The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-08-29
WILSON MAKES PAY
OFFER TO SHOPNEA
Compromise Proposal Made in
Attempt to Avert Strike.
AGENT BOOST is OFFERED
President Issues Statement to Public
Expressing His Views on Countrys
Labor Situation for First limo
Asks for Truce.

Washington, Aug 26-President
Wilson submitted to representatives OF
the six railroad shop crafts proposal
to pay shopmen about four cents an
hour increase, on basis OF ten-hours'
pay for eight hours work, retroactive
to May 1.
The president told the committee of
40 representing the shop crafts that
any greater increase now would great
ly increase the cost of living and there
fore was inadviSable.
Certain classes of shopmen, repair
men and car inspectors, who have been
receiving So cents and SO cents, respec
lively, would be paid 81 cents an hour
under the proposed scale.
The shOpmen's representatives told
the president they would submit the
proposition to their members, whose
original demands were for an advance
of 26 per cent.
The president requested that the
men not act on the original PROPOSE
ton to have a congressional commit
vote of the shopmen on this proposition
is now being tabulated.
The increase represents cOnces-
sion amounting to approximately one
fourth of the demand made by the
shopmen.
The ShOpmen ask for a 20 per cent
increase on their basic pay of 6S cents
an hour. This increase would have
amounted to. II cents an hour, where
as the proposal of the president would
give them A cents an hour, or 40 cents
day more than the workers now re-
cefve
Wilson Issues Statement.
The president, cOincident with his
statement to the shOpmen's representa-
tives, addressed q statement to the
public advising the nation of the situa-
ton and the basis of his action. 1t Is
his first publicly expressed view on the
country's labor situation.
The Accent an hour increase pro-
posed, the presidents statement said,
represents a REIMBURSEMENT of shop
mems wages to put their pay on the
same basis as other railroad workers,
that is. on ten-hour hour pay and eight
hour work basis, and accordingly is
not in the strict sense an increase in
wages.
Pointing to the shopmen's argument
that an increase in wages was neces-
sary to meet the high cost of living,
the president said the workers de-
mands were in effect that we make An
increase in wages, which are likely to
be permanent in order to meet tenn
pOrary situation which will last no
body can certainly tell how long, but
in all probability only for limited
time.">
The presidents statement said 'ft is
neither wise nor feasible to take care
of Increases in wages of railroad en-
ployees at this time by increases in
freight rates"
A single paragraph of the statement
is sufficient to show how serious the
president considers the entire situa-
ton. He says:
1--WE are face to face with a situa
ton which is more likely to affect the
happiness and prosperity, and even the
life, of our people than the war itself"
adding:
"In such circumstances it seems !
clear to me, and | believe will seem
clear to every thoughtful American, in |
Guiding the shopmen themselves, when |
they have taken second thought, and |
to to all wage earners of every kind, |
that we ought to postpone questions Of |
this sort until normal conditions come
again and we have the opportunity for |
certain calculation as to the relation |
between wages and the cost of living. |
Asks Help of Public.
"It is the duty of every citizen of |
the country to insist upon truce in |
such contests until intelligent settle |
ments can be made, and made by |
peaceful and effective common counsel |
81 appeal to my fellow citizens of |
every employment to cooperate in in |
sisting upon and In maintaining such |
truce, and to cooperate also in sus-
tanning the government in what it con-
ceives to be the only course which con-
scientiOus public servants can pursue. /
Demands unwisely made and pas |
sionately insisted upon at this time |
menace the peace and prosperity of the |
country as nothing else could, and thus |
contribute to bring about the very re-
suits which such demands are intended !
TO remedy"