Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-02-14
EVENTS or a wEH.

rha week closes with the mi
Of another great strike hanging over
the country, unless a 60
luton Of tho problem shail have oecn
reached between the writing OF THESE
1ines and their appearances In print.
Railway men included in the Main
tenance Of Way organization hare
seryed notice on the federal rai'Way
administration that unless grievances
OF which they complain are sooner re-
dressed they will strike on FEBRUARY
II. These employees some months
ago presented their claims to the gov
sernment and asked for action, the
substance Of their demand being that
tho cost of living must be or
they must nave more pay. They were
urged to defer action until there had
been reasonable opportunity for the
restoration Of reasonably normal con-
ditions. On the statement addressed
to Director Hines a few days ago the
officers of the union state that no
progress having been made in the d.
rectipn OF the reduction OF living
costs, they would insist on other re-
lief Immediately. ri
At the same time the older railway
brotherhoods arc pressing their de-
mands for further wage increases
with the prospect that if these de-
mands are not met these orders Will
he called out of service. The railway
administration has opposed the max
ing Of wage increases on the eve of
the return of the roads to private
management, on the ground that it
This were done the roads would find
1t necessary immediately TO call for
higher rates, which, in turn, would
still further increase the cost of liv-
inx. Conferences between Director.
Fines and the labor leaders proving
fruftless. the whole subject was aid
before the president. Mr.. Wilson
has replied, and, while at this mo-
meat the text Of his reply has not
heen made public, it is understood
that he has refused to consent to the
JAH%lY OL lAS oOAAloAAA6s- uAoAah6 AA~
the whole. subject so over until the
change in management has taken
place.. and until the pending railway
hill, with its provision for machinery
for the settlement Of wage differences,
HIS been-passcd. Some other sug-
xesttons IRE limited 1T, Int not men
tinnede nu.. detail. TX
E4 y OK y HS+HerE I'D L.# +f3
Another development of interest is
z the decision OF the American FEEDER
alton of Labor to enter the political
field in an active and organized way.
Announcement to this effect was
made at~federation ~headqusrters
carly in the wsck and the plan OF
operation is, substantially, that the
federation will not favor the organ
ixation Of a new party, but will use
the voting power Of. its members in
national state and local elections in
favor OF candidates pledged to fur
rherf the interests Of organized labor
and against other candidates. This
adoption of this plan. and its ap.
prevail by President Gompers, are in.
dications of the passing of control OF
that organization from the relativel.
conservative group of men who have
directed it, and, il the case OF Mr.
Gompers of the name in which III
has felt impelled to rccede from pc,
sitionE which he has sturdily main
tanned in order to retain his position
ins tie t1t:nciIs OF the federation
Gcrnrers has tuntil now opposed al
Efforts to use the organization as {
political weapon. The radical ole
mont has made such entertainment
sn his position that there is apparent
W little Of his former ground left o,
which he al stand.
While the radical element, has bee
making progress In it's wNk OF TAX
ipr oyer of control Of the Federatio!
of Labor. the KansxA Legislature ha
bsen busy enactmg legislation whic'
in 11aiied by ON asa sztisdactor
soiutton9 10 some OF the mpst press
ing BE labor problems of the da,
and n which is commended to con
gross for adoption for the country a
large. and which, on the other hand
rs denounced quite generally in labo
ciIrIss as a piece OF tyranny nne1
ampled In the history Of the countr.
The kernel Of the situation lies i
the creation OF a Hate Industrial CON
mjastnn with claws and teeth ant
Accerdtag to Some critics, With horn