Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-30
Heads of Railway Brother
hoods Declare Men Will
Not Quit Monday.
UNION MUST FIRST
RECEIVE NOTICE
Circular Letters Explaining Break Be-
tween Committee and Railway Man.
ayers Net Yet Issued-No Immediate
Strike in Prospect-Senate to Pro-
ceed With Railroad Legislative Pro-
gram.

| SlSNSlttHd, W., ASC. OV.--NN dii GIL -
Stone and W. E. Lee, heads of the
railway engineers and trainmen respec.
lively, arrived here today, following
the rejection of the demand by he
managers committee that the Adam
son law be placed in effect Jan. l.
1T is highly improbable that thers
will be strike Monday" Stone said
He declared that the report that cir
cular letter had been sent to railway
| employees asking for renewal of au-
| thOrity to call a general strike was un-
true. mo circular has yet been pre-
pared" he said.
Stone said no further statement
would be forthcoming today and that
there would be no meeting of the
brotherhood heads. 1t was pointed out
that a general strike Monday was an
impossibility because Of the fact that
railroad unions would first have to oe
notified Of such intention. .s
Lee said he had nothing to add to the
statement given out yesterday in New
York. There will be no immediate
strike,' he asserted. 5s 3.
Yelled Threat Of Strike?
Yesterday the four chiefs issued a
somewhat cryptic statement over their
signatures declaring that the attitude
of the railroads threatened to wipe out
the benefits that should accrue to the
men from the passage Of the Adamson
act and asserting that for that reason
'the entire situation is to be placed
before the membership"
The chiefs refused to say whether
the action was veiled threat of an
other strike vote such as brought about
the eight-hour day legislation. The
statement follows:
while meeting with President Will,
son last August, at his insistence. our
committee-waiyed stheir request for
time and a half for overtime, which
was fully so per cent Of their original
demand and at the suggestion Of the
president, accepted his proposition,
which was:
Concession of the eight-hour day.
Postponement Of the other demand, as
to the payment for overtime, and the
counter suggestion Of the railway man
agers until experience actually dis
closes the consequences Of the eight
hour day.
"1n the meantime the constitution
by authority of the congress Of q COM
mission or body Of men appointed By
the president, to observe, investigate,
and report upon these concessions
without recommendation.
Then such action upon the facts as
the parties of the present controversy
may think best '>.-
Must Wait For Eight. Hour Law.
would secure the eight-hour basic day
at once, but the enactment of the
Adamson eight t-hour law, effective Jan.
i, 1917, made 1t necessary for them to
walt patiently until that time, to and
later that the railroad companies insti-
tuted injunction proceedings against the
governments enforcement of the eight
hour law, and at this time the entire
matter is in litigation, such litigation
making it impossible for the special
committee, appointed by the president,
as provided for in the law, to proceed
with their investigation as Of Jan. l.
THE probability Of additional liti-
cation being commenced by the rail-
roads, even tho the law is declared
constitutional by the supreme court,
will seriously affect such investigation,
in fact, can and likely will delay the
investigation until the commission can
not make it's investigation as the law
contemplates, thereby defeating the in
tent of the law and at the same time
postpone the benefits promised by the
law, which will unquestionably meet
with general dissatisfaction among the
embership Of the railroad organiza-
tions.
"The entire situation is to be placed
before the membership by special cir
cular."
Refuse to AmpIify Statement.
The brotherhood chiefs declined
positively to interpret their statement.
Mr.. Lee was asked to explain whether
the statement meant a new strike
vote might be ordered.
You may make your own interpre-
tation." was the reply.
"What Interpretation Is the public
to maker" he was asked.
Let the public make its own inter-
pretation. We don't care what conclu-
sions they draw