The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-08-30


bsr A. 1t is stated by the officials of
the Brotherhood that nothing short OF
the granting of the eight-hour day will
halt the strike.
The first attempt oy congress to
draft legislation to meet the strike
situation ended in a quarrel in commit
tee when several senators were ac-
cused of attempting to make political
capital out of the critical situation.
Washington, Aug. 29.-Presdent
Wilson, laying the railway strike sit
uation before Congress today with re-
Communications for legislation ad-
vanced the crisis to stage where the
next development depend upon two
points. They are
Whether the legislation he pro-
poses can be passed;
II enacted will it be effective to
prevent a strike already called for
a. m, September a.
Neither of these questions can be
answered tonight
The brotherhood heads themselves
announcing their intention to fight Ger
tain portions Of the presidents pro-
gram are at loggerheads over whether
its enactment would prevent the
strike.
The railroad presidents, favorable to
President Wilson's plan in the main,
think 1t would make it difficult for
the strike to begin.
When the brotherhood leaders this
morning rejected the latest proposal
OF the railroads and definitely set the
strike for Labor day without further
notice, President Wilson decided to
lay the whole situation before Con-
gress. Before joint session Of
House and Senate and with solemn
recital of the distress and disaster a
strike would bring to the country the
president proposed a plan of legisla-
tior
Immediately after the president had
delivered his recommendations Con-
| gress set about to see how they might
| be enacted into law. Tonight, Presi-
| dent Wilson had a conference in
| Speaker Clarks room at the capitol.
| Besides the president and the speaker
| the conferees included Republican
| Leader Mann, Democratic Leader
| Kitchin, Representative Stirling of H.
| linois, the ranking republican OF the
| House interstate commerce committee
and Representative Adamson, the
| chairman. No definite conclusions
| were reached.
President Wilson confided to advis-
ers tonight his earnest hope that the
| brotherhoods recognizing the fairness
| with which he has treated them would
| yield to his request that pending ac'
tion by Congress they recind their
strike order He asked the leaders to
do so at their conference last night
but they refused flatly, saying they
had not the power. President Wilson
takes the position that in view of his
recommendation to Congress the
brotheIhoods have nothing to gain and
much to lose il they carry out their
strike order because public opinion
will stand against them.
| Meanwhile, the railroad heads pre-
pared themselves for strike. Orders
not to accept perishable ireights for
shipment were issued by many lines;
notices were issued to prospective pas
sengers that unless they could com
pletc their journeys before Z O'Clock
Monday morning they would risk de-
lays. Many OF the railway presidents
left for their headquarters announc
ing they considered it necessary tC
be near their properties. The man
ayers conference committee whicl
has full authority to deal with the
workmen remamined here. or the bro
therhoods only Presidents Garrotson
Stone. Carter and Lee, heads of the
conductors, engineers. iiremen anC
trainmen, respectively. remamnet
here. They announced their intention
of directing the strike from Washing
ton.
Both sides issued what appeared t
be their last statements to the publ,
in justification of their actions,
The railway presidents summarized
the important points developed b,
their deliberations as follows:
, "a renewed insisteuce upon the
. principle of arbitration as only
= proper method OF settling labor
disputes.
0 AN increased realization Of the
j. responsibility of the railroads
( toward their other employees. the
shippers, the industrial, CONNER.
n clal and general public which they
e have been made to feel by thou.
d sands Of telegrams insisting upon
G the maintenance OF their posi-.
v tior."
& The brotherhoods expressed the
i wnalterablo opposition to presidor
| Wilson's plan to Comppl public nVps