New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-03
Republican Senators Bait
the Democrats for Yielding

the conduct or a road, say when tney
learn the eight-hou day has been es-
tablished for the higher paid employees,
tut not for them?
"If this Congress should pass reso-
luton that We are in favor of proceed
ing at this session with Il comprehen-
s.ve plan. the strike will be dead. Con
Vrtss Will preserve its dignity and the
ELAN will represent the best judgmen.
Of the country, and the country and
its employees will be satisfied"
you say there has been no overt
act" said Senator Sherman. of Illinois
II say my desk IS full of threats of all
kinds from the small union 70 the
larger union, from the ironworkers OF
Chicago and Of the Mississippi Valley
T. all who have seen fit to communi
cate with me by message or otherwise.
Here. for instance, is the language on
one from the Aurora Trades and Labor
Assembly:
"Organized labor has its eyes on
Washington. II demands settlement II
railroad situation fair TO all parties.
u will not stand for compulsory arbl-
tration or involuntary servitude either
during or after legislation. Legislation
giving eight-ho day without such
conditions should be positive
Refuses To BE a Slave.
Senator Sherman declared that
neither would he tolerate servtudo,
ana he didn't intend to become the
slave Of certain class in this coun-
Try, whether il was the organized labor
Class or the employers class.
81 will not serve as a Senator ne
continued. "in servitude 10 a portion OF
the American people. II | cannot be
Senator | would rather be a dog and
bay the moon.
There are too many in this body
and elsewhere to-day baying the moon.
They think Gompers is the man IN the
y con.
"Arbitration is abandoned, it is
thrown to the four quarters of the
earth, at time when a crisis, when
deliberate solution ought TO be the
choice Of all men. do not believe in
surrendering at this crisis to the de-
mand Of 100000 men who are standing
with time watches in their hand and
demanding instant legislation from
Congress.
why haven't you included the en-
ployes Of electric lines? Why not in
clude all employees in interstate com
merce. if your proposition is a good
one? Why grant 1t only 10 those who
have gun IN your face -
"This legislation we arc about TO
pass is the price Of a perfidious peace
said Senator Sterling, Of South Dakota.
THE highwayman says Stand and de-
liver If Congress Yields il is a ma
tional humiliation |, for one. refuse
TO be stampeded. believing in the right
Of Congress TO deliberate, and will not
be forced into supporting this measure,
however imminent and threatening
this strike may be. The strike is
great evil, but the far greater evil
would be that Congress should be
dragooned into passing this measure
before midnight
Strike Better Than slavery.
"A strike might cause great incon-
venience, some distress and some loss
Of property and the price the American
people would pay for il would be
heavy burden for a time. But the lib
erty that would ensue without this leg
islation would be worth all the cost.
81. for one, refuse 20 be stampeded.
] believe that Congress should act de-
llberately. no motter how imminent the
strike may be. We are not acting in
accord with the sense of fairness and
the judgment Of the American people"
Senator Husting pointed out that the
passage Of the bill to-day did not settle
the question.
at will not down." he said. "If it is
not solved IL will come up again and
again We will not have time for this
at the short session Of Congress. The
programme for that session is already
outlined, and includes the conservation
measure, which will require consider
able debate, as well as the regular ap-
measures"
Senator Norris attacked the bill be-
cause At did not include punitive over
time There is nothing in this meas
ure." he said. "to make the eight-hour
day 10 prcscribes effective. There is
nothing to make the working Of the
men longer than eight. hours unproft.
able 10 the railroads"
Senator Norris declared. however.
that the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion should fix the wages Of the men
as we'll as the freight rates.
"The Interstate Commerce Commits
SION should also have the power 10 fix
the salaries Of the high railroad Off
Gals" he declared, "for the money to
pay these men comes just as surely
from the shippers and consumers as
does the money 20 pay the trainmcn.
don't believe any railroad president is
earning 800 600 a year, though ! un-
derstand some Of them are getting
more than that.
whenever an increase, either in the
pay Of the men or Of the officials. is
It should be necessary for an
application 20 be filed with the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, and ship
pcrs should be given the right TO come
before the commission and protest,
just as they do now against an advance
In the freight rates"
Senator Oliver said he had received
hundreds Of kilograms opposing the
increase IN pay TO the brotherhoods
and only twenty-nine kilograms in
favor Of the raise. OF these twenty
nine, he said. mbt had urged that the
raise was unfair N that it did not in
clude other employees.