Arizona republican., 1919-08-27
Will Vote Immediately on
 the Acceptance or Rejec-
 ton of Proposal Made by
 Administration Leaders. Crisis At Hand
Decision to Walk Out would
 Disrupt Commercial Ac- tivities of Nation and
 Force Higher Living Cost
[RepubIlean 4. ?. Leased wirel


 WASHINGTON, Aug. 26-Railroad shopmen through the United States will begin voting Immediately on whether they will accept the wage proposals made yesterday by Presi- dent Wilson and Director General Hines or go out on strike to enforce their demands for a general advance in pay
 On the outcome of the balloting hinges industrial peace of government controlled railroads If the shopmen decide to aceede to President Wilson's decision that there shall be no general wage advances until the government shows what can be done to control the rising cost of living, sufficient time to effect some change in the price levels, probably will elapse before other unions press their demands for more money.
 Plan Fair Dealing
 What action the government may be expected to take in the event of vote by the shopmen to strike for an inn mediate increase in wages, which President Wilson says would have ] disastrous effect on efforts to bring down prices, has not been disclosed if indeed it has been considered.
 Indicatise nf the dissemination of Director General Hines and the rail- road administration to deal fairly with all classes of employees, the director general today instructed the board of railway wages to consider promptly demands that might be made and to report reeomme tions for correcting any inequalities found to exist, though general advances for any class will not be made until it has proved that the present level of prices is permanent. In that case, both the president ann Mr. Hines have given assurances that railroad workers would receive read justments of their wages.
 The taking of a strike vote ordin arily requires about three weeks. Tn the present instance however, it is be- lieved the vote may be completed ari- fer as instructions were given by the international officers to the union to summon meetings if necessary and to telegraph results of the balloting.
 Refuse Proposal
 Announcing that they had refused the proposal of the director general, the committee of 100 representing the shopmen made public letter sent to the various locals calling for a strike vote. The committee was in session several hours today debate becoming bitter at times, it was said, the more radical of the members demanding a strike to compel more money. In the letter, however, was seen a suggestion that some of the committee were in eIined to give the government a chance to make good in the campaign against high prices.
 Asking very serious consideration of the question, the committee told the unions that any Additional general increase in the wages of railroad em- ployes, virtually all of whom have made or will make demands for more money, would include the shopmen and shey were told not to forget that 2 strike now meant that the shepmen were striking alone to force an in crease for the entire 2.000, 0o0 railroad employees Strike benefits, it was said, would not be paid beyond the limit of funds now available