The north Mississippi herald. (Water Valley, Yalobusha Co., Miss.) 1888-1929, 1919-08-29

Washington, Aug. 25.-Postpone-
ment of the settlement of wage de-
mands until normal economic condi-
tions are restored was announced to-
day by President Wilson as the policy
which the administration viii pursue
In dealing with such questions, par
ticularly those affecting railroad
workers.
The President announced also that
it was neither wise nor feasible at
this time when the most important
question befor the country is return
to normal price level, to attempt to
increase freight rates to provide
funds for higher wages.
"We ought to postpone questions
of this sort until we have the oppor-
tunity for certain calculations as to
the relations between wages and the
cost of living" the President declar-
ed in statement to the public, ex-
planning his decision as to wages. "It
is the duty of every citizen to insist
upon truce in such contests until in
telligent settlements cam be made,
and made by peace and effective COM
mon counsel.
II appeal to my fellow citizens of
every employment to cooperate in in.
sisting upon and maintaining such a
truce"
Mr.. Wilson's statement was issued
in connection with the decision of
demands by railroad shopmen for
20 per cent advances in wages, but
the general policy pronounced covers
also the wage demands of other hum
dreds of thousands of railroad work
ers, which are pending before the
director general or about to be pre-
sented. 1t is to be expected that 9TH
er unions trying to obtain more pay
will be asked as the shopmen to play
their part with other citizens in re-
ducing the high cost of living by fore
going temporary advantage which
would add to the transportation costs.
Announced to Committee.
The decision of the President and
the director general was announced
to a committee of 100 representing
the shopmen. In reply to their de-
mands for % per cent increase the
shopmen were asked to accept an ad-
justment of their pay to the basis of
ten hours pay for hours work,
which they contended was given 9TH
er employees and denied them when
the Adamson law became effective.
This means an advance of the basic
pay from SO to 72 cents an hour.
whereas an increase of II cents to
80 cents an hour was demanded.
Acting President Jewell of the
Railway Employees Department of
the American Federation of Labor
and his advisors said they would COM
municate the decision to the union
locals for acceptance or rejection. A
strike vote completed yesterday, but
not yet tabulated, was upon the ques-
ton of whether the men would quit
work to enforce consideration of their
demands, by the Railroad Admins
tration instead of by a congressional
commission as first suggested. AS
this plan was abandoned, the vote,
whatever its result, is non-effective
and the shopmen now have an entire
ly new question before them.
Presidents Statement.
The Presidents statement address
ed to the public follows:
MY Fellow Citizens:
"A situation has arisen in connec-
ton with the administration of the
railroads which is of such general sig
nificance that | think it my duty to
make it a public statement concern
ing it in order that the whole country
may know what is involved.
"The railroad shopmen have de-
manded large increase in wages.
They are now receiving So, SO and
So cents per hour. They demand 85
cents per hour. This demand has been
given careful and serious considera-
ton by the board which was consti-
tuted by the Railroad Administration
to adjust questions of wages, board
consisting Of an equal number of rep
resentatives of employees and of the
operating managers of the railroad
companies. This board has been un-
able to come to an agreement, and it
has therefore devolved upon the di-
rector general of railroads and myself
to act upon the merits of the case.
"The shopmen insist that they are
entitled to higher wages because of
the high cost of living, and because
of the price paid men doing similar
work in navy yards and arsenals as
well as a number of private indus
tries, but ! concur with the director
general in thinking that there is no
real basis of comparison between the
settled employment afforded mechan-