The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1916-08-31

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prepOnderant evidence of recent eco
nomic experience spoke for the eight
hour day.
! II therefore proposed that the eight
hour day he adopted by the railway
homogeneous and put into practice for
the present MS substitute for the ex-
listing ten-hour basis of pay and serv-
ice. .sA ,,,t.. .-.r.f., III
| / Services offered Managers. n
81 unhestatingly offered the friend
ly services of the administration to the
railway managers to see to it that JUS
tice was done the railroads in the out
come. The public and the representa-
tires of the public, l felt justified in
assuring them, were disposed to moth
ing but justice in such cases and were
willing 10 serve those who served
them.
The representatives Of the brother
hoods accepted the plan, but the repre-
sentatives of the railroads declined to
accept 1t.
| = Strike Set for September 4. 3.
'"rhey fear the hostile influence of
shippers, who would be opposed to an
increase of freight rates .(fOr which3
+ however, Of course the public itself
would pay): they apparently feel no
confidence that the Interstate COM
1 ma 81 Nx,ft IN nd hn
Projections that would be made. They
do not care togrely upon the friendly
assurances Of the congress or the presi-
dent. They have thought it best that
they should be forced to yield, If they
must yield. not by counsel, but by the
! suffering of the country. While my
conferences with them were in prog
+ ress the representatives of the brotheE.
hoods suddenly acted and set the Strikei
, for the 9Th of September FL
'"rhe railway managers based their5
decision to reject my counsel in this
matter upon their conviction that they
must at any cost to themselves or to
TIE country stand firm for the prIn-
ciple of arbitration, which the men
had rejected.
: THE practical and patriotic course
to pursue, as it seemed to me, was 70
secure immediate peace by cOnceding
the one thing in the demands of the
men which society itself and any ar
bitratOrs who represented public sen
timent were most likely to approve
and Immediately lay the foundations
for securing arbitration with regard
to everything else involved. The event
has confirmed that judgment.
Having failed to bring the parties
to this critical controversy to accom-
mediation, therefore, l turn to you,
! deeming it clearly our duty as puDuc
servants to leave nothing undone that
we can do to safeguard the life and
| interests of the nation.
! Presidents Recommendations.
Summarized, the presidents legisla-
| tive demands are:
First--Increase OF The interstate
commerce commission by two men,
+ bers..
SecOnd-Establishm of an eight
hour day as the legal basis Of work
I and wages of all train employees.
Third-AuthOrizng a commission to
investigate and report, but without rec
concentrations, how the eight-hOur day
works out
Fourth-Explicit approval by con-
gress of consideration of the interstate
| commerce commission of an increase
of freight rates to meet additional le-
climate expenses of the eight-hour
/ day.
! 'Fifth-Amendment of the present
Cancellation law to provide for full
public investigation of all points at is
sue when mediation fails and prohib-
itlng any strike or lockout until such
inquiry is finished. i ..s'
| acknowledgement specifically In the
hands of the president authority to
j use and operate trains for military pur-
poses if necessity arises, with author
ity to, draft crews and administrative
officials. sa
/ The presidents message Immediately
was referred to the Interstate com
merce committee of the senate and
house. and they will Immediately con-
slider drafts of the proposed laws.
This last suggestion l make be-
cause we cannot in any circumstances
suffer the nation to be hampered in
the essential matter of national de-
fense. At the present moment circum-
stances render this duty particularly.
obvious. Almost the entire military
force Of the nation is stationed upon
the MeNcan border to guard our ter
ritory against hostile raids. 1t must