Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-20
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
The Railroad Wage Award.

After weeks of consideration the
railroad wage board has announced its
award. 1t grants an increase of ap-
proximately 81 per cent to 2,e0o, 900
workers, totaling an annual addition
to the pay rolls of the railway com.
panies of about $600,000,000. The
question now is whether this increase,
which is lower than that demanded
lyy the operatives, will satisfy them or
VIII be rejected. In the latter event
a strike will occur, with far reaching
and disastrous results.
If this award is not satisfactory the
railway operatives stand to lose far
more by strike than they would by
acceptance and peaceful efforts to gain
better decision. Indeed, there is no
likelihood of any higher wage fixing.
Acceptance of this award will grant a
retroactive scale back to May 1, so that
eaeh of the operatives will get imme-
diately more than two and a half
months Of higher pay in arrears,
itself considerable sum. If strike
is voted the men will be Immediately
deprived of all income save the strike
benefits paid by the brotherhoods,
which do not approximate their reg
ular compensation. Intense suffering
Is certain to result among them and
their families in short time.
Every consideration of wisdom die
tates that this award shoald be &C.
eepted in good spirit, and that the
men should continue to work. The
national welfare demands it. The vel
fare Of every local community de-
mands it. The welfare of the indi-
vidual operative and his family de-
mands it.
The railroads of this country are not
to be considered as distinct industrial
organizations. They are contributory
to and intimately part of the whole
system of national trade and manu-
featuring. They are part of the daily
life of the people. 1t is impossible to
stop them for day without injuring
seriously a wide range Of business and
q great number Of people. The en-
ployment of millions of men is de-
pendent upon continued railroad serv-
ice. So that when the railroad opera
tive considers the question Of striking
he must weigh not only his own indi-
vidual issue, but ths interest Of work
ers in all other lines whose daily bread
depends upon the masAtenance of
transportation.
1t is possible that the wasN advance
now granted by the board is not ex-
actly in proportion to the average in
crease in the cost of living siace the
last advance was granted. s;tatisti-
clans engaged by the railroad opera
tives have worked out tables Of living
costs and these will doubtless DO citea
now as a reason for rejecting the
award. But rejecting the award will
not bring down the cost or living.
Rather will it increase it. It will not
add to the income of the family, but
diminish it. In the face of this plain
fact, which every railroad workman
knows full we'll from experience, sta
tistical tables ere of no vasne and are
a false guide to action.
If this award is unjust and mad
equate the operatives have surer
chance of securing redress through &C.
eeptance and appeal than through a
strike. In the framing of the award
the wage board has been compelled to
take into account many factors, the
necessities of the operatives, the bear
ing of the increase upon railroad earn
ings and income, the assurance that
every penny of the advance must come
out of the public pocket in the forn.
of higher rates for transportation and
the effect of those rate increases upon
all other lines Of industry. 1t would
seem that the advance granted, in view
of all these elements, is as fair as can
be possibly worked out of this compl-
Gated equation.