The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1916-09-08
IF LAW FAILS
MEN WILL QUIT
Big Question is How Long
Peace Will Reign

HOuI ulll, cAdCleu lIOiH COH6l coo i1ot
week by the railroad brotherhoods
as the price of calling off the nation
wide strike ordered for Monday, was
signed by President Wilson Sunday
in his private car at the union sta
ton, where he stopped on his way
from Shadow Lawn, N. j., to Hodgen-
vile, Ky. That there may be no ques-
tion as to the legality of the measure
as a result of its having been signed
on Sunday, the president will affix
his signature again upon his return
to Washington Tuesday.
How long peace shall reign as re-
suit of the bill is dependent upon de-
velopments in the proposed test of
the constitutionality of the act.
Should the railroads take no action,
but await the beginning of an inves-
tigation of the workings of the eight
hour day by the special commission
for which the measure provides, the
brotherhoods will remain inactive.
The employees leaders declare,
however, that should the law be held
unconstitutional and the railroads
attempt to restore the 10-hour day
on their lines, a strike will follow
promptly
None of the brotherhood leaders
witnessed the signing of the bill.
They had expected, according to ten
tative arrangements made Saturday
night, to be present, but the presi-
dent decided to attend to the bust
ness at the railroad station. The
four pens used by the president in
signing the bill-one for each sylla-
BILE of his name-will be presented to
the four brotherhood heads, A. B.
Garretson, W. G.. Lee, w. S. Carter
and W. S. Stone, after being used
for resigning the bill Tuesday.
No ceremony attended the signing
Sunday Rudolph Forester, assist
ant secretary to the president, took
the bill to the train. Near the car
6IOuP VI u III thOil w VI e'Aa''
paused in their work long enough to
watch the president write his name.
An engineer, passing on yard en-
CINE, celebrated the occasion with
several prolonged blasts of his whis-
tie.
Signs Other Bills.
The president also signed several
commissions and executive papers
and sent Secretary Tumulty to Ma
jority Leader Kern of the senate to
urge passage of the Webb bill, passed
Saturday by the house, designing to
permit American firms to utilize COM
mon selling agencies abroad without
violating the Sherman antitrust law.
Later the private car was attached
to a special train, bound for Hodgen-
Vile to participate in the exercises
incident to the transfer of the log
cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was
born to the federal government Mon
day, at which time the president will
make an address.
1t developed today that the BROTH
erhoods before summoned to Wash
ingto by President Wilson, had agre-
ed to strike effective August IA. The
orders then drafted were used when
the strike finally was set for Labor
Day. The strike date, September 4,
was filed in with a rubber stamp,
but the original date, August IA, was
not changed.
Hundreds of kilograms came to the
brotherhood leaders Sunday. Most
of them were congratulatory One or
two were from locals who had re-
ceived no notice that the strike was
off, so Monday morning in some few
far-away sections of the country
there may be temporary difficulties.
Efforts were being made Sunday
night to, communicate with all of
these points.
Negotiations Reported.
A circular letter. drafted by w. G.
Lee and giving the complete details
of negotiations since Aug. /, as well
as copy of the Adamson bill, was
being mailed to all members of the
brotherhood Sunday night. After
completing this work Lee left for his
home in Cleveland. The other three
brotherhood heads will leave either
Monday or Tuesday.
Railroad executives called here by
the president left Saturday.
Among those who departed from
Washington early Sunday was del
egation of the Order of Railway Con-
ductors from the northwest who came
here Saturday to protest to Garrett
son to protest against strike. They