The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-03-20
ROOSEVELT TAKES
HAND IN Fight TO
DELAY LABOR WAR
Calls Motor Makers and Repre-.
sentatives Of Employees
to Conference
MOVES IN RAILROAD BATTLE
Tells Both Sides Public Interest
Is Paramount; Urges
Settlement

President Roosevelt acted Tuesday
to avert crises in the automobile and
railroad labor arguments and Wall
Street reacted with . boom In shares.
With automobile manufacturers and
labor leaders in apparent deadlock.
the president invited both factions to
meet Wednesday at the White House
and asked that any action toward q
strike. scheduled for 8 a. M, Wednes-
day. be delayed at least until Thurs
day.
Both sides accepted the invitation
and labor leaders said the appeal for
postponement Of the strike would
have their sympathetic consideration.
Addressing letters to railroad EN-
ployers and employees, he warned both
sides not to forget that the public In
terest Is paramount and repeated his
request that the status quo be con-
tinued for six months.
After the Federal Trade commits
sion had reported that the NRA code
for the iron and steel industry had
resulted in its control by the larger
units, caused price fixing and pro-
duced violations of commission orders.
the government filed suit against the
Weirton Steel company. charging 1t
with violating the code by interfering
with employees right to organize.
Could Use License Powers
Reports from Washington said the
president had been urged to use the
licensing powers granted him under
many MIRA codes but there was nc
indication that he intended to do so
The railroad labor argument reach
ed q head Monday when employees
rejected a proposal to go along on
the present basis, which provides for
q wage l0-per-cent less than the
base pay, and demanded an increase
Of 10-per-cent over the base pay Or
20 per cent above the present figure.
Railroad managers already had
demanded a l5-per-cent reduction
or five per cent less than the present
basis.
In q letter to both sides Tuesday
the president said:
1T is a profound disappointment
to learn that no progress toward an
agreement has been made at the con-
ference.
II fear that sight Is being lost OF
the most important factor Of all, the
good of the country.
May Name Investigat0gs
IF no agreement Is reached. and
In default Of arbitration, it may be
necessary for me, with due regard to
the protection Of the general public
interest, to appoint q commission to
examine thoroughly into the labor
controversy. covering all classes Of
railroad employment, in order that
the country may be advised Of the
merits"
Roosevelt also gave notice to the
railroads that he felt some Of the
wages being paid employees were be-
low the minimums established in the
MIRA codes, III not actually below q
subsistence basis"
The basis Of the automobile labor
trouble is recognition Of the American
Federation Of Labor unions. The
manufacturers favor company unions
and the A. F. OF L. advocates demand
recognition. The fight over wages Is
said to be incidental, since the en-
ployers are willing to grant SUBJ
stantial raise.
Reports Of new strikes and incipient
troubles came from many cities where
motor and motor accessory firms are
located.