The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-08-26
Restoration of Normal Eco
nomic Conditions Must
Come First, Says Presi-
dent Wilson.
NORMAL PRICE LEVEL
MOST URGENT NEED
Public Is Asked to Look on
Situation in "New Light"
Insist on Truce and Await
Intelligent Settlement"

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
the administration will pursue in deal
ing with such questions. particularly
as affecting railroad workers.
The president also announced that
IL is neither wise nor feasible now,
when the most important questions be-
fore the country is a return to normal
price levels, to attempt to increase
freight rates TO provide funds for
higher wages. I'VE ought to postpone
such questions until we have an op-
portunity for certain calculation as to
the relation between wages and the cost
OF living" the president said in his
statement to the public.
He appealed to every citizen to in
Eist on a truce until an Intelligent set
tlement can be made. The statement
was made in connection with demands
of railroad shopmen for rs per cent in
crease, but the general policy covers
the demand of thousands of other rail-
road workers. At the same time. the
president granted the shopment ten
hours pay for eight hours work.
which effects an increase of about
n basis of other railroad workers.
The shopmen's leaders said they would
put the matter up to local unions for
action.
Shopmen have already voted on
whether they will strike IL the wage
matter put up to the congressional
commission. The vote is not yet tabu-
lated and since this plan is now aban-
doned the shopmen have entirely new
questions before them
Shopmen are asked by President
Wilson TO consider the situation I'm a
new light" 1--WE are face 20 face
with a situation which is more likely
to affect the happiness, prosperity.
and even the life of our people than
war ITSELF" the president said He
thereupon outlined the governments
efforts to reduce prices and the need
for assisting in the efforts by stim-
ulating production and maintaining
transportation, which general in
crease in levels of wages might defeat
at it's very beginning" the president
said. II believe present efforts to re-
duce the cost of living viii be sue
cessfui If no new elements of diff |
Guilty are thrown in the way. I conf
IDENTIFY count upon the men engaged in
the service OF the railways to assist. !
and not obstruct.''
In addition to the four cents an hour |
increase for shopmen, the president or |
dered all freight car repairmen and |
inspectors to receive sixty seven cents /
an hour. This increase averages about /
ten cents an hour. but where men are
employed in outlying districts where I
work is not continuous. it shall be
four cents.
Washington. Aug. 25.-In view of
the wage demands made by railroad
employees the government should take
steps to prepare for nationwide
strike OF those employees without wait
Ing until the transportation system is
entirely tied up, the senate was told
today by Senator Thomas, democrat,
of Colorado.
Presenting a circular letter sent by
officials of the shopmen's. union ad-
Fising employees that If it became nee
sssary to strike to secure a settlement
~ the wage demands, instructions
would be issued by the railway en-
,loye department of the American Fed
,ration of Labor, Senator Thomas said
his together with the circular he re-
eived in the senate last Saturday in
Heated the certainty of the serious
of universal strike in
quarters in the very
lear future"
Il hope" he said. "the government
v the United States. representing all ]
he people whose mission IL is to en-
'orce the laws. will not wait until this
calamity is announced and become I.
general. but win take steps to antici- ,
pate 1t by providing for the operation
pr trains over the railways of the coun-
try upon which everybody must rely, ,
not only for the comforts and ordinary
Of life. but for its neces- I
sites as we'll" IL