Show I I I I I r I i I A ii Critical Period R RESULTS of the strike vote ote or ordered cred by the thc officials of or orthe the railroad s organization org will be bc eagerly awaited b by the thc general public follo following in ing the announcement of the thc Presidents President's refusal to grant g the thc I request shied shed little l light ht on the thc situation r They rhey indicate that ninny of af the feel they have not been been given cn just consideration At the tho same time praises ore arc heard for the stand taken by the thc J President r I f as the beginning of a serious effort to reduce the HIe cost lof of living ng- ng Much Macli depends on the thc decision reached by the shop hop hopmen men constituting as it does the pivotal pi point of the re ro- re- re adjustment If f the decide to strike to enforce their demands we maj may look for other difficulties Labor disturbances at this time would woud a aggravate avate the thc living problem as they would tend to reduce an already diminished dimI dim urn I supply of the thc necessities of life Ll Just as tho thoI railroads w were re the backbone of our war machine so o uninterrupted un tin- interrupted operation on is necessary to a successful neo no- negotiation noI of the thc reconstruction problems of the hour Crops Cron in many sections of the country have ha suffered I I I 1 as a 1 Jc result lt 1 of oh the the- dry weather Labor difficulties s which I would tie tic up the tran transportation system would add com com- to the task of creating a food surplus in this I country Transportation facilities today are arc barely adequate ade j ade-j quate for the nee needs s of the thc nation As s a matter of fact coal producers are arc now complaining that they experience I difficulty in iii obtaining sufficient cars This fact coupled coupled cou cou- pled with wilh labor problems at ut the mines presages reduced production and a n depleted depIcted surplus l' l Further difficulties in obtaining obtaining- transportation facilities the lie natural result of f labor disturbances on the lie railroads can only make th lh problem general t nral N No NO- thc railroad feel feci the thic of or men spur spui necessity necessity necessity sity and look upon tI problem as one of making en ends s meet They Thie arc entitled to reductions in in livin living costs which will make their need of wn wage c increases less I in jug ing The same conditions apply to hundreds of press press-I thousands thousands thousands thou thou- sands of toilers in other lines lims of endeavor The public public pub pub- lic lie generally has seen enough h of the enla enlarged ed circle of existence since the beginning of the lie war to know it affords little relief to any worker and works hardships upon thousands who arc are bound to meet the thc advances nd without corresponding increases in income If f by foregoing foregoing fore fore- going oin immediate demands the railroad workers can start the thc tendency downward they will not only speed the solution of their own problems but they will perform performa a national service They however ho have a right to expect expect ex ex- some sonic tangible results in reduced li in living costs if they thc are arc asked to fore forego o their demands for increases to torn rn meet t the advanced ad cost of living ing |