Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-08
RAIL MEN TO
ACCEPT Def
ON STRIKE?
Unions Voting to Return
on Wilson Order No
Raise While Out

Raise While Out
AGREE TO GO BACK.
Springfield, Ill.
Champaign, Ill.
Kansas City, Mo.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
REFUSE TO GO BACK.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Mason City, Iowa
UNDECIDED.
Chicago district (Which in.
cludes Silvis shOpmen.)
Bloomington. Ill
Cleveland, Ohio.
Washington, Aug. S.-Re-
ports to the railroad admin;s-
tratiOn today said that in re-
Sp0nSe TO President Wilson's
action of Last night, sh0pmen
were rapidly returning to work
on the L3ckawanna, Baltimore
and Ohio, Norfolk and West
eFn, Western Maryland, Rock
Island, st. Paul and Pennsyl.
Fania lines west Of Pittsburgh.
Washington Aug. S.-With the
declaration by President Wilson
last night that until the men re-
turn to work and again recognize
the authority of their own organ
ization. the whole matter of wage
increases must be at a standstill,
the next step in the railroad strike
situation, which is thus put square
VI slp to the employees themselves,
was being awaited today. The few
reports that had been received ear
ly today indicated a willingness on
the part of some of the striking
shopmen to comply with the re-
quest, and it was believed that
nearly all of the $4,000 men report
ed idle yesterday would heed the
president
Mr.. WILSON'S communication au-
thorized Director General Hines to
take up the wage demands on their
merits.
At the same time he expressed
the hope that the director general
would make it clear to the men
that the railroad administration
can not deal with the problems ex-
cept through the duly chosen Off
GERS and committees of their or
ganizations. The chief obstacle to
decision in the present case, the
president wrote, was created by the
men themselves in that they had
gone out on strike and repudiated
the authority of their officers.
They should promptly return to
work." he wrote, land l hope you
will urge upon their representa-
tiVes the immediate necessity for
their doing so.''
Hines Awaits Response.
Director General Hines today
awaited word from the unions that
striking shopmen had returned to
work before undertaking to carry
out President Wilson's instructions
to settle the wage controversy on
its merits. The telegraph system
of the railroad administration was
put at the disposal of the union Of
ficers and peremptory orders that
the men should go back went out
to 500 local chairmen.
Until the men have resumed
work, railroad administration Off
cials said they would not discuss
the procedure to be employed in
adjusting the wage demands
May Enlarge Wage Body.
AS the shOpmen's reasons for
25 per cent increase have been con-
sidered thoroughly by the board OF
railroad wages and working condi-
tions which is divided three to
three. it was believed possible
that the case would be put immedi-
ately before the director general.
Other unions have demands pend
ing. however, which will necessi-
tate their presentation and to hear
this new board may be constituted
or the old board enlarged to IL in
with the suggestions of
union men Equal representation
between the two sides would be re-
tanned. but men specially qualified
to deal with the subject in hand
WOuAu U0 dpPOluIeu W uduuA5 the
different classes OF wages.
Two Points Raised.
Mr.. Hines is understood to con-
slider that two main points are in
volved in the settlement of wage
demands: first, how much has the
cost of living increased beyond the
Increase in wages. and second, what
wages are paid in other industries
for the same class of work.
Any advances granted will be pro-
portioned to enable the employees
10 maintain their standard of life
and to retain competent men who
might otherwise be attracted to
other employment
VIII Decide Tomorrow.
Chicago, Ill, Aug S.--John ID.
secretary Of the Chicago
council of the Federated Railway
Shopmen's union, announced today