Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1916-09-01
WILSON ASSISTANTS
To CURB STRIKES;
CONGRESS TO AID
President Declares Tieup Would
Be Tragic Calamity
MANY PERSONS MAY STARvE
Lawmakers Are Told That Paralyzed
Commerce and Hunger Would Fol-
low in Wake of Big Rail Walk
out - Executive Recon-
mends Legislation.

Washington, Aug. 30.-The president
Is in consultation at the capitol with
Speaker Champ Clark and various
house leaders. They are making plans
to rush the presidents legislative pro-
gram through in time to prevent the
strike.
1t has been suggested that If a set
Element is not assured by Saturday, a
Joint measure shall be passed by con-
gress, making q strike that will tie up
the railways of the country criminal
offense. Under this plan railway man
ayers who lock out their men, or labor
leaders who are responsible for a
strike would be subject to heavy fines
daily during the continuance of the
lockout or strike.
Brotherhoods Are Firm.
The brotherhood representatives who
still are here, voted unanimously not to
withdraw their strike order as re-
suit of the representations made to
congress by the president.
The brotherhood men have decided
against the compulsory arbitration
feature of the presidents plan to
create a commission to investigate
strikes.
The senate passed a resolution sum-
moning all absentees to return imme-
diately Gin view of the present emer-
gency."
A general exodus of railway presi-
dents and managers is in progress
from Washington. They say:
1.-The strike is inevitable unless we
submit to union domination, which
spells bankruptcy, or nothing"
President Wilson will try to speed
up" congress with antistrike laws.
The brotherhood leaders voted not
10 let Wilson's speech change their de-
termination to strike.
Wilson Before Congress.
Declaring the railway presidents
shave thought best that they should
be forced to yield, If they must yield
not by counsel but by the suffering
of the country" President Wilson ap
pealed to congress to enact drastic leg
islation to prevent the threatened rail
way strike.
His recommendations included an
eight-hour railway law and compul.
sorry investigation of labor disputes.
The strike situation was admittedly
most acute. The railway presidents
are ready to so home. Many already
have departed
The brotherhood chiefs say that II
the roads have not accepted the origi
nal plan of the president and granted
the eight-hour day by next Monday
Labor day-their men will quit work
Text of Message.
The text of President Wilson's ad
dress to both houses assembled ii
joint session in part was as follows:
Gentlemen OF the congress:
Il have come to you to seek you
assistance in dealing with q very gray,
situation which has arisen out of tn
demand of the employees of the rail
roads, engaged in freight train service
working day, safeguarded by paymen
for an hour and half of service 70
every hour of work beyond the eight.
Opposing Forces DeadIocked.
"The representative of the railwa,
executives proposed that the demand
of the men be submitted in their en-
tirety to arbitration, along with Ger
tain questions of readjustment as +
pay and conditions of employment
which seemed to them to be eithe
closely associated with the demand
or to call for reconsideration on thei
own merits; the men absolutely dc
clined arbitration, especially If any O
their established provisions were b
that means to be drawn again in cues
ton.
THE law In the matter put no CON
pulsion upon them. The 100000 me-
from whom the demands proceeds
had voted the strike if their demand
We're refused; the strike was immj
nent; it has since been set for the At
of September next. 1t affects the me
who man the freight trains on praC
tically every railway in the country,
Cities Will Be Cut Off.
"The freight service throughout tn
United States must stand still unit
their places are filled. If, indeed.
should prove possible to fill them a
all. Cities viii be cut off from thei
food supplies, the whole commerce G
the nation will be paralyzed, men G
every sort and occupation will b
thrown out of employment, counties
thousands win in all likelihood b
brought, 1t may be. to the very poir
of starvation, and a tragical nationf
calamity brought on, to be added I
the other distresses of the time. b,
cause no basis of accommodation G
settlement has been found.
Pleads for Eieht-Hour Day.
AFT caamad IN mo i'm cODSidariprr ~