Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-09-07
PRESIDENT TELLS CONGRESS OF
STEPS TO PRESERVE PEACE
Wilson Urges Legislative Program to I'm Dispute
and Prevent Similar Ones In Future

of the country. While my conferences
with them were in progress and when
to all outward appearances those con
ferences had come to a s%tandstill, the
representatives of the brotherhoods
suddenly acted and set the strike for
the 4th OF September.
Il yield to no man in firm adher-
ence, alike of conviction and purpose.
to the principle of arbitration in in
dustrial disputes; but matters have
come to a sudden crisis in this par
ticular dispute and the country had
been caught ~unprovided with any
practicable means of enforcing that
conviction in practice (by whose fault
we will not now stop to inquire).
"A situation had to be met whose
elements and fixed conditions were
indisputable. The practical and pa.
triotic course 10 pursue, as it seemed
to me, was to secure immediate peace
by ~conceding the one thing in the
demands of the men which society it.
self and any arbitrators who repre-
scented public sentiment were most
likely to approve and Immediately lay
the foundations for securing arbitra-
ton with regard to everything else
involved. The event has confirmed
that Judgment.
But | could only propose. l could
not govern the will of others who took
an entirely different view of the cir
cumstances of the case-who even re-
fused to admit the circumstances to
be what they have turned out to be.
Having failed to bring the parties
to this critical controversy to an ac-
commodation, therefore, I turn to you,
deeming it clearly our duty as public
servants to leave nothing undone that
we can do to safeguard the life and
interests of the nation. In the spirit
of such a purpose, I earnestly recon-
mend the following legislation:
81. Immediate provision for the en-
largement and administrative reor-
%ganization of the interstate commerce
commission along the lines embodied
in the bill recently passed by the
house of representatives and now
awaiting action by the senate, in Or
der that the commission may be en-
abled to deal with the many great
and various duties now devolving
upon it with a promptness and thor
oughness which are with its present
constitution and means of action prac-
tically impossible.
"2. The establishment of an eight
hour day as the legal basis alike of
work and of wages in the employ
ment of all railway employees who are
actually engaged in the work of OPP.
Grating trains in interstate transpor.
tation.
20. The authorization of the ap.
pointment by the president of a small
body of men to observe the actual re,
suits in experience of the adoption OF
the eight-hour day in railway trans
portation alike for the men and fol
the railroads; its effects in the mat
ter of operating costs, in the applica
ton of the existing practices anC
agreements to the new conditions anC
in all other practical aspects, with the
provision that the investigators shall
report their conclusions to the con
gress at the earliest possible date
but without recommendation as t.
Legislative action, in order that thu
public may learn from an unpreju
diced source just what actual devel
!, opments have ensued.
t "a. The approval by the congress
Of the consideration by the interstate
commerce commission of an increas'
; of freight rates to meet such add
tional expenditures by the railroad
as may have been rendered necessar.
by the adoption Of the %eight-hour day
r and which have not been offset b,
administrative readjustment and ecc
Monies, should the facts disclosed JUS
tify the increase.
IS. Amendment of the existing fec
eral statute which provides for tn
4 mediation, Cancellation and arbitra
| ton of such controversies as the pres
ent by adding to it a provision tina
e in case the methods Of accommods
y ton now provided for should fail
d full public investigation Of the merit
Of every such dispute shall be inst
S tuted and completed before a strik
or lockout may lawfully be attempted
t. "And, sixth, the Judgment in til
e hands of the executive Of the powe
in the case of military necessity, t
e take control Of such portions and sue
rolling stock of the railways of tn
J. country as may be required for mil
tary use and to operate them fer mil
tary purposes, with authority to dra
into the military service of the Unite
States such train crews and admin
d Uative officials as the circumstance
d require for their safe and efficient us
y This last suggestion I make b
e cause we cannot in any circumstanct
e suffer the nation to be hampered
'e the essential matter Of national d
Tense.
q almost the entire military for
The Right Idea.
ID do you think you could serve
seven-course dinner?"
ID Eyes, num-" replied the applicar
" well, where would you sta
from?"
"rd start from the kitchen. mum {"