The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-29
Most Important Turn in Rail-
way Trouble Today.
Wants S-HOur Day Law Affect.
ing All Railroads.
MILITARY To RUN TRAINS
Compel Arbitration to Settle
Industrial Disputes.
To Provide $4,000 Fine and
Jail for Mail Train Tieup.

Washington, Aug. 29.-As a drama-
tic climax to his unprecedented nego-
tiations to avert the most disastrous
labor war that ever threatened the
United States. President Wilson this
afternoon before a joint session of
congress urged legislation ito safe
guard the life and interests of the ma
ton"
He said he urged the legislation
mot in haste or merely as a means of
meeting a present emergency but as
permanent and necessary additions to
the law, suggested. indeed, by circum-
stances we had hoped never to see, but
imperative as well as just if such
emergencies are to be prevented IN
the future"
The president outlined in detail his
efforts to effect a settlement of the
pending dispute through friendly ne
gotiations. His efforts he said. had
resulted in complete deadlock
Mediation Has Failed.
Now the country faces, he said. a
great national calamity with cities
cut off from food supplies and the
commerce of the nation paralyzed.
Countless thousands will in all lil<li-
hood be brought. it may be. to the very
point of starvation"
Mediation under the existing laws
has failed, he admitted. and arbitra-
ton has been rendered impossible by
the attitude of the men,
He said that he had offered the
eight hour day as a basis for agree
ment because the whole spirit of the
time and the preponderant evidence
of recent economic experience spoke
out for it.
~
railways would ultimately be obliged
to accept the eight hour -day-by--cofl--
certed action of organized labor.
backed by the favorable Judgment of
society they have declined to ac-
cept this means of settlement he
said.
Presidents Speech to Congress.
President Wilson spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the congress:
81 have come to you to seek your
assistance in dealing with a very grave
situation which has arisen out of the
demand # the employees of the rail-
roads engaged in freight trdsih service
that they bs granted an S-tour work
ing day, s'tfeguarded by payment for
an hour and half of service for every
hour of work beyond the eight.
1.-The matter has been agitated for
more than a year The public has
been familiar with The demands of
the men and the arguments urged in
favor of them and even more familiar
with tho objections OF the railroads
and their counter-demands that GER
tain provision now enjoyed by their
men and certain bases of payment
worked out thru many years of con-
test be reconsidered especially III their
relation to the ADOPTION of All s-hour
day.
Is Deadlock
The matter came some three weeLs
ego to a final issue and resulted in
complete deadlock between the pai-
ties. The means provided by law It
mediation Of the controversy failed
and the means of arbitration for which
the law provides were rejected. The
representatives of the .:ailwar execu-
tives proposed that the demands be
submitted in their entirety to arbi-
tration along with certain questions
of readjustment as to pay and condi-
tons of employment which seemed
to them to be clearly associated with
the demands or to call for reconsider
alton on their own merits; the men
absolutely declined arbitration. espe-
cialIy if any of their established pro-
visions were by that means to be
drawn again in question. The law in
lie matter put no compuision upon
them.
THE four hundred thousand men
from whom the demands proceeded
had voted to strike il their demands
were refused; the strike was immi-
nent; it has since been set for the
fourth of September, next 1t affects
OF practically every railway in the
country. The freight service thruout
Continued on Page six.I