Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-08-31
RAILROAD STRIKE
IS ORDERED FOR
SEPTEMBER 4
President Wilson Unable To Bring About Agreement Lays
The Situation Before Congress.
wORKMEN REJECT ARBITRATION PROPOSAL
Roads Conceded Eight Hour Day. The Resultant Increase
Of Wages To Be Matter For Arbitration Strikers
Refuse To Compromise.

Washington, Aug. 30.-With Pres
ident Wilson laying the strike situa-
ton before congress with recommen-
dations for legislation, advanced the
crisis to stage where the next de-
velopments depend upon two points.
They are:
Whether the legislation he propos-
es can be passed?
II enacted, will it be effective to
prevent strike already called for z
a. m. Sept. A?
Neither OF these questions can be
answered today.
The brotherhood heads themselves
announcing their intention to fight
certain portions of the presidents pro-
gram, are at loggerheads over wheth-
err its enactment would prevent the
strike.
The railroad presidents favorable to
President Wilson's plan in the main,
think il would make il difficult for the
strike to begin.
SUPERHUMAN EFFORTS MADE.
Meanwhile although negotiations
between the employers and men were
broken off by the rejection of the
railroad presidents proposal for arbi-
tration, President Wilson is continu-
ling his efforts to bring the two sides
together on some form Of agreement.
Efforts which might well be describ-
ed as almost superhuman, are being
exerted to that end.
When the brotherhood leaders this
morning rejected the latest proposal
of the railroads and definitely set the
strike for Labor Day, without further
notice, President Wilson decided to
Law the whole situation before con-
gress. Before a joint session OF the
house and senate and with solemn
recital of the distress and disaster a
strike would bring to the country, the
president proposed plan OF legisla-
ton This IS the proposal in his own
language:
WILSON'S PROPOSAL TO CON-
GRESS.
First, immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative reor-
ganization of the interstate commerce
commission along the lines embodied
in the bGl recently passed by the
house of representatives and now
awaiting action by the senate; in ord
er that the commission may be ena-
bled to deal with the mary great and
various duties now devolving upon it
with promptness and thoroughness
which are with its present constitu-
ton and means of action practically
Second, the establishment of an s.
hour day as the legal basis alike of
work and wages in the employment
of all railway employees who are actu-
ally engaged in the work Of operating
trains in interstate transportation.
Third, the authorization of the APP
pointment by the president OF small
body of men to observe the actual re-
suits in experience of the adoption OF
the 8-hour day in railroad transporta-
ton alike for the men and the rail-
roads: its effect in the matter of oper-
alton cost in application OF the exist
ING practices and agreements to the
new conditions and in all other prac-
tical aspects, with the provision that |
the investigators shall report their
conclusions to congress at the earliest
possible date, but without recommen-
dation as to the Legislative action; in
order that the public may learn from
an unprecedented source just what act
iial developments have ensued.
Fourth, explicit approval by the
congress of the consideration by the
interstate commerce commission OF an
R.-.s.lk .o&ne ~, f..aat cttah i