South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-08
CANNOT DECIDE
WAGE DEMANDS
DURING STRIKE
President Notifies Director
Hines Workers Raised Chief
Obstacle to Settlement.

tor Gen. Hines that ne was author
lied 20 take up the demands Of
railroad shop employees for higher
wages and decide them on their
merits
The president said that the letter
sent him by Sen Cummins. chair
man Of the committee on interstate
commerce. had set me free TO deal
as I think best with the difficult
question Of the wages of certain
classes of the railroad employees.
but added:
THE chief obstacle 90 a decision
has been created by the men them
selves They have gone out ON "A
strike and repudiated the authority
Of their officers at the very moment
when they were urging action in re-
gard 10 their interests.
Wilson Sends Letter.
The presidents decision was an
white house i'm the form Of a letter
sent 10y him 10 MIR. Hines. The
president said that until the em-
pIoyes return TO work and again
recognize the authority OF their or
ganization. the whole matter must
he at standstill."
The presidents letter follows:
My dear Mr. Director General:
Il am just IN receipt of the letter
from Sen. Albert r. Cummins.
chairman Of the senate committee
ON interstate commerce. which set
me free 10 deal as / think best with
the difficult question of the wages Of
certain classes of railway employees.
and I take advantage Of the occa-
sion 10 write you this letter. in order
that | may both in the public inter
est and in the interests of the rail
road employees themselves. make the
present situation as clear and def
mite as possible.
II thought II my duty 10 lay the
question In its present pressing form
before the committee OF the senate
because I thought / should not act
upon this matter within the brief
interval Of government control re
naming without their acquiescence
and approval. Sen. Cummins' let
ter. which speaks unanimous judg-
ment of the committee. leaves me
free. and indeed. imposes upon the
duty TO act.
Question Of Wages.
The question Of wages Of rail-
road shopmen was submitted, YOU
will remember, TO the board Of rail
road wages and working conditions
of the railroad administration last
February. bur was not reported
upon by the board until the 18th OF
July The delay was unavoidable be
cause the board was continuously
engaged i'm dealing with several
wage matters affecting classes of
employees who had not previously re-
ceived consideration. The board
now having apprised us of this in
ability. al any rate for the time be
ing. to agree upon recommended
tions. II is clearly our duty TO pro-
coed with the matter i'm the hope of
disposing OF H.
You are therefore authorized to
say TO the railroad shop employees
that the question of wages they
have raised will be taken up and
considered on its merits 10y the di-
rector general in conference with
their duly accredited reports
hope that YOU viii make IT clear TO
the men concerned that the railroad
administration cannot deal with
problems of this sort or with any
problems affecting the men except
through the duly "A information
al officers or the regularly consti-
tuted organization and their author
ICED committees
Men Create Chief Obstacle.
Matter or SO various nature
and affecting so many men cannot
be dealt with except i'm this way.
Any action which brings the au-
thority OF the authorized represent
atives OF the organization into ques-
ton or discredits IT, must interfere
with II not prevent. action alto
gether The chief obstacle 70 de
cision has been created by the men
themselves They have gone out on
strike and repudiated the authority
Of their officers at the very moment
when they were urging action in re-
gard 20 various interests
Conference of Officials.
You viii remember that a con-
ference between yourself and the
NuAAWA AAft tlA rTt llAaAANtS va the
men was arranged at the instance OF
these representative for July IS. 70
discuss the wage question and the
question OF national agreement. but
before this conference took place or
could take place. local bodies OF
railroad shopmen took action look
ing toward a strike on the FIRST OF
August AS a result OF this action
various strikes actually took place
before there was an opportunity 10
act in "a satisfactory or conclusive
way with respect 90 the wages. In
the presence OF the strikes and the
reputation OF the authority OF the
representatives, Of the organization
concerned, there can be no consid-
Grafton OF the matter 100 controver-