The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-31

islatiye remedy that will make It DOG
sible TO recall the order to strike Sep.
tember 4. The eight.hour law accom-
panied by a provision to insure the
ten hours pay pending inquiry. and
suggest a provision that the govern
ment should bring suit in ScaseSa road
refuses to grant the pay as Is pfoyids
ed In the hours Of service law, would
satisfy us in this emergency.
"As for compulsory arbitration
said Garretson, mo influence that ever
can be brought to bear. can induce oui
organization to accept It, want to
go on record here as protesting against,
anything that sayors Of making men
stay at work during any Investigation"
Senator Newlands interrupted Mr..
Garretson to say It was his understand
Ing that the proposed bill would not
prevent any man from leaving his en-
p:oyment during The Investigation.
Concerted action, he said, was what
1t was designed to prevent.
Quite true" Mr.. Garretson said,
but II only men Individually threat
en- to strike on the railroadssw we would
not be here now discussing this pro-
posed legislation"
"The Brotherhood Mr.. Garretson
said, would not oppose being drafted
to run trains as long as It was only
for military purposes
Mr.. Gompers who followed Garret.
son, said that the Federation support
ed the Brotherhoods and protested
against compulsory arbitration. He
attacked government operation OF
roads for military purposes, contend.
Ing 1t was inconsistent and indefensi-
Bile In times Of peace.
Senator Newlands denied mis- con-
tention that the legislation denied the
right OF a worker to quit his Job. hr.
Newlands reiterated It meant only to
affect the right to quit In conSert.
Mr.. Gompers said he believed he had
contributed as much as anybody in
America to avoiding strikes. sBut,
gentlemen" he said. there are things
worse than strikes. We have rot to
live when that strike is over and is
history, and then ! ask you, viii we
find upon the statute books a law that
says men are criminals if they strike
In concert? Such a condition Is intol-
erable. trust this legislation viii not
be enacted"
Senator Newlands asked Gompers
TO give the committee the solution OF
the problem. Mr.. Gompers replied that
under the circumstances the en-
ployees should be left free TO strike
whenever they saw fitIand not forced
to unfold their arms by law. The
question of bringing ABOUT peace nov,
he insisted, should deyolve upon the
railroad heads who should be expect.
ed to agree to some. sort OF a satisfac.
tory settlement. ut isimore essential
he said, that the liberties OF the EN-.
ployees should be safeguarded than
that some suffering which is certain
to follow a strike, be avoided"
w. g. Lee, head of the trainmen,
went into detail OF why men refused
to arbitrate the eight.hour day. "We
stand ready" he said, ito larbitrate all
other issues and as soon as rresi.
dents eight.hour day proposal Is on.
acted Into law"
Mr. Lovett was heard first to pre-
sent the side of the railroads. Mr..
Lovett said that II the public were not
involved In the present controversy
and II there were not thousands OF rail
road employees not allied with the
trainmen, the parties involved should
be allowed to settle the matter lem
selves. "If this burden of s60.00o.-
900 a year is put on the public because.
Of this Legislation now proposed. the
responsibility3willi ne on Congress, not
on the railroads" he continued. I'VE
have done our utmost to settle this
dispute except to surrender what we
think vital principle. II this de-
mand is successful, II they can under
duress force out this 0,0O0 900. Con.
gress will be called upon to pass a law
jroyiding for over time and another
burden Of $4,000, 900 In turn WIN ~
passed on to the public"