Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-08-31

liberation and temperance which tn.
Importance of the question involved
demands.
May Lead to Civil War
The world is now suffering from a
gigantic war as a result of the applica-
ton of force. The world has apparently
found no other way to settle interna-
|tional differences This present dis
pute, II carried to It's extremes, will in
volve the United States in civil war
THE question is if we cannot find
some means of Bringing about a seftle-l
ment of this dispute between employers
and employees without resort to force.
The senator then announced that the
brotherhood representatives would be
heard first.
At the request of Mr.. Garretson it
was agreed that the brotherhood should
address the committee for two hours in
opening and an hour in closing. Be
tween those two periods representa-
tives of the employers and shippers
were to be allowed six hours.
Mr. Garretson said that besides the
heads, of the four brotherhoods. Sam
uel Gompers, president of the American
Federation Of Labor. also would speak
Mr.. Garretson then began for the. en-
ployes with general review OF the
circumstances which led UP to the pres
ent conditions
Would Settle Own Differences.
1T is the belief of labor organiza-
TONS" he said, that differences be-
tween employers and employees should
not be settled by legislation, but rather
| between themselves.
The success of any labor organiza-
| ton lies, to an extent, in it's militancy."
4 al lad N in ori nf
| power greater than We. and 1t is un-
| fortunate that this situation has arisen.
| but / believe if a settlement can be ef-
fected by Congress, even though we
are. opposed to legislative settlements,
we are willing to waive the age-old
| tradition against it, and to accept a
| legislative settlement. Such a settle
ment in this controversy will be desir-
able, in the circumstances"
The problem of overtime labor, Gar
| retson declared, is largely controlla BILE.
LAS an ethical proposition" he con-
tinued, there is no more reason why
man should be worked more than
eight hours than there is that he should
be worked twenty-four. In the applica-
| ton of principle a different situation
arises"
| Mr. Garretson then reviewed agitation
| that led to the enactment of the six
teen-hour law. declaring that prior to
the passage Of that law that men were
worked just as long as they could keep
their eyes open. But with the estab-
| lishment of the sixteen-hour law, he
said the reduction in hours was met by
| the roads
Thousands Work Long Hours.
| To-day" Garretson continued, thou
sands of men throughout this country
are working from twelve to sixteen
hours, OF which there is no complete
| record"
| These conditions, Garretson declared,
were responsible for the united appear
ance Of the brotherhoods today insist
emily demanding the human right to
| enjoy some of the things that other
men enjoy. The railroad men, he said,
| are wanderers on the face of the earth.
| I'VE believe" said Garretson. that
questions affecting society take prec-
| edence over economics. We believe that
the obligation on the part of the rail-
| road employer Is as great to keep the
| human element in good condition as
| the wooden and iron property of the
| road. Humanity is just much a part
of tho system as the engine or the
lathe"
| Mr.. Garretson insisted that the effect
of an increased wage or dividend
| should not be considered when 1t was
obvious that employees were not being
paid q proper wage.
"A bankrupt road cannot buy its coal
| any cheaper than one that is paying
| SO per cent, then why should any road
buy its labor for less than it is worth
crease its profits?"
Attacks Plea for Arbitration.
| Attacking the railways plea for arbi-
| tration as tnsincere, Mr.. Garretson in
sisted that it was not offered to men
/ nd