The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-08-08

Of disposing Of II.
You are therefore authorized to-
say 70 the railroad shop employees
mat the question Of wages they have
raised Will be taken up an considered
on II smerits by the director -general
In conference with their duiys aecred-
tied Representatives. hope that You
VIII mako IT. clear to the men. con-
cerned that the railroad administra-
ton cannot deal with problems Of
this sort or with any problems affect
Ing the men, except through the duly
chosen international officers OF the
regularly constituted organization and
ther authorized committees.
Matters of 80 various a nature and
atfecting 80 many men cannot be
dealt with except in this way. ANY
action which brings the authority OF
the authorized representatives of the
organization into question or dlscred-
It's 1t, must interfere with, II not pre-
vent, action altogether. The chief OBJ
stacle to a decision has been Great
ed 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 ac-
ton in regard to various interests.
You will remember that a confer
cnce between yourself and the auth-
orized representatives of the men
was recommended at the instance AZ
these representatives for July % TO
discuss the wage question and the
question OF national agreement, but
before this conference took place, or
could take place. local bodies or rail-
way shopmen took action looking TO-
ward strike On the first of August.
AS result OF this action, various
strikes actually took place before
there was an opportunity to act in a
satisfactory or conclusive way with
Sespect to the wages. In the pres
ence Of these strikes and the repudia-
ton OF the authority of the represen-
tatives of the organization concerned.
there can be no consideration of the
matter in controversy. Until the en-
ployes return to work and again rec
ognize the authority of their own or
ganization, the whole matter must be
at standstill.
When federal control of the rail-
roads began the railroad administra-
ton accepted existing agreements be-
tween the shopmen's organization and
the several railroad companies. and
by agreement machinery was Great
ed for handling the grievances of the
shipments organization of all the
railways, whether they had heretofore
had the benefits of definite agree
ments or not. There can be no cues
ton, therefore, of the readiness of the
government to deal in spirit of fair
ness and by regular methods with any
matters the men may bring to their
attention.
Concerned and very careful con-
sideration is being given by the en-
tire government to the question of
reducing the high cost of living. /
need hardly point out how intimately
and directly this matter affects every
individual in the nation and IL trans
portation is interrupted it will be i'm
possible to solve 1t. This is a time
when every employe Of the railways
should help to make the processes of
transportation more easy and econ
omical, rather than less, and employees
who are on strike are deliberately de-
laying a settlement OF their wage
problems and of their standard of
living. They should promptly return
to work. and hope that you will
urge upon their representatives the
immediate necessity for their doing
so.
Cordially and sincerely yours.
WOODROW WILSON"
Director General Hines notified the
unions Immediately that the railroad