The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-11-21
INJUNCTION SUITS
10 Be FOUGHT BY
UNION Leaders
Brotherhood Heads Will Assist 1t
tOrney General
CONFERENCE WITH PRESIDENT
Chairman Adamson, Who Drafted
Eight-Hour Law, Says There
VIII Be Mo Strike.

Washington, Nov 21-Heads of the
railroad employees brotherhoods, who
are determined that the Adamson
eight-hour law shall not be broken
down conferred yesterday with Presi-
dent Wilson, Attorney-General Greg
cry and their legislative representa-
tives, declared their purpose to aid the
government in every way in fighting
injunction suits against the law and
made further plans for perfecting
working agreement with their allies,
the railroad men Of the American
federation of labor When the gov
ernment lawyers. c. Carroll Todd, as
sistant to the attorney-general, AS
sistant Attorney-General Underwood
and Frank Hagerman appear in the
federal court at Kansas City next
Thursday to oppose the Union 7
and Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe
suits against the Adamson law, they
will be hanked by representatives OF
the brotherhoods 1t is probable that
the four brotherhood heads them
selves Will be there.
Great significance is attached to the
announcement yesterday that the
Brotherhood heads will address the
American lede ration OF labor conven-
tion in Baltimore today. Never be-
fore in the history OF the two organi-
cations have any of their members
met in joint session, but their meet.
ing at Baltimore will be the result
CT carefully worked-out agreement
that the two forces shall join hands
in working for the general betterment
OF the organized railway employees.
After receiving the brotherhood
heads and Chairman Adamson, author
of the eight-hour law. President VIII
son virtually finished his message to
Congress in which he will recommend
completion OF the railway legislative
program outlined by him at the last
session. These recommendation in
cmde provisions for the enlargement
OF the interstate commerce commits.
sion and for compulsory Investigation
OF proposed strikes. The latter is bit
terly opposed by the brotherhood
leaders.
After their 15-minute conference
with the president the brotherhood
heads would admit only that they
had congratulated Mr. Wilson on his
reelection Warren S. Stone, head
OF the engineers, declared that he
could not tell now whether a strike
would be called If the eighthour law
was not put into effect January l.
Representative Adamson went over
plans for railroad legislation fully
with the president Afterward he
said he had no doubt that the eight
hour law would be upheld by the
courts as constitutional. adding that
the measure was very carefully
framed by lawyers fully familiar with
the situation and with the constitu-
tion.
He added that he believed the in
terstate commerce commission under
existing laws already had the power
to take wages into consideration in
fixing freight rates. President Wilson
embodied a recommendation for lcgis-
lation giving this power when adj
dressing Congress on the threatened
strike but the Georgia representative
said he believed the president would
agree with him in the end
Il do not think there is anything in
the talk that the railroad men will
call strike If the eight-hour law is
pending in the courts said Mr. Ad-
ssT.
running directly contrary to public
opinion, and that no man or body Of
men can afford to do"