The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-20
REFUSAL TO SUBMIT
TO ARBITRATION HELD
TO Be INOEFENS|blE
Logical and Convincing State
men1 Of Situation.
ALL ADVANCES IN SUCH
MATTERS HANG ON PRINCIPLE
II Right Ii Denied Country May Be
Set Back to Old Days OF Strikes.
Lockouts and Disorder Says Repre-
sentative Railroad Man.

Washington. Aug. 1e.-The railway
executives issued the following state
ment this afternoon setting forth what
occurred at the conference with Presi-
dent Wilson this afternoon:
AS spokesman for the thfrty-three
executives who appeared before Presi-
dent Wilson, Hale Holden. president
OF the Chicago. Burlington and Quincy
Railroad, addressed the President In
substance as follows:
The representatives of the rail-
roads here present have given careful
consideration to the proposals submit
ted by you for an adjustment OF the
critical conditions confronting US.
MAY we again express the grave
sense of responsibility upon our
shoulders to discharge, as faithful
trustees OF the public interest. the
duty to maintain and operate these
properties as agencies. efficient at all
times. to serve the continuous public
demand for transportation service. as
faithful trustees also to protect. in
50 far as 1t Is In our power, the In
terests OF owners OF these properties
committed to our charge?
A Fundamental Principle.
TN the previous stages OF these
negotiations, the conference commit
tee Of managers has consistently adj
hered to the policy of arbitration as q
fundamental principle-it is essential
ly the common right OF every citizen
Of whatever station in life to be heard
to have his day in court-it is In
deed a substitute for wasteful litiga-
ton recognized long since in the codes
OF all civilized countries
"A denial OF the right to be heard
does not exist under any form Of gov
eminent with which our race has ever
been familiar and the common accept
ance of international affairs, in the
adjustment of public and private
rights under our Federal and State
governments of the principle of arbi-
tration as an approved method for the
friendly settlement OF the serious con-
tentions of the parties, has put the
right to claim arbitration as a method
of settling such controversies beyond
question. For these reasons. we have
supported our committee in their
continuous demand that In these i'm
portant particulars in which no agree
ment could be reached arbitration
should be accepted upon any real
basis that might be adopted.
The eight-hour day. shall not n
this time stop to fully analyze or COM
ment upon the Importance Of the diff
ference between the eight-hour day as
commonly understood in the building
and manufacturing trades and the So
called eight hour basis day demanded
In this CONFERENCE.-THE eight-hour
day Is. in our mature Judgment when
considered in connection with railroad
train service. a question upon which
honest minds NAV differ and Is there
fore necessarily subject for arbitra-
ton. In that manner the contentious
OF the parties may be considered and
fair answer given.
Many Not on Eight Hour Basis.
Social questions affecting the ordi-
nary work day in which for six days
q week regular daily routine IL pur-
sued. are those which determine how
long. during each Of these periods the
laborcr should work. and while In
some States eight hours has been
adopted ~ the desirable or COM
pulsory, maximum. this broad land IL
today temming with the commanded
and sncisnt industry Of millions Of