The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1916-08-29

Y
Strike Order Definite.
The brotherhood leaders today re
Iected the Attest proposition OF the
committee OF railway presidents and
changed the tentative strike order to a
definite one, which can be recalled only
by satisfactory settlement before that
tirne. or BY legislation. ------
The labor leaders admitted they took
their action the first thing todas in
the belief that some means were being
sought to prevent the strike actually
heing called By their action they
think they have anticipated any legal
processes which might be brought
against them
Direct Negotiations Closed.
Direct negotiations between the rail.
road executives and the employees
through President Wilson were praCti.
'cals closed today when the executives
refused to accede to a proposal made
to them Yesterday by Mr.. Wilson and
presented to him a statement of their
POSITION containing another argument
for arbitration
The statement presented to President
Wilson by the committee OF eight dc
MES that the Judgment OF society fav-
ors an eight hour day and declared ar
bitration is the only proper way OF
setting industrial disputes
Leaves No Alternative.
The suggestion of Prcsiden, wilson
for a proposal including the pilicple
OF the eigh,.hour day, bu, postponing
It's effectiveness for a year pending in
veStigation, was rejected by the rail
road executives at the conference thi,
morning.
The action of tn. railroad presi
dents, taken in connection with the
strike otter OF the cmpleyes left Pres
ident Wilson no alternative but TO go
to congress in a final effort to avert
the strike BY legislation.
!, IN order to have any effect on m
lbrovosed strike, the presidents leeisla.
tive program would have to pass 'botl
rouSes and become q law before nex'
M'rday morllng Once the men have
lei Scir trains, compulsory invcsti
ga'iun would not affect them. IN IN,
opinion Of btoihcrl God officials Tn,
officials declhrrti go discuss this rhas,
Of the situation further,
Asks for Assistance.
President Wilson said
Gentlemen OF the congress:
u have come to YOU to seek your as.
SiStarce in dealing with very prav,
situation which has arisen out OF IN,
demands OF the employees of the rail
roads engaged in ireigh, train seryic,
that they b. granted an eight. hour
working day, saieguarded by payment
Tor an hour and half OF service for
, every hour OF work beyond the eight.
Matter Long AUtated.
The matter has been agita,cd iol
more than year The public has beer
made famil ar with the demands oi tn,
men and the arguments urged IN ia
vor OF them, and even more familiar
with the objections OF the railroads ant
their counter demand that certain pro
visions now enjoyed by their men ant
certain bases OF paymen, worked on
through many years of contest he re
considered, especially in their relation
TO the adoption OF an eigh, hour day
The matter came some three week
ago to final issue and resulted IL
a complete deadlock between the par
ties. The means provided by law al
mediation of the controversy failed anC
the means of arbitration for which h,
law provides, were rejected
The representatives of the railwa,
executives proposed that. the demand,
be submitted IN their entirety TO arbi
tration, along with certain questions Of
readiustment as to pay and condition.
of employment, which seemed To them