Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-26
Presidents Appeal
(continued from PAGE one)

that II. 50 soon as the treaty Of
peace il ratified and in operation
and merchants. manufacturers,
farmers. miners, all have a certain
basis Of calculation as to what their
business will be and what the con-
ditions. viii be under which It must
be conducted. The demands Of the
shopmen. therefore, and all similar
demands are in effect this:
That we make increases in wages
which are likely to be permanent IN
order to meet temporary situation
which will last nobody can certainly
tell how long. but in all probability
only for limited time. Increases IN
wages will, morec yer, certainly result
in still further increasing 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. with vigor and substantial hope
Of success, to reduce the high cost of
living. And the increases in the cost
Of transportation which would neces-
sarily result from increase in the wages
or railway employees would more GER
tainly and more Immediately have that
effect than any other enhanced wage
costs. Only by keeping the cost of pro-
duction on it's present level. by increas-
ing production and by rigid economy
and saving on the part of the people
can We hope for large decreases in the
bufdensome cost Of living which now
weighs us down.
The director general of railroads and
have felt that a peculiar responsible
ty rests upon US, because in determin-
Ing this question we are not studying
the balance sheets or corporations
merely, we are in effect determining the
burden of taxation which must fall
efal. 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 in
creasing freight rates. 1t is impos-
sible at this time. until peace has come
and normal conditions are restored, to
estimate what the earning capacity of
the railroads will be when ordinary
conditions return. There is no certain
basis, therefore for calculating what
the increase of freight rates should be.
and it is necessary. for the time being
at any rate. to take care Of all in
creases in the wages of railway en-
ployes through appropriations from the
public treasury.
In such circumstances 1t seems clear
to me, and 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 opportunity for certain
as to the relation between
wages and the cost Of living.
1t is the duty Of every citizen Of,
the country to insist upon a truce in
such contests until intelligent settle
ments can be made. and made by
peaceful and effective common coun-
sci. I appeal to my fellow citizens
Of every employment to cooperate
in insisting upon and maintaining
such a truce and to cooperate also
in sustaining the government in what
conceive to be the only course
which conscientious public servants