Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-28

~ -tout IllSttIS
II no agreement is reached here, train
men officials declared the strike would
be ordered at an hour already agreed
upon, and which is reported be some
Time Friday or Saturday.
When tho mass-meetinR of the
h~rotherhoods ended shortly after 3
O'Clock, the exodus of tho trninmen
began. BY tomorrow morning it was
expected that all of the committee OF
$40 would have left Washington en-
cept the twenty-four leaders remaining
to complete negotiations.
II WAS announced that the committee
of tw~enty-four had been given full
power from the committee OF $40 to
act in the continuing negotiations. but
with instructions to stand firmly for
the eiSht-hour day and ten hours pay
without arbitration. Upon any coun-
t~erpropoSal which does not interfere
with those two basic demands, the COM
mittee OF twenty-four may act without
reference TO the full committee.
EVERY DETAI COVERED
IN INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED
Every detail is covered in the in
structions TO minor officials OF the en-
ployecs. Especially prominent among.
printed instructions is the warning,
that the employees shall remain off
company property once a strike is de-
clared.
III so FAR as could be learned. the plan
- 80 ~ VII
ming supply trains TO the Mexican bor-
der. enough passenger trains to keep
necessary food moving. and possibly
some milk trains. announced last week.
has not been abandoned.
The SiXty-four small lines employees
whose grievances the railroad man
ayers have declined to arbitrate would
be included in Il general strike order,
Il MAS understood.
The powers were given to the com.
mittee of twenty-four at a busy four
hour meeting. Angcred by their futile
ten-day wait here in an effort to effect
a settlement with tho railroad cNecu-
tives. the men went to their hall in
sistent that all save a few of them
be permitted to go home and pre-
pare for a strike. Had tho President
not been concerned in the negotiations,
it was freely said. they would have
voted to-day to withdraw from the ne
GotiationS hmm ediately.
The plan finally adopted was ready
for consideration when the meeting
began. The heads of tho four broth
crhoods and their vice-prcsidents work
cd 1t out last night and to-day. Every
possible scheme that meant the saving
OF time in conducting a strike had
been included. The committee OF TWEEN
ty-tour. with the exception Of the four
motherhood heads. was named from
among general chairmen whose homes
II NllItI Houb VI
ton. The brotherhoods' heads expect
to email here indefinitely il q strike
comes. and they want men about them
whose homes arc not too far away.
The proposal TO stand by the Presi-
dents plan in general and particular
l.: regarding the cight-hour day was
adopted amid wild cheers. E.Ycry
speech made by tho brotherhood lead
crs was received enthusiastically. They
thanked tho mon for their patience
throughout the long ordeal here, urged
them If a strike came to conduct il In
an orderly manner. predicted victory
in the end, and warmly praised the
President.
MEN HAPPY As ROYS
ON STARTING: FUU HOME
Once free TO go home, the men were
happy a. schoolhoys. some of them
almost ran To their hotels. Heads o:
the four organizations received tho
leaders from various sections OF the
! country and passed out all Of tho dc
iniltd instructions regarding the con-
quot Of the proposed strike. Copies Of
Instructions were mailed TO those ..oin-
mittee,nen who left for their homes
last night.
brotherhood men leaving tonight
were divided in their opinion AS to
what the outcome would be. All Of
them said they were hopeful OF avoid
ing a strike, but that they were we'll
prepared for one if il should come.
They have Sufficient funds TO finance
Il strike for some time. they said. and
have no fear OF the financial ASPECT
} OF a walk-out. .\ftcr the last meeting
to-day. il developed that tho brother.
hood men nave suspected for several
days that they had three spies in their
midst. who were reporting regularly
TO the railroad heads. In some lnys-
opirt ~ N.r,t - nr-- 81 @ 49,.
meetings OF the hrothcrhoods have
been reaching tho railroad executives
headquarters within n short time after
they have adjourned eacl, day. Often
these reports were in the hands of per-
sons at tho executives headquarters
before the brotherhood officials had
left their hall.
Careful investigation convinced the
brotherhood officials that they knew
the trio, and several speeches and re-
ports were planted" for them in the
meetings. AS the union leaders had
expected. these reports reached the
executives. In tho subsequent meet
ings. the alleged spies were upbraided
roundly by several speakers. but they
never were named.
BETTER TO FACE STRII<E
THAN GIVE ar ARBITItATION
Samuel Itea. president of the Penn
s~ylvania Railroad. tonight issued q
statement which. for the first time
since the executives decided upon the
course they would pursue, fatty an
nounccd that rather than give up arbi-
tration they regarded il as better TO
face "a strike. He declared that for
the railroads TO yield would result III
a temporary. but probably not a per-
manent po|stponcment OF the strike, and
that the issue OF the arbitration at
stake in the present situation would he
left unsettled.
These. in brief" continued his
statement. are the reasons why the
heads Of the railways. with Il full APP
precia "a; ion of the solemn and weighty
responsibility resting on them, as well
as of their duty to the public and to
their shareholders, have been forced
to the conclusion that il is better to
face the alternative of u strike than
to surrender"
Mr.. l;ea went on To point ont the
history of the struggles between rail
roads and their employees. spoke Of
the depression which he said the rail
roads had experienced recently, and
that now since they were having L