The Washington times., 1921-06-09
R. R. STRIKE VOTE
. AND HAYS SPEECH
|. IMPRESS HAPG00D
Writer Finds Deadly Parallel In
Warning Of Postmaster Gem
eraI and Brotherhoods.
By NORMAN HArGOoD.

- NNVAS~AAN
Will Hays had sound reasons for
his warning yesterday. TO the Repub-
lean national committee. that they
must rely not on the victory In No
vember last but on their party rec
ord from this time on.
At the moment that the astute Re-
ubiican leader was issuing this warn
Ing the brotherhoods In Chicago were
letting II be known that they would
| take q referendum on whether to be-
gin q nationwide strike against re-
ducrions In wages.
have lately had talks with a mum.
ber OF Republicans prominent In the
party councils and every one OF them
has the feeling that Hays expressed.
they realize two things. One II that
they must separate the positions
taken out Of mere opposition to Will
timely aimed at solving our dim
culties.
The other Is that the solutions must
90 to the root of troubles There are
somewhere between four and six mil
lion men out Of employment today.
So far they have been able to live on
their savings. How much longer can
they live on their savingsr
QUESTION OF MARKETS.
The question most talked about
among themselves BY these men IL
the question of markets. American
business has developed In such q way
that II has become dependent on ex-
port What are you going TO do. get
your exports back again or try to find
an adjustment that Will enable you
to get on without them7
The circle Is obvious The farmers
produce has largely been sold abroad
So have copper and other staples. II
farm products are not sold the farmer
ceases to become q purchaser. II he
ceases to become a purchaser those
INDUSTRIES which supply him must
shut down
If they shut down they are not In
the market for supplies which closes
other Industries Their employees
closes stfn others. SO you can chase
the consequence a. far as you nike.
These things have to be faced
High onctals In Washington talked
lot about a physiological" in
term tarifH They are looking at the
regular tariff primarily from the
Psychological point Of view. But all
that Is mainly blur. These things
have to be faced as realities.
The Cummins committee Is not the
only body at present hearing evil
dence on the railroad situation The
Railroad Administration is also lis
tenine to witnesses. Here In a con-
versation between q railroad presi-
dent and an attorney for the Rail-
road Administrntion:
NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT.
The railroad president: TT we had
had control of our own property W.
would not have raised wages during
the war rs much as the Government
did"
The attorney. Were wages raised
more than those In other industries -
Answer Yea
Question; Were they raised more
than IN the Steal Corporationr
Answer: Il do not know
Question. Can you name a large
business In which they were raised
lessf-
Answer. Il cannot
Question: Can you, from your
own observation in the netghborhood
Ilabor-the bricklayern, for example
were raised less7-
Answer: Il cannot say.
The lawyer: viii you be good
enough to explain. IL you know moth
ing whatever about the subject, how
you dare come here and charge that
the American Government raises
were unreasonableT-
The President: That IL my impress
sion
That IL about the value of the talk
that has been brought out 20 far
There IL some basic study being given
to these underlying questions. but Mr.
Hays warning 10 thoroughly called
for. Among politicians there is too
much attempt ut superficial impress
| sions, too little solid planning. II
any real solution to the railroad
question were in sight the men would
not be silly enough to strike