Arizona republican., 1919-07-31
REDUCE LIVING COST OR GRANT
 WAGE INCREASE
 SAY ENGINEERS
Brotherhood Favors Former as Means of Bringing Re- lief to All, Chief Stone Tells President

WASHINGTON, July 30.-The alter native of governmental action to force down the cost of living or of demand by the railroad engineers of the coun- try for another increase in wages, was presented to President Wilson today by Warren s. Stone, grand chief of the brotherhood's advisory board. De- tailing conclusions. reached by the ad- visory board at it's recent meeting in Cleveland MT. Stone declared that while the railroad engineers found themselves obliged to again request an increase to meet the mounting cost of living" they were of the opinion that, the true remedy for the situa- ton and one that will result in lifting the burden under which the whole people are struggling, is for the gov ernment to take some adequate mea- sures to reduce the cost of the neces- saries of life to a figure that the pres ent wages and income of the people will meet.
 The brotherhood board outlined no plan of action for the government to take beyond saying it was believed this situation is brought about mainly by conscienceless profiteering by the great interests who have secured con trol of all the necessaries of life
 Wilson impressed
 President Wilson, it was said at the White House, was much impressed with the statement and promised to give serious consideration and study to the question of what the govern ment might be able to do.
 The president was told by the broth erhood board, that widespread spirit of unrest exists among all classes, es- pecially among wage earners whose wages will no. longer provide adequate food. shelter and raiment for them selves and famiHes.
 After requesting that some action be taken by the government, the state ment read to the president by MT. Stone and which also was addressed to members of the cabinet, said:
 Wage Is Insufficient
 Should this not be considered feas- ible we will be forced to urge that those whom we represent be granted an increase in wages to meet the de- terioration of the purchasing price of the dollar, be that what it may, which can be easily determined by compe- tent authority.
 This action may be unique and it may be properly termed 8 pioneer movement in the history of labor or ganizations in seeking an audience with the chief executive of our country, and, in a manner, suggesting to him the convening of the members of his cabi- net, or that portion that may be quick ly assembled. However, the result sought seems to us to justify the means and should our efforts in this direc- tion completely fail then we will be forced to request for those whom we represent, the granting of an increase in wages to enable them to live ac- cording to the American standard.
 Have Welfare of All
 we invite your attention to the fact that approximately " per cent of the locomotive engineers are American born citizens and it may be safely stated that the remaining per cent are naturalized citizens, and they have, o1 course, a great interest in not only their own welfare but in the welfare of all the people, and they are not un- mindful of your past effort in behalf of the people. Yet we find ourselves today earning less money than we die prior to the war. This can be dem onstrated by simply taking, as an il- lustration, a daily wage of s5 prior tc the war, which at that time was wortf 500 cents, and today it is worth, judg- ing from competent authority, only S215.
 "So, while it may be stated that we have had a substantial increase il compensation, when considering the dollar only as medium of exchange our income has substantially declined when compared with pre-war prices. Favor Reduction in H. C. of L. The brotherhood of locomotive en- gineers appreciates the fact that al wages are being increased, and thai constant demands are flowing to the employers. and we must of necessity be mindful of the interests of our craft, but we do not believe the increasing the compensation, accompanied by . greater increase in the cost of com modities of life, will produce lasting benefits to our craft or to the Ameri- can citizen in general.
 We trust that you may find it con sistent to give us, in near future some thing definite as to what we may ex- pect that will aid in guiding us as tC our future actions, hoping that yol | appreciate the spirit that has prompted | this action on our part.