Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-02-15
ARBITRATION OF RAIL
ROAD MEMS WAGE
QUESTION PROBABLE
Continued From Page IL

UUES Jun FhUBAbLE
Continued From Page IL
situation To your committee as
snrn as it presented to him advice
Of the strike order and he has
since summarized the position of
the government in a message to you
which / fully indorse. l ask you
10 take at once the necessary. steps
to withdraw the strike order and to
make sure that no Interruption
Whatever to transportation occurs
on that account IN this critical
period | feel sure that you and
your associates upon fun considera-
ton will realize that you cannot in
Justice to your membership and the
citizens generally Of the United
states persist in a course which Is
opposed TO your obvious duty to the
country TO the direct and specific
request 10 the government and al
so the attitude of all other rail
road labor organizations, all for
the mere purpose of objecting to
the procedure | have proposed,
which is the only practicable meth
cd of obtaining a prompt and rca-
sonable settlement OF the important
wage questions now pending. I
also ask you to send my message
and its Enclosure to all your mem
bers and give them, the opportuni-
ty of cooperating with all the rest
of railroad labor in handling the
matter.
(Signed) ...N tt.rr
WOODROW WILSON"
Assurance was given the union
officials by the president in his
proposal that nc would provide
machinery for dealing comprehen-
sively with their claims; he pro-
posed the naming of a commission
of wage experts to begin the COM
Ipilatian of data bearing on the con-
troversy. The president said he
was certain 1T is apparent to all
reasonable men and women
THAT these momentous questions
must be dealt with by an agency
which can continue to function
after March L. a.
Il wish therefore," he said, ito
announce to all railroad employees
at this time that | propose to carry
out tine following steps:
81. In the event that in connec-
ton with the return to private con-
troll provision shall be made by law
for machinery for dealing with
railroad wage matters, / shall
promptly use my influence and so
far as such law confers power upon
me, shall promptly exercise that
power to bring about the earliest
practicable organization of the ma
chinery thus provided.
"2. In the event that no sucn
provision is made by law for deal
ing with these matters, | shall en-
'ploy the influence of the executive
to get the railroad companies and
the railroad employees to join
promptly in the creation of tri-
bunal to take up these problems
and carry them to a conclusion.
g. | shall at once constitute a
committee Of experts to take the
data already available In the vari-
.ous records of the United States
railroad administration, including
the records of the Lane commits
sion and of the board of railroad
wages and working conditions, and
to analyze the same so as to de-
velop in the shortest possible time
the facts bearing upon "a just and
reasonable basis of wages for the
various classes of railroad en-
ployes with due regard to all fac
tors reasonably bearing unon the
problem and specifically to the
factors of the average of wages
paid for similar analogous labor
TOR other industries in this country.
the cost of living and a fair living
wage, so as to get the problems in
shane for the earliest possible final
disposition. The views of this
| hoard will serve as guide To me
| In carrying out the assurance 1
gave to the employees last summer
tpat | would use the fun Influence
OF the executive to see that Justice
was done them and will | believe
Ebe the means of avoiding what
might otherwise be long drawn
out investigation of facts While
] propose to act at once in regard
10 TINS matter and and to avoid any
aeiay N dong so ! shall neverthe
less invite the cooperation of the
railroad corporations and believe
they VIII appreciate that it is to
their interest as we'll as to tho pub.
tic interest, to get these matters
promptly solved"
/ Mr.. Wilson said he recognized
the necessity for disposinp of the
problems without further DELAY. hui
asked the continued co-oneration
OIL the unions and requested then
t. use their Influence in obtaining
| 2 recall of the strike order issued
py the maintenance workers. He
said Notwithstanding that "correc.
i've factors were at work" IN con.
trolling the cost of living. these
important wage matters ought MOI
TO be postponed for further indef
mite period and ought to he dis.
posed of on their merits at n,
earliest practicable time"
Ihe feadJustments of living cost.
could not come with rapidity. Mr.
Wilson explained but added his he.
lief That efforts to force prioe;
down were having Q beneficial eff
feet"
The union reply expressed graft
fication with the PRESIDENTS rec
ognition of principles" which have
bearing on their demands, bu
added that there is a pressing ne
cessity for immediate relief.
we feel justified in sayingn tn.
union answer continued, that w,
| do not believe the employees will
/ countenanoe any plan which con
templates further delay.
1t Is our earnest conviction
that the situation warrants us urg
ing You that You promptly ind
cate to railroad labor that YOU will
create by agreement special tri
bunal to deal with specific and inn
portant problems"
A set of principles with whicl
the tribunal is asked to deal from
the union view. were outlined a
follows:
| ZIP -,