The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-16

- WV
trstnyreu was brought ap in the con-
ference yesterday, and il was decided
sihat s.Si aar4enttrusn Mt -E4isga; delay thss
/ hslJs TN :. a. 7.,. *. ..ts - ~ n ~
4 ~. THE syaewsf sersoSt= 'ssfskt tsaef@ has
evpr confronted as la krnsninea',& said
Mr., Clayton, ''and everybody wants 10
avert u ("
sr~ass for the prpgre~sive~. '-'
M Ysrvsu or washington, said
that the proeressivcs had been frozen
ont of ali agreements In the pending
bill.
"The prorressives are considered TO
ene 81, thoroughly awake as to STAND
nv ANYTHING that is right, bat IN these
conferences the fcur~million minority
ought 20 be considered as well As the
Republican three-miliion minority
Representative Murdoch, floor lead
er Of the progresslvcs, punctuTeu 'he
BRYAN balloon nv saying he had been
invited to the White House confer
ence.
"Don't inject politics into a crisis
like this" advised Eeprese
Mann. the Republican leader
The proposition was TO rEsN the
NH through with only two amend
1rents, and limiting the debate 10 one
hour.
Representative Clayton opened the
debate. calling attention to the fact
that the greatest railroad STRIKE in
IRE history ~ the country is now
threatened, involving thousands 81
employees running the trans 0oFth 81
the Potomac and east NJ me NtsSouf.'
Both branches cf congress. ne saia'
= 70
national calamity.
sThe time is usst when q strike
concerns TO one hut the road and the
a,anfoyes he sa7d at concerns
every one. regardless % their eccupa-
tions There has never been more
far-reachirE act or a moro henetcent
one. II marks new era in the set
Element 81 Industrial disputes.
Exemplifies Best Method.
.rr Will show industrial workers tine
best method Of settling questions WIN
out falling into tho warfare or strikes
we should teach this lesson to work
ers and capitalists--that it's better To
have a peaceful settlement thah
strike, and that arbitration can DC
practically accomplished.
He said employees were not READY 10
trust the Erdman act implicitly
He paid tribute TO Judge knapp
and NJ Neil fer their wise admins
tration under the Erdman act, ana
then went on To detail some OF ,ne
difficulties Of arbitration under That
act. ..
Representative Clayton pointed out
that under the proposed bill the arbi-
tration Will be under the eye OF the
president and not under cabinet OF
flcer. The employees want power 10
subpoena Witnesses and To nave IN
1xrr rtH go IN D n
machinery Of arbitration.
Representative Garrett or IeXas.
asked questions
after this is a law how do we know
there viii not he a strike p
1--WE are taking men at their words"
replied Representative Clayton. We
have some faith in this power, weak
humanity of ours. We believe this bill
appeals "a good business sense general
Wand we believe railroad employees
orsSht-to have some one to whom they
can take their grievances concerning
their wage and work, and we nave
gone beyond the age where we can ig-
more workingman.
No Binding Force He Insists.
Representative Garrett still insisted
there lis no binding force in the bill
God forbid" shouted Representa-
tive CLAYTON. that we should have
arbitration by compulsion. 1t would
fly in the face Of the constitution.
That's all" said Representative
Garrett.
eff the gentleman is satisfied 7 vii
omit the rest of an excellent perora
ton" declared Clayton,
representative Dick r. Morgan. OF
Oklahoma, rregsing against the pro.
posed amend m ents TO the Frdman act
said that the employees DO not con
ia. l..
ing as important as the mediation
features.
Murdoch Has Doubts.
Representative Murdoch, offKansas
speaking from the Progressive camp
said that the dispatch with which tbs
president had furthered arbitration
woal Id be commended.
But the situation presents problem
which this measure cannot solve. Tit
trainmen are face 10 face with tn
problem OF living. We know tina
trainmen are Of high skill and OF dis
eliminating mind. They have not beei
moved by women or priests. They ar,
not quarreiing with the railroads o
their bread and butter"
He said those in control OF tn
standards Of the cost Of living for tn
past twenty years. had been the mas
ters and that breadWinners have beef
losing ground.
We pass this thing today for neces
eity, but we do not touch the hi
question which is stahhing at ou
vitals, What about the other side
How about the waste and how ahou
the report in the case Of the New
Haven showing that sl2 600, 000 hat
been wasted for nothing?
''The average member ~ congress
regards The trainmen as highly paid
yet the matter Of bread and butte
brings on almost a strike"
He said the days OF compromise ar
going and that II the executive AM
congress should get down TO the fun
damentals there would be precious lit
tie use for the act