The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-08-11
BUSINESS MEN TRY
TO AVERT STRIKE
Ask Congress to Direct U. S.
Inquiry Into R. R. Wages.
FOR PEACEFUL settlement
Members of Ur;ted States Chamber OF
Commerce Vote Overwhelmingly In
Favor of Letting Interstate Commerce
Commission Adjust Controversy.

Commerce Vote Overwhelmingly In
Favor of Letting Interstate Commerce
Commission Adjust Controversy.
Washington.-In order to ascertain
the position OF the business men OF
the nation on the controversy between
the railroads OF the country and the
unions of train service employees, which
was precipitated by the demand of the
latter for an increase In wages that
would amount to $lO0000.OO0 year,
the United States Chamber Of Com
merce recently submitted the mat
ter to a vote Of all its members. They
were asked to express their opinion as
to whether the dispute should be al
lowed to take its course with the pos
sibility OF a great strike that would
tie ND all the transportation lines
throughout the country and paralyZe
all business. or whether they would
favor the adoption to joint resolu-
ton by the two branches Of congress
directing the Interstate Commerce
Commission to investigate and pass
upon the matter.
The vote received was a very large
one and represented business organ
izations in every part OF the coun-
try. The result was overwhelmingly
in favor of placing the matter in the
hands of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. 9S4% votes being cast in
favor OF this course and only 2SA
against It. The result showed clearly
that the business interests of the
country are unalterably against per-
hitting the transportation lines to be
! tied up by q national railroad strike
that would paralyZe the commerce of
the country and inflict enormous losses
| OH all classes of citizens.
Chairman Wheeler OF the Commit
tee I'm charge of the matter for
| the Chamber OF Commerce appear
| ed before the representatives OF the
railroads and their employees at their
conference in New York in June. He
announced the result of the Com
mittee's inquiry among the business
men OF the country and urged both
| parties to the dispute to get together
and adopt the course suggested As i
result the committee of managers rep
resenting the railroads submitted q
proposal that the whole subject be
| placed before the Interstate Commerce
Commission as requested by the repre-
sentatives OF the business interests
AS an alternative they offered to sub
NIT the demands 20 arbitration under
the Federal law. Eoth offers were
refused by the union leaders, who an
nounced that they would go back tC
their unions and get authority TO de
clare q strike. This they have since
been doing.
Meanwhile resolution has been In
troduced I'm Congress directing the In
terstate Commerce Commission e
make an investigation Of railroad
wages. This resolution Is now await
ing action. 1t is believed here that 4
nothing further Is done by Congress Of
by the parties to the wage dispute t
bring about a peaceful settlement tn,
business interests Of the country
through the United States Chambe
Of Commerce. or some other organfZa
ton, will appeal TO the Government
to take some direct and decisive actor
TO prevent the destruction of nationa
prosperity by a strike on all the rail-
road lines.