Senator Cummings
letter, which speaks the unanimous
judgment of the committee, leaves
free and indeed imposes upon me the
! duty to act.
The question of the wages of
railroad shopmen was submitted,
iiyou will remember. to the Board
of Railroad Wages and Working
Conditions Of the Railroad Admins
ItFation last February, but was not
reported upon by the board until
the 10TH. of July.
1.-THE delay was unavoidable be-
cause the board was continuously
Engaged in dealing with several
wage matters affecting classes of
Iemployes who had not previously
Ireceived consideration. The board
inow having apprised us of this in
liability at any rate for the time be-
ling to agree upon recommendation
with the matter in the hope of dis
Iposing of it,.
You are therefore, authorized
Ito say to the railroad shop employ
'es that the question of wages they
Ihave raised-wil be taken up and
Ieonsidered on its merits by the Di-
Irector General in conference with
their duly accredited representa-
ltiyes. 1 hope that you will make il
lclear. 20 the men concerned that the
Railroad Administration cannot dea
, with problems Of this sort or with
!, .and problems affecting the men ex
'cept through the chosen in
.ternational officers or the regularl,
constituted Organization and Their
) authorized committees. Matters O
{ iso various a nature and affectin,
: $50 many men cannot be dealt will
1 except in this way.
ii ANY action which brings th,
: authorized representatives of tn,
j organization into question. or dis
lcredits it must interfere with, if NO
prevent, action altogether. Tn
lchief obstacle to a decision has beer
lcreated by the men themselves. The,
4 have Oono IN sfrifc ond rex,.<7..x.,