New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-01

Washington, Aug. 31.-The long hear
ing of the Senate Interstate Commerce
Committee on the three bills drafted
by Administration leaders to avert
nationwide railroad strike came to
dramatic close this evening. Austin B.
Garretson, the big, tall, rangy Middle
Westerner, head Of the Order Of Rail
way Conductors and the astute spokes-
man of the four train service unions,
stood up to answer Senator Newlands's
question whether it was not possible
TO postpone the order issued last Sun
DAY setting o'clock next Monday
morning as the time for the strike to
begin.
'Let me tell you" said Mr.. Garrett
son, "just why the refusal was made
20 put away the time for the strike.
Some Of my associates are under
slightly different rule Of their organi
cations. ! am free TO defer that date
and, gentlemen, I'm .he one who is be-
tween Scylla and Ctarybdis."
"You mean 10 say you have the
power?" exclaimed Senator J. Hamil-
ton Lewis, leaning out Of his chair.
Has Power to Call II OF.
81 have the power" replied Mr.. Gar
retson, ain my own organization. But
here is where I stand. For years l
have served these men and they have
served me, faithfully. And when the
President said TO me: Can this be
done?' | found my Gethsemane. Whist
are the two bears before me?"
When he paused, cold beads of per-
spiration shone on his forehead.
"On one side" he continued, slowly
and quietly. "the condemnation of
every element that controls the pub
LEFTY OF the country. no opprobrium
could be TOO condemnatory if the pub
lie was inconyenienced by a trans
portation tie-up. Do we not feel that
responsibility? Are we not human
Bot a man who has been the recipient
Of all these things from these men
does he not owe them a duty?"
The big mans fingers nervously
twitched at his belt.
~ can say, Put il off," he went on.
"And when they find that ] did it with
out attaining the object they sought,
across the fair record Of thirty years
service will be written the word
traitor"
Mr. Garretson's hand stole 70 his
forehead and elasped his brow. The
whole room was gripped for q tense
10 d.
straight in the eyes.
Can j face IT." he ash o.. then
slumped down into his char
Lee Says He Canno.
Earlier in the day W. G. p, head Of
the Brotherhood OF RGilwa, frainmen,
had told the committee e was mpog-
sible for the four chiefs 20 postpone
the strike. This positive refusal 10
\ consider a postponemont while Con-
gress is trying 70 enact legislation 10
prevent the strike WAS the feature OF
the hearing. Mr.. CarretsOn had said
that IL could be called OF only by a
satisfactory settlement % the eight
hour day demands Of the men. lie said
he did not know whether the Sena-
tors REALIZED the responsibility Of the
brotherhood chiefs. Dir. Lee had said
defsntly:
1T IS beyond " TOUR, ~ we ever
hope 20 remain officers o. these organ
izstiOns, II We ever expect 70 retain the
respect Of those men, 10 stop this
strike BY any other method than 70
send our general chairman code mes
sages meaning Satisfactory settlement
effected That message only can be
Eent n we get the eight-hour day"
And Warren 8. Stone, indignant a.
the charge Of one 81 the speaker for
the public, lawyer practising before
The lnterstatc Commerce Commission,
that the leaders we're playing q zane
Of poker and bipfBR their way through,
retOfted;
"Ctptiemep1 there is NJ bluS about
'bis proportion that We 81 putting up