Show Wll m APPEAL CHIEF TOPIC form formIN IN LABOR CIR C l Whether Will Strike September 2 Is Question That Seems s r Difficult of Answer of President Wilson A APPEAL for or a truce in the the- wage demands of railroad and his stand against the granting granting granting grant grant- ing of any further increases either in wages or freight rates until the country assumes a more firm and normal economic basis was a matter of ot wide discussion in local labor circles today Whether or not the sudden ultimatum ultimatum ulti ulti- of ot the chief executive will prevent a general strike of on September 2 was th the chief topic of ot discussion labor off officials REFERENDUM M LIKELY Some officials expressed the belief beliet that the national committee would I submit the new question to a vote lot lof of the unions rather than reject the proposal of ot the president and issue an order for a general strike Other officials predicted that the strike striker vote taken taleen several weeks ago on the wage compromise offered by the railroad administration would be put into effect ef effect effect ef- ef on September 2 and all the shop crafts cratts walk out The issue is the same now as it has been all the time said Joseph Lee Lec secretary and business agent of ot the machinists' machinists union The men voted to strike on September 2 if their demands for an Increase in wages were not granted A compromise was offered and this was rejected by the unions Unless the original demands are met metor metor metor or a more favorable compromise ma made mads between the railroad administration and the national executive committee there is every probability that the strike will be called STRIKE LIKELY Information was expected hourly from the national executive committee as to the effect of ot the presidents president's dec declaration tiec- tiec ec- ec for a wage truce No local official seemed competent to predict just what action would be taken by bythe bythe bythe the national officers oft If It they submit the question to the unions the belief was expressed that the men would again vote to strike If It the plan is rejected by the national committee It ItIs Itis itis is expected they will call a general strike on the strength of ot the previous strike vote |