The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-08-02
MEN ASK
! INCREASED
SALARIES
Brotherhood Members May
Strike if Congress Takes
Up Question and De-
lays It.
IMMUNE TO MEDICINE
Leaders Say Mon Cannot be Controlled
II Demands are Met by
Dragging investi-
cation.
IMMUNE TO MEDICINE
[By Ralph F. Couch, United Press
Staff Correspondent

[By Ralph F. Couch, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. Heads OF
the four big railroad unions today
condemned placing in hands of con-
gress the demands of their members
for immediate wage increases proper
tionate to increased living costs.
The union heads were w. g. Lee,
president Of the Brotherhood OF Rail-
way Trainmen; L. e. Sheppard, presi-
dent of the Brotherhood of Railway
Conductors and Timothy Shea, presi-
dent of Locomotive Firemen and En-
ginemen Organized railway workers
will refuse to be controlled, the Off
cials said, If they become convinced
their demands must be passed upon by
a commission which first must bs
created by special legislation In con-
gress. That tho railroad administra-
ton has no money to grant immediate
increases, was made clear by Pres1-
dent Wilson in letters to house and
senate committees in which he pro-
posed a commission to survey wages
of all rail workers aud decide on IN
creases which would be mandatory
upon the interstate commerce COM
mission for increased freight and pas
senger rates.
Putting the demands up to con-
gress would mean delay Of six months
and perhaps year." said Sheppard
who has asked an average of 30 per-
cent increase for $4,000 conductors.
This would be unsatisfactory to the
men who have been waiting months.
They are now in no mood TO wait
IL ,11 nn1 hat
President Wilson and Rail Director
Hines want to help the men,"
1--WE will not be able to control the
men If this Is the answer to our de-
mands," said President Lee. For
years we've been forced to give them
this brand of medicine which resulted
ir delay. They are immune to 1t now.
I would not recommend such solu-
ton to them.
II have every confidence in Presi-
dent Wilson and Director Hines" said
President Shea, "but II this means
they have turned over to congress the
matter Of wage increases, 1t also
means long delay and fear the men
will refuse TO wait and will strike.
Il will only say that in my opinion
the railroad workers Of the country
will not stand for another survey OF
the entire wage situation" said Presl-
dent Warren S. Stone Of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers.
81 don't know whether this is the
nresident's answer to our staten ent
t., him that the cost Of living must be
lowered or we would be forced to de-
mand wage increases. If it is intended
as the answer can see nothing in it
that means reduction in living
cost
'If the government would take ac'
tion to suppress the profiteers SO
that living costs would leave our men
enough to live on decently, we would
not press our demand" said Lee. Lee
said the wage situation is now near a
break which may cause within Few
weeks a strike Of all organized rail
workers. There are nearly 100000
organized rail workers. If the rest OF
the 45o.O00 railway shop workers fol-
low the lead Of sone Of their men who
walked out yesterday, all other rail
unions may be forced into Immediate
action, Lee declared.
Heads of the shop workers today
we're deciding what action they will
take on the special wage commission
plan submitted to them yesterday by
Rail Director Hines.
President Jewell, of the railway de-
nartment American Federation OF
Labor today declared officials can
hold the shop workers from an un-
authorized strike despite the fact sew
eral thousand walked out yesterday,
disobeying orders.
The shop workers organization Is
the only one of the big rail unions to
which Hines has submitted the presi-
dents specia' wage commission plan.