The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-09-04
WILSON MAKES PAY
OFFER TO SH0PMEN
Compromise Proposal Made in
Attempt to Avert Strike.
AGENT BOOST is OFFERED
President Issues Statement to Public
Expressing His Views on country's
Labor Situation for First Time
Asks Ger Truce.

ASKS sJr Truce.
Washington Aug. 2G.-Presideni
Wilson submitted to representatives OF
the six railroad shop crafts a proposal
TO pay shopmen about four cents az
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 inadvlsable.
Certain classes Of shopmen. repair
men and car inspectors. who have been
receiving 63 cents and IS cents. respec-
lively, would be paid ca 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 - per cent
The president requested that the
men not act on the original PROPOSE
ton to have congressional commit
tee pass on the wage demands. A
vote Of the Sh0pmen 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 % per cent
Increase on their basic pay Of IS cents
an hour. This increase would have
amounted to II cents an hour. where
as the proposal of the president would
give them 4 cents an hour. or 40 cents
a day more than the workers now re-
ceive.
Wilson Issues Statement
The president, coincident with his .
statement to the shopmen's representa- .
tives. addressed statement TO the
public advising the nation of the situa-
ton and the basis of his action. II 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 readjustment 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 10
be permanent. in order to meet tenn
porary situation which will last no.
body can certainly tell how long, but
m all probability only for a limited
Tine"
The presidents statement said at is :
neither wise nor feasible to take care Z
II Increases in wages Of railroad en-
,loyees al this time by increases in [
reight rates"
A single paragraph of the statement
S sufficient TO show how serious the
PRESIDENT considers the entire situa-
ion. He says: !
I'VE are face to face with situa- :
ion which is more likely TO affect the {
appiness and prosperity, and even the \
Ife of our people than the war itself" h
dding: !,
"In such circumstances II seems
lear 10 me. and | believe will seem :
lear 10 every thoughtful American. in l.
luding the shopmen themselves. when II
hey have taken second thought. and
o 10 all wage earners of every kind. d
hat we ought TO postpone questions Of =
his sort until normal conditions come :
gain and we have the opportunity for
ertain calculation as 10 the relation y
etween wages and the cost Of living. II
Asks Help OF Public $
at Is the duty of every citizen of "
he country to insist upon truce In Il
lch contests until intelligent settle n
rents can be made. and made by L
eaceful and effective common counsel. a
81 appeal to my fellow citizens Of "
very employment to cooperate in in y
sting upon and In maintaining such a o
-uce. and to cooperate also in sus- u
aiming the government In what II con- a.
elves 10 be the only course which con- :,
rientious public servants can pursue. n
Demands unwisely made and pas-
Onately insisted upon at this time
ienace the peace and prosperity Of the II
)untry as nothing else could, and thus q
Dntrihute 10 bring about the very re- p
llts which such demands are Intended n
, remedy" ",
Ia