The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-20

of many millions per annum TO the
cost Of railroad transportation In this
country, for the bensf1t Of = class WHO
are among the most highly paid and
favored workmen In the world. This
is demanded under the e1aise of q plea
for an eight-hour day. Il 10 In reality
only an Indirect plea for an enormous
increase in wages.
The intricate ana technical ma
ture of the case and the completely
Of the facts make the controversy pre-
eminentiy one for arbitration by an
impartial tribunal with authority to
examine into every factor and reach a
decision fair and Just to tho employees.
the owners and the public which ulti-
mately must bear the burden. To re-
fuse TO arbitrate Is an admission, of
the unreasonableness OF the demand.
Moreover, the refusal Is by those de-
manding a vital change in an existing
status For a party to demand q
change OF such a status and accom-
pany the demand with a refusal 70
arbitrate Is in conflict with right
standards of conduct In this in
stance. for those demanding a change
to refuse to submit their demands to
arbitration Is indefensible.
ITO say that such demand as that
now presented for revolutionary
grown up in the development OF the
railroad business and involving SC
many complicated facts and relations
and such vast additions to the cost OF
the country's transportation il not ar
bitrable is to destroy the principle OF
arbitration, and, IL successful. would,
in our Judgment. tend Immediately to
discard all of the legislation, State and
national, which has been enacted In
recent years and set the country back
to the old days of strikes. 1ockouts,
public disorder and business anarchy
for the settlement OF questions In
herent in the relation of employer and
employe.
THE view that so important an
issue as this may not In conscience be
honestly debated and. therefore. ar
/ bitrated raises this question above and
| beyond the lesser contentious of hours
OF services Or payment OF wages-it
raises 1t In gravity, beyond the social
or monetary questions affecting the
| parties before you. because II tends to
force, by the great weight of your
spoken word. the railroads to sur
render right to be heard--a right
expressly recognized by the policy OF
the Federal Constitution enacted for
the purpose of adjusting these dis
putes. and under the ban of your dis
approval. expressed before the bar OF
public opinion. to accept as indisput-
able conditions requiring. as we be-
Tieve. an enormous sacrifice In eff
cheney of service and cost of operation
of these properties. An adjustment In
this manner will not stop with this
controversy. 1t will be repeated in
every industry wherein industrial
peace Is In controversy.
will No 80 $htu htyH
precedent place in peril all that has
| been accomplished in the peaceful ad.
! justment of labor controversies by
methods of arbitration. and. therefore
we present to you our respectful but
earnest request that you do not lend
| the weight OF your great influence
against this right which we claim tc
| be heard. but support the railroads ir
! this crisis in the effort to maintain this
| great principle of arbitration"
| Mr. Holden then explained that, in
accordance with past custom and the
requirements OF the situation. com.
plete authority to conduct negotia-
lions in behalf OF the railroads in the
present controversy had bean con-
veyed to the conference committee Of
managers. He further explained thai
tho executives present had authority &c
speak only for the properties each
represented.
A. r. Garretson would not com
ment on the statement issued by the
railway presidents He said:
| After It appears in print tomorrow
we may issue formal statement, but
not tonight"