The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-08-08
RAIL STRIKE GROWS;
NO RELIEF YET IN SIGHT
Congress Passes the Buck to Presi-
dent Wilson Who May Raise Wa
ges If He Sees Fit

Probably the most momentous qucs-
tion before the people of the United
States today is the big railroad strike
which threatens a complete tieup of al
the roads in the United States. The
strike is spreading every day and the
unrest among railway workers is SC
general that the movement has over
whelmed the international officers OF
the unions involved.
Over 250,000 railway employees are
row idle which includes machinists,
blacksmiths, carmen and other shop
mechanics. Other classes of railway
workers are talking strike and the
situation hourly becomes more acute.
The 100000 members of the Broth
erhood of Railway Clerks, Freight
Handlers, Station, Express and
Steamship employees will begin voting
today as to whether they will strike
Immediately for increased wages OF
await solution of the wage ques-
ton along the lines of the proposal
made to congress by Director General
Hines.
Most of the roads thruout the coun-
try are still operating passenger
trains, and it is not believed that these
schedules will be affected. Few
freight trains are moving however
and within the course of few days
it is believed that an embargo will be
placed on perishable goods.
Practically all railroads of the
middle west had in effect today orders
to accept freight Subject to delay"
on account of the strike of railway
shopmen.
r. H. Ashton, national director of
railroads for the Northwest, issued
the following statement regarding
the conditions at present.
beginning Immediately and con-
tinuing until further notice, all freight
of every description in carload lots
will be accepted only as subject to de-
Law on account of the strike. All
bills of lading must be indorsed: This
freight accepted subject to delay on
account of strike"
AS vet no intimation has been given
out by Washington as to what the out
come of the strike would be. Senator
Cummins, chairman of the Interstate
Commerce Committee advised Pres
ident Wilson that it is in his power
to raise the wages of railway workers,
so a statement from the Chief Exc
cutive may be expected within the
next few days. 1t is also with in the
presidents powers to raise railroad
rates so we may expect to see the de-
mands the strikers granted and
freight rates given another boost.
Locally some fifty or sixty men en-
ployed in or about the roundhouse
here have been affected. At Hillyard
the shopmen affected number over
1000.
The shop crafts are asking for a
minimum of 85 cents an hour for
mechanics, an increase of IT cents; a
minimum of 60 cents for helpers, an
increase of % cents, and an increase
of 10 cents per hour for apprentices.
Back of this strike movement is
dissatisfaction over the attitude OF
the wage committee of the affected
crafts. This committee, say the men,
has adopted policy of saying nothing
one way or the other.
Coming at this time the strike
means much to the growers OF the
Wenatchee Valley, and loss of Mil
lions of dollars is threatened unless
the present situation is cleared, up in
a short time. The shipment of soft
fruits is Just at its height, and the ap-
ple harvest is only short time off,
With one strike already in progress
and another walkout planned by or
ganized labor for sometime in Sep
tember if it's demands are not carried
out. we may truly say that the country
is facing a most alarming state OF
affairs.
Two railroad organizations are now
in the public eye. One demands an
increase of wages, the other govern
ment control, or complete railroad
tieup if their demands are not met
What the outcome will be only time
will tell. In any event the Wenat'
chee Valley will suffer heavy loss
if the strike is prolonged any length
of time.