The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1916-07-21
NOT To Be COMPROMISED

Fewer Hours of Toll Protect Work
ere Against Consequences of Over
exhaustion and Give Opportunity For
intellectual Deveiopment-Make For
Welfare of Human Race.
A group Of men have been quietly
meeting In conference considering prob
lens concerning the welfare of about
100000 men who have to do with the
arteries of national transportation and
intercourse. For weeks representatives
of the railroad brotherhoods have been
trying to get the representatives of the
American railroads to agree to an eight
hour workday for all employees operat-
ing trains. There has been concentrate
ed In these conferences the epitome OF
the philosophy Of The labor movement
The demand that has been urged with
out condition has heen the demand
that is fundamental In securing the
welfare of these workers.
The shorter workday Is a condition
OF work which makes possible improve
ments In all other ways. The shorter
workday transforms workers who have
daily worked long period of time into
different individuals physically, men
tally and socially 1t protects the
workers against the consequences of
overexkaustion, assures to them time
for the upbuilding of strength and the
generation Of new energy and gives
them opportunity for those things that
are necessary To individual develop
ment and social intercourse since the
short hour workers become better In
dividuals they are better workers, and
consequently higher wages invariably
attend reductions in the hours of work
The railroad brotherhoods have pre-
sented n straight demand for an eight
hour day, and In order TO enforce chat
regulation they have associated with
the demand penalties for overtime that
would make managers careful IN indis-
criminately prolonging hours of labor
beyond the standard eight hours
The demand for eight hours was one
not subject to compromise. Members
of the railroad brotherhoods who voted
instructed their representatives. to
make this m unconditional demand.
When the representatives Of the rail
roads refused to agree 70 the eight
hour day and aimed to becloud the Is
sue by compromises and to introduce
modifying conditions the conference
came to an end
The real purpose of these demands
was disclosed when the spokeSmen for
the railroads urged the brotherhoods
to abandon their plans while congress
and the commission considered and de-
termined the affairs Of the men. In
other words. the railroads wanted to
deprive the men OF the benefits of or
aniZation-wanted to reduce them to
the ranks Of the unorganized in order
to dominate them us they dominate
their employees who are unorganized.
Among the propositions submitted by
the representatives of the railroad man
ayers was the submission of the mat
ter to the interstate commerce com
mission or the submission OF the de
mand to arbitration In accord with the
provisions Of the Newlands act.
The reasons which We're given by the
representatives Of the railroad men for
refusing these propositions are ex-
tremely significant and have a deep
meaning for all workers. President
Garretson OF the railway conductors
stated that under It's powers the inter
state commerce commission did not
have authority to consider hours OF
work and wages for employees, and,
furthermore, there was no intention on
the part OF the railway men to have q
tribunal pass upon their demands for
the reason that the railway brother
hoods have always combated the idea
of government tribunal to fix wages.
AS result Of years OF experience
the railway brotherhoods have reached
the conclusion that their welfare and
protection depend upon the exercise
of economic power. In presenting pres
ent demands they have relied solely
upon conferences between representa-
tives OF those directly concerned and
have repeatedly stated that they pre-
ferred, If driven to the last point, to
trust their claims to the results of
economic action.
The railroads OF this country have
assumed very grave responsibility
In refusing to agree to just, economic
and humanitarian demand on the part
of their workers. They cannot hide be
hind the quasi-public nature Of the rail
roads to protect them from the conse-
quences of their decision
The railroad men have made just
demand and one that should be grant
ed them, which they must achieve.
They can rely upon the hearty coop
GRAFTON of the entire labor movement
and of all fair minded people OF our
country In their effort to establish their
demands.-American Federationist,