Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Tells Shopmen That Demands For Increase in Wages is * Not Timely SAYS WOULD INCREASE HIGH COST OF LIVING Suggests That They Await the ? Readjustment of Industrial Conditions On Peace Basis -: Washington, A lg. 2 5.?Post'pon e iwssht: of the settlement of the shop men's wage demands until normal economic conditions are restored was ?itthounced toc:ay by President Wilson affrthe policy which the administra tion will pursue in. dealing with such Ojiestions, particularly those affect ing railroad workers, v The president announced also that % was neither wise nor feasible at this time, when. the most important question before the country is a re t3irn to a" normal price level, to at tempt to increase freight rates to pro vide .funds for higher wages. "We ought to postpone questions of this sort until we have the oppor tunity for certain calculations as to the. relation between wages and the cost of living,'*- the president declared in a statement to the public explain ing his -decision as to wages. "It.is the duty of every citizen to insist upon a truce in such contests until! intelligent settlements can be made, and made by peace and effec tive common counsel. I appeal to my fenow^citizens. q? every employment to coopferate in insisting upon and main lining such a truce." Mr. Wilson's statement was issued in cbmJ?ction with the decision of ^imself and Director General Hines on demands by railroad shopmen for eV 23 per cent advance in wages, but ?le general policy pronounced cov ers also the wage demands of other hundreds of thousands of railroad ?workers, which are pending before the director general or about to be presented. It is to be expected that other Unions trying to obtain more will be asked, as the shopmen, to part with other citizens in the . cost of living by fore ijfctemporary advantage which id to transportation costs, ?cision of the president and general was announced ttee of one hundred repre ftshopmen. In reply to their ?r a 25 per cent increase, were asked to accept an of their pay to the basis pay for eight hours t? they contended was giv ?mployes and denied them EAdamson law became effec means an advance of the Ibasfo pay for 68 cents to 72 cents . an hour, whereas an increase of 17 / cents to 86 cents an hour was de zn?hdedJ "^-Acting President Jewell; of the rail way employes department of the American Federation of Labor, and htfe-advisers said they would com municate the decision to the union locals for acceptance or rejection.' A strike vote completed yesterday, but not yet tabulated, was on the ques tion of whether the men should quit work to enforce considertaion of their demands or by a congressional commission as first suggested. As this plan was abandoned, the vote, whatever its result, is non-effective '-} and. the shopmen'now have an entire ly new question before them. * This question they were asked by Resident Wilson, through their com mittee, to consider "in a new light." "We are face to face with a situ ation," the president said, "which is, more likely to affect the happiness - and prosperity and evert the life of our people than the war itself." . He thereupon outlined the govern ment's efforts to reduce prices and the need for assisting these efforts by stimulating production and main taining transportation. A general increase in the levels of wages might defeat this at its very beginning/' the president said. "I be-! lieve that the present efforts to re duce the costs of living will be suc cessful, if no new elements of diffi culty are .thrown in the way. I con fidently count upon the men engaged Jn the service of the railways to as sist, not obstruct. They are good Americans, along with the rest of us and may, I am sure, be counted on to .sec'the point. "It goes without saying that if our ? efforts to bring the cost of living do^n should fail, it will be. of course, .necessary to accept the higher costs *&s a permanent basis of adjustment. -And railway wages should be adjusted :alqng with the rest." Mr. Hines' recommendation to the '.president as to the amount of increase to be. given went exhaustively into the reasons advanced by the shopmen as to* the necessity for more pay. He | showed that the average increase in J shopmen's earnings was in excess of J th 3 total increase in the cost of liv ? from July 191 r> to August 1. j 1919. due to the fact that standard ization adopted at the request of the employes had given thousands n vhigher classification and hierher pay than they previously enjoyed. Wages paid for similar work in I ship yards, which workers the shop-1 men have cited as higher paid, Mr. Hines said, were higher because the work was temporary and carried on under great pressure, and also th" wrrkmen were forced to live in con ge:ir**d districts where living was ex tremely high, while railroad shopmen generally have the advantage of ffemel] or semi-rural communities. Pri vate industries, the director general found, were paying about 3 cents an hour more than the railroad admin istration, which difference will be Railroad President Says That Rates Are Insufficient to Pay Operating Expenses EQUIPMENT IS IN A RUN DOWN CONDITION When Roads Are Returned to Private Ownership Many Ad ? justments to Be Made Washington, Aug. 25.?A 25 per cent increase in railroad rates must, follow return of the railroads to pri vate ownership, Howard Elliott, pres ident of the Northern Pacific Rail road, told the house interstate com merce committee today. This esti mate, he added, was made on the as sumption that there would be no more wage increase or advances in mater j ial costs. "Would 25 per cent rease solve the problem for the w..^ie country?": asked Representative Sims. Democrat, of Tennessee. "I think it would," reponded Mr. Elliott, adding that he preferred the rate increase to the continued pay ment of the government guaranteed compensation. New England roads, he asserted, were in bad shape and were not earning the government guaran teed compensation. Asked if a 25 per cent increase of rates would hamper business or in crease the cost of living, Mr. Elliott replied that the effect, in his opinion, had been exaggerated, but he did not want to give the impression that it would have no effect on living cost generally. In advocating wage legislation, Mr. Elliott said, "let the wives of the men vote on the strike: they are -the most affected." The great majority of railroad employees, he said, did not want to strike, and he urged some legislation for the adjustment of dis putes. He suggested that labor unions be required to incorporate and file re ports, like business corporations, and that employes be compelled to serve notice before quitting work. Alba B. Johnson of Philadelphia, former president of the Baldwin Loco motive Works, urged the observa tion of the interstate commerce com mission as a judicial body. He ap peared before the committee as spokesman of the railway business as sociation, an organization of manu facturers o? railway supplies. Mr. Johnson advocated creation of a federal transportation board to certify to the commission the amount j of revenue necessary in the public interest. He predicted that if au thority over the amount of revenue were left to the commission, it would bring on government ownership in ten years, if not in five. ANTI SALOON LEAGUE MEETING Great Conference to Be Held in Chicago Westervile, Aug. 26.?Ernest Cher ryton,* secretary of the Anti-Saloon League, ?< announced a conference of all State leagues at Chicago on Sep tember 17th to take steps for the en forcement of the prohibition low and to make plans to extend the campaign to other countries. ALLIES TAKE ODESSA AGAIN Bolsheviks Admit Loss of Black Sea Port London, }Aug. \ 26".?A Bolshwik wire message from Moscow admitted the occupation of Odessa, the chief Russian, port on the black sea. by al lied forces. STRIKE SERIOUS AT MARSEILLES Work in City Almost Completely Suspended Paris. Aug. 26.?Work a1 Marsailles has been^almost completely suspend ed on account of the dock workers' strike. equalized under the ; cents advance. "I approach this ma tier." Mr. Hines said, in his report, "with the clearest conviction that the railroads must be conducted now and for all time in the future in such a way as to give to railroad employes an ade quate compensation and a liberal share in the returns from railroad operation. This is not only justiy due to the employes who make possible the rendition of the service, but it is obviously in the interest of good ser vice. It is true now and will be true to a continually increasing extent in j th?- future that :i state of content ment on the part of lilroad labor will be indispensable to efficient railroad service and this content ment cannot exist unless the evidence of, fair tretament is so clear that it { will carry conviction to the railroad employes themselves." In addition to the four cents an hour increase for most of the shop men the director general ordered fh.it all freight car repairmen receive six ty-seven cents an hour. instead of sixty-three cents for steel car repair ers and fifty-eight cetr.s for wooden car repairers, and that ear inspect ors should receive sixty-seven cents instead of fifty-eight cents, with the exception in both classes that' the in crease for men employed at outlying points, where the work is not contin uotis, shall be four cents an hour. Recommends Refrigerator. Cars Be Operated By Govern ment Monopoly FACKERS TO BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS i j Railroads Will Be Licensed to J Own and Operate Cars After [; Government \cquisition j Washington. Aug. 26.?In a special report to President Wilson the fed eral trade commission recommended that the operation of refrigerator cars he made a government monoply. Tire report recommends the property be acquired by the government and the railroads be licensed to own and op erate them. TO ESTABLISH FOOD STORES Retail Stores to Be Established to Sell Army Supplies Washington, Aug. 26.?Retail stores for the sale of army foodstuqs are to (t(jL! established September 25th, it was announced today. The stores will fill mail orders and be continued in definitely as a part of the government campaign against high cost of living. It is understood fourteen supply cit ies are planned. Prices are to be fixed to avoid discrimination. VICTORY REPORTED FOR DENEKINE j Anti-Bolshevik Leader Gaining Territory London, Aug .26.?The war office today announced the rapid advance by forces of Gen. Denikine. the airii Bolshevik leader in Southern Rus sia. RIOTS RAMPANT IN PITTSBURG Thousand Extra Policemen Are Sworn in to Keep Peace Pittsburgh. Aug. 2G.?A thousand extra policenien have been sworn in as the result of the trolley strike and the following riots in which a score of persons were injured. The trans portation system is tied up. DYE STUFFS SCARCE Proposed to Buy Supply From Germany Washington. Aug. 26.?The alien property custodian has asked per mission of President Wilson to send an agent to Paris for the purchase a six months supply of German dye stuffs as the American supply is about exhausted. CLAIMS OF SHOPMEN Dircetor General Hines Requests Board to Act Promptly Washington. Aug. 26.?Director General Hines has requested th*1 board of railway wages and working conditions to t;ike up promptly any] claims of railway employes in connec- i tion with the four cent raise gratis! ; the shopmen. THE PRINCE'S TOUR Prince of Wales Pays Visit to Wounded Veterans at Toronto Toronto. Aug. 20.?The Prince of Wales visited wounded veterans at j this city today. COUNTRY SHOULD GET PREPARED j Washington, Aug. 25.? In view of the wage demands made by railroad j employes, the government should take ! steps to prepare for a nation-wide strike of these employes without waiting until the transportation sys tems actually arc tied up. the senate was told today by Senator Thomas.] Democrat, of Colorado. '?J hope." he said, "the government <-?:" tin- United States, representing all the ' eople. whose mission it is to en force the laws, will not wait until this calamity is announced and becomes general, but will take steps to anti cipate it by providing for the opera tion of trains over the railways of the country." CARRANZA BLOCK- ! ED EXPEDITION; Candelaria. Texas. Aug. 2". (By Army Telephone to Presidio, Texas).? j Th<- American punitive expedition into ! Mexico was deterred from continuing ! the pursuit of Mexican bandits who held the American aviators for ran som by the presence of Carranzai troops six miles north of Coyame, ('hi huahua. Saturday, according to a re port :made by Capt. Leonard Matlack. of the Eighth cavalry. Paris. Aug. 26.?George S. Gas ton-Quien answered negatively all the questions on th*- first day of his trial on the charge of betraying Edith Ca vell. Military Force Called uut to Prevent Renewal of Biody Rioting FOUR ARE KILLED AND THIRTEEN WERE INJURED ! Traction Company Strike Reach | es a Serious Stage in North Carolina City I Charlotte. Aug. 23.?Statt? troops land deputies patrolled the principal streets today to prevent a renewal of the rioting in connection with the ! street car strike which resulted in j the death of four men and injury to thirteen last night. Additional mili tary is ordered here. Xo effort has ?been made to resume operation of the airs which have been tied up for two weeks. TO ESTIMATE ON STATE HIGHWAY j i _______ Bids For Construction of Mayes vifle Road Will Be Called For Chairman Mcl^aurin of the County Board of Commissioners states that the estimate for the road to be built via Mayesville to the Lee county line will be given out by the State High way Commission within the next few days. Bids will then bo called for in order to get the road started. Mr. McLaurin states that nearly all nec essary rights of way have been se cured. On next Tuesday the board will hold a meeting at which plans will be dis cussed. Kagood Xews and Views. _ Quite a lot of people these days are trying to do likewise. A very large percent of the rest are in a peck of trouble because they just can't. It is amusing, interesting to be a disin terested spectatior of the procession. When the cotton crop is gathered it will be found shorter than appear ances indicate. We sincerely hope the cotton asso ciation is an assured fact this time. Thoroughly organized the farmers j standing by their obligations can con I trol the situation. Your writer is of j opinion that the white farmer, if de feat comes, will occasion it. Before, notwithstanding ihere was lack of co operation on the part of many prom inent farmers it acomplished much. Its unreasonable demands defeated it. The wheat crop this year was poor J indeed for lack cf potash' mainly, we i believe. After it was harvested much of it was greatly damaged by the weevil, being left in the sheaf too S long before threshing. How about that Pennsylvania pot ash? Will sufficient be mined to sup ply the farmers? What will it cost? Potash and kainite is coming from across the water. How will the prices compare with the old? All our sandy lands are suffering for lack of it. The land is filled wtih dishonesty in one or another form. God only knows what is; in sture for us. You are ac quainted with "Believe half you see and nothing you hear." What is it that is not in the air? Toil spend a dollar and most you get is wind with long and short i. Some valuable property has been! sold in our community lately for a half thousand, other that was bought six months ago is held for nearly double what it then cost. How many people will profit by offering of T'ncle Sam of food? Misses Ruth Thompson and Court enay Atkinson with Mrs. II. C. Be- j thea leave in a few. days for Harris j Springs . Mrs. Chas. Jaekson goes to Glonns. { Mr. Isaac Sanders has returned from Glenns. Mr. Walter Lenoir is erecting a commodious residence at Horatio. The school authorities of State - I burg school are electing a substantial j building in the stead of the old j aca d emy. God is making the world, and will j not suffer us puny pimps to mar it.j rest assured of that. Ke does actual-j lay say "Thus far shall thou go and | no farther" and He does actually' laugh at our impotent rage. A colored boy working at the W. H. j Freeman shingle mill, had his arm, cut off just above th" wrisr. He was! rushed to the infirmary in your city. Who is to blame for the miserable roads all over our county? They are! a sight. How long will it continue?! The W. C. A. people of Colin ?bia| break camp here this week and re-j turn to Columbia. A son of Mr. 10. Jenkins of Colum bia, a little McCahe girl and a Mon-j teith girl all of the same place arc ' visiting Frances Moody. j; "Circumstances alter eases." Very J true, but because you happen to be j ] lloating with horse apples is not a i.j sufficient reason that you an? one or j that therij is any affinity between;] you. One hog will squeal a lot over a j nubbin while a big ear is scarcely sufficient to call forth a grunt from another. In the same way one man will cut "big Ik with a "loafer,": while another is not affected by a twenty cent cigar. Two new ginneries are in process of erection in our community. Mr. Palmer McClclTan's and Mr. W. II. Freeman's. Much complaint abroad about weevils in wheat. i "Hagood." R-onibert. Aug. ?.r.. \ \ LTJ3DBER \ r8&&!$ ARE YOU GOING TO BUILD? Wc sell everything for any building BOOTH & McLEOD. Inc. BUILDING MATERIAL BUILDERS' HARDWARE TO MAKE TOUR OF THE COUNTRY President Wilson Will Speak in the Interest of the Peace Treaty WILL LEAVE WASHING TON NEXT WEDNESDAY Presidential Party Will Include Mrs. Wilson, Admiral Grayson and Secretary Tumulty Washington. Aug. \2'6.? President Wilson will leave Washington next Wednesday on a speech making tour in the interest of the peace treaty, delivering the first address next Thurs day at Columbus. He will be- ac ! companicd by Mrs. Wilson. Admiral j Grayson, the White House physi cian. Secretary Tumulty and a corps i of secretaries and stenographers. NEGROES THREAT ' EN GOVERNMENT Demand Made on Congress For Guarantee of Racial Equality Washington. Aug. 2$.?A delega tion of negroes asking for an amend ment to the peace treaty guaran teeing racial equality, told the senate foreign relations committee today that serious trouble might be expected un less the negro is riven better treat ment in the United States. The kind of trouble they threaten was not speci fied, nor was any particular section mentioned. Coblenz. Aug. 28.?Belgium has bought eleyen million dollars worth of supplies, sent from the United State? for the American army of oc cupation. Jackson. Aug. 28.-r-Russe 11 has been elected governor over Johnson, ac cording to the latest and almost com plete returns. Washington, Aug. 27.?Secretary Baker has asked congress for author ity to spend eight million dollars of the funds already appropriated for construction work at various camps, including Tamp Benning, Ga.. and Camp Bragg. X. C. I I I IN BALKANS - Serbians and Montenegrins" Are Fighting Over Pro posed Union I .??>'?*". I - /??'.? ? MONTENLcrRINS HAVE CUT THE RAILROAD Reinforcements Obtained By I Serbians But Do Not Put Down Revolution Lenden, Aug, 2S.?Montenegrins have, cut the railway between Virpa j zar and Antinavari on the coast. The {Serbians arc receiving reinforcements j but arc not meeting with much suc | ccsa in putting down the revolution j reports indicate. The Montenegrin \ spirit is reported thoroughly aroused j against the proposed union with ? Serbia. ! CARNEGIE'S WILL j Estate Estimated to Be Worth Thirty Millions J Xew York, Aug. 28.?Andrew Car ; negie's will was made public today, j The estimated value of the 'estate is ! between twenty-five and thirty mil j lion. All works of art and real es i t?te are left to his widow. Annunities j of ten thousand dollars are bequeath ed to former President Taft and Pre i mier Lloyd George. Annunit-ies of j five thousand are left to Mrs. Theo I dore Roosevelt, and Mrs. Thomas J. j Preston, widows of former presidents. SHIP STRIKES ROCK ! Halifax, X. S., Aug. 25.?The Royal j Mail Packet Company's steamer Chau | diere has gone ashore at Bermuda, according to messages received here. ! The steamer struck a rock. She sail ? ed from here last Friday with nearly i 100 passengers for Barbados and j Demerara. The Chaudiere registers ! 2,f?00 tons. j While navigating the narow nas i sage known as "Two Rock passage" j to the port of Bermuda today, the j steamer struck a rock, tearing a hole j in her starboard side. Considerable x j water entered number one hold, but I the steamer reached her dock safely.. - j She will be unable to continue her I voyage. _ . fTfij I i i i Good Judgment Plus- JXknoC? ledge and equipment aid us in fitting your eyes correctly, but-good judgment is what really counts. THERE'S A REASON First we find your needs, then we consider your wishes and he nature of your requirements. We now figure out what wiil give you the maximum in comfort, service and vision. You can depend upon our judgment and advice absolutely. D. L, WILLIAMS Office at City Drug Store Formerly Willi W. A. Thompson NEILL O'DOWKLL, O. L. VATKS. Cashier Successful Banking Vom cannot run a bank successfully unless you. have good advisers. Our Board of Directors who map out the policy of this institution are among the most successful and substantial business and professional men in the community. They meet weekly, ex amine carefully every loan and ap plication, and the result of their de liberations is recorded in our min utes. Wo attribute our success large ly to the assistance Riven us by our Board* of Directors. The First National Bank SUMTER, S C