The Washington herald., 1921-09-16
FOODS GOING UP,
MEN TELL DAVIS,
PROTESTING CUT
Navy Yard Workers Con-
tinue Fight on Re-
ductiOn.

The fight on the navy yard wage
cut was continued yesterday by the
yard machinists, who called the at
tention Of Secretary Of Labor Davis
to a recent Labor Department re-
port, in which the retail food index
showed a national increase in the
price of foodstuffs for August OF
4.3 per cent over that for July.
A protest OF Portsmouth and Nor
folk business men was also pre-
sented at the White Eouse.
VIII Call on Davis Today.
The delegation which called on
Secretary Davis comprised the leg
islative committee Of Columbia
Lodge, ia. International Associa-
tion Of Machinists.
The Secretary, according TO the
delegation, expressed much inter
est and requested the committee TO
furnish him the rates Of pay in
force in private establishments.
which were presented TO the wage
board. The committee will call ON
him again this morning and furnish
this data.
Many Quitting.
A number Of mechanics. which
Will surprise the Secretary Of the
Navy, have quit their positions in
the navy yard TO accept offers in
private establishments at higher
rate of pay, and large numbers Uf
others are looking out for outside
connections" II. l.. Leeman, presi-
dent OF Columbia Lodge. declared
last night.
The morale of the workmen in
the navy yards is torn to sareGs,r
Leemah continued. The only hope-
ful factor is that the men feel tnat
the reduction ordered Will be de-
ferred when its unrightcOusacss 5
recognized"
A committee consisting Of y. p.
Alifas, president Of District Si. In
ternational Association OF Ma
chinists; Archie T. Luther and
Frank w. Lee, yesterday called at
the White House and presented a
petition signed by approximately
1000 business men Of Portsmouth
and Norfolk, protesting the wage
cut.
shows Business Opinion.
In presenting the petition. the
delegation declared il showed That
the American business man was Mt
desirous Of having wages reduced.
realizing that the reduction in
workers purchasing power affected
both merchant and manufacture.
Word was received yesterday 10
Washington that the National Fed
Grafton of Federal Employees, now
meeting at New Orleans. has de-
termined to carry the fight against
the pay cut to Congress Members
Of the convention condemned Sec
retary DENLY and praised POstrnas-
ter General Hays for their posi-
tions in the matter.
In order to enlist the support If
the business interests OF Washing
ton on the side Of the navy works
men, officers Of the machinists yes
terday issued a double appeal "a
the merchants and bankers.
The Appeal.
we desire to call TO your atten-
tion the fact" says the appeal
that the purchasing power Of the
pechanics employed in the waSh-
inEton Navy Yard On July 80. 1921,
represented s45.SS each. that the
arbitrary ruling Of the Secretary of
the Navy reduced this purchasing
power to $500 per week. a care
full estimate OF this situation gi-es
us the information that Il will
mean the withdrawal Of at least
100000 per week from the pur-
chasing power of the employees of
the Washington Navy Yard alone.
This reduction must be reflected
in the mercantile establishments Of
the city of Washington an5 the