The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-31
BIG STRIKE MIGHT
BE POSTPONED
CONTINUED from page l.,

Il BE POSTPONED
i Continued from page ~
feet, it means that the event Of mill
tary necessity" will be virtually made
/ to order by the coming movement OF
troops northward. Congressional
leaders were expected to use the
argument that the scheduled troop
movement could not be made, in case
of strike, unless the power asked Is
accorded the president.
Brotherroods Would Accept.
TBy J. p. Yoder, United Press Stan
Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. 31.-A legis.
latiye settlement, even though it does
not include all demands made by the
big four railway brotherhoods Will be
acceptable to the four hundred thou
Island employees who have all plans set
Ito strike Monday. Such settlement,
A. B. Garretson, chief OF the conduc-
tors, told the senate interstate COM
merce committee today, must include
Ian eight hour day law.
| Garretson was today's first speaker
| at the hearing to consider testimony
from the brotherhood chiefs, the
before legislative action is taken.
LAS for the question of authority
said Garretson, x could call off the
strike But that would be only through
a satisfactory settlement such as
have just mentioned. For that matter
care not through what exigency that
satisfactory settlement may come"
/ "You have seen the scarehead head
lines about refusal to call off the
strike, bravado and all that" con-
tinued Garretson. Il don't know
whether you realize the responsibility
we have because Of the strike vote.
It cannot be put lightly aside"
Senator Newlands opened the COM
mitee hearing by outlining the six
measures desired by President WI
son. lie said no legislation propos ed
or to be proposed would involve
compulsory arbitration" The stron-
gest measure In that direction, he
said, simply called for government
inquiry and report, that left both par
ties to the dispute free to act as they
thought best.
Garretson served notice that the
brotherhoods' opposition to legislation
like the Canadian disputes act is I'M
swervtng.
mo influence can change our posi-
ton. on this" he said.
The committee room was crowded.
Every seat was occupied and the
spectators overflowed into the hall
way.
Samuel Gompers, president OF the
American Federation OF Labor, ar
rived with the brotherhood executives.
| At times during Garretson's talk,
Gompers nodded his head in vigorous
| approval of the points made by the
/ speaker.
Among the railway heads present
were Elisha Lee, chairman CT the ma
tfonal conference committee of the
railways; E. II. Coapman, vice presi-
| dent of the Southern; John T. Walk
er, secretary conference committee
of the eastern railways; A. d. Grelg,
assistant to the receiver of the, st.
Louis and San Francisco; ]. M. Shee.
| han, counsel OF the national confer
ence committee; C. L. Bards, general
manager Of the New Haven; N. D.
Mayer, vice president OF the N. and
l-W.; l. w. Baldwin, general manager
OF the Central of Georgia; w. l.. Sid
dons, vice president of the S. A. L.,
! and n. w. McMaster. general man
ager OF the Wheeling and Lake Erie.
Garretson told of the fight the
brosherhoods have had since they
organized. to get better working con.
ditions. He said before the organiza.
| tons were protected, it was com
mon thing for men to be on duty with
human lives in their charge twelve
hours on stretch.
| "And always their monthly wage
was the same Can there be bet
tier argument for time and half for
over time work." he demanded. He
said the men demand the eight hour
day-they do not request it-as
human right to be allowed every
man"
1--WE are demanding some OF the
pleasures the ordinary man enjoys
We are mere travellers over the face
, of the earth. Only through the eight
| hour day can we have part OF the
rights and pleasures of life enjoyed
| by the average man. ] wonder how
many of you gentlemen realize what
a boon it is that your lives In youl
homes are a sealed book when YOU
want It to be so. 1t is not so WITH
the railroad man. We must always
be ready for call Even when of
duty our employers must know where
we are.
| with an eight hour law properly
enforced, present conditions would bt
| impossible Why. it used to openl!
be advocated when train crews hae
long shifts that so long as one maj
STAYED awake while the rest got
nap. 1t would be all right"
! The railroads, Garretson said. have
IN de only one definite settlement
proposal-to shift the whole questicr
to the interstate commerce commls
sion or to submit to arbitration. Ht
| said the brotherhoods do not oppose
the principle of arbitration, but az
oppose it under its application In re
cent cases, where he held. the roads
have done their own interpreting o.
awards.
Our men are human, he con
tinued They are men VINO are
"a