The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent., 1919-09-12

General applause was accorded
President Wilson's action In refusing
to grant to the railway shOpmen more
than slight increase OF wages, anx
his statement explaining his cours.s
and appealing to the men, and 10 al
workers. to stop striking and get 10
work to increase production and there
by help reduce the cost Of living. He
declared it vital to public welfare that
demands for higher wages, ''unwise'y
made and passionately insisted on
should cease. and that there should be.
truce in industrial disputes until In
telligent settlements can be made. In
this he was supported by Warren s.
Stone. chief of the engineers. whose
statement implied that the shopmen. IL
they insisted on striking. would not he
helped by the four great railway broth
erhoods. The leaders of the shopmela
rejected the settlement offered by
President Wilson and ordered that the
locals take vote on the question.
In his statement Mr.. Wilson cal}etY
the present temporary Siiuutiola
which will last. in all probability, only
for limited time," and in so far AS
the cost Of the necessaries of life is
concerned Attorney General Palmer
agrees with him. Mr.. Palmer believeg
the price of almost every necessity WIFI
be lower next year than this, and that
persons who buy clothing and other
articles now for next year will be
fooled and are only helping to keep
prices high. Reduction will be-
brought about he thinks, by the activ
tiles Of the government against prof
iteers and hOartlers. the operation OF
fair price committees, and especially
by increased production. He sees in
the arguments that induce people to-
buy now an organized propaganda pro-
NOTED by greedy dealers.
The department Of Justice an
nOunced it was meeting with success
in obtaining from shoe manufacturers
Il promise to fix maximum prices ora
shoes, and that in the matter of fcetS-
stutfs reports indicated slight down
ward tendency. not vet sufficient to be-
reflected in the retail market. In the
great food centers. however, there.
WIZ NouSIVcluDIC uCSliueS ii IIlcCN3
which perhaps We're to he aterSouted
in part to the expressed intentIon OF
the war department to open retail
shops in number of cities. These
: markets not only will dispose Of thes
army'S surplus stores. but win be kepx
open for an indefinite time for the sale.
direct to the people of supplies which
the war department will purchase ar
wholesale. according to the present
plan. This, of course. aroused the op.
position Of the retail dealers, who as
sert that no government agency is au-
: lhoriZed by law to conduct such busi-
ness.
The railroads of the Pacific coast
were tied up for a number of days by
Il strike and the officials of the unions:
: had ordered the men to return to work.
. under penalty Of suspension. They,
) were warned by Director General
J Hines that the government would take.
l over the operation of the lines if they
DID not at once resume their positions
: and that anyone who interfere,l witla
: the use of railroad property would be.
!, dealt with for having committed ara
: oftense against the United States.
J. The committee of the steel and irOts
8 workers. which was given power to
:, call strike unleS concessions were
t granted by the United States SteeE
i corporation, was twice refused an
!. audience by Elbert H. Gary. chairman.
o of the executive committee Of the cor
t poration, being told to put its demands
i In writing. Samuel Gompcrs, who had
J. just returned from Europe. at once
s took a hand In this serious affair an.
4 1t was announced that the executive
=. committee Of the American Federation
K OF Labor would consider Mr.. Gary's
h attitude and make recommendation
y to the committee Of steel men ON the
advisability If calling a strike.
J. Any idea that Uncle Sam Aid not in
4 tend to enforce the emerge ncy prOhf.
n bition law was dispelled by numerous
o raids on liquor dealers in Chicago
1t New York and elsewhere. It was {
It notorious fact that intoxicating drink.
5, could be bought in many Of the largel
e cities. at least, and the salOonkeeDer
n had grown carelessly brazen. The
d were brought to their senses by arrest
1t and indictments, and gentlemen o
r bibulOus propensities were agail
forced to draw on their private stock,