The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-11-22
Conference With Brother
4 hood Dropped.
ASKED TO DISCUSS WHAT DID
Not Exist-StOne Thinks Effort
Made To Scare up Public
Sympathy.
CAUSE RESTS WITH WILSON


New York, Nov, 15.-The inter-
rupted conference between represen-
tatives of the nations railways and
their 100000 brotherhood employees,
looking toward an adjustment of
their newly formulated differences
on the Interpretation of the Adam
son eight-hour law, was not resum-
ed here yesterday. Instead of meet
ing, the railway managers announc-
ed their purpose of fighting the law
to the end in the courts, while the
brotherhood chiefs who remained in
the city left for their homes pro-
Tossing to believe that they may
safely rest their case with President
Wilson.
Both sides admitted that they
could not foretell the probable out
come OF the new controversy. The
railroad managers are certain they
can establish the unconstitutionality
of the Adamson law, while the
brotherhood leaders are. equally
sure that the law will be upheld by
the courts and enforced in letter
and spirit.
The attitude of the railways was
summarized in statement issued
by Elisha Lee at the close of an all
day meeting of the railroad repre-
sentatives. The statement read:
1--WE are all agreed to fight to the
end. The means to be employed
were fully discussed and the consen-
sus of opinion was that it was nee
essary to file suits questioning the
constitutionality of the law in every
Federal District Court in which the
affected railroads operate"
Warren S. Stone, president, of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engin-
GERS, summarized the brotherhoods'
side of the case just before boarding
a train for Cleveland. The other
chiefs left for their homes last night
and this morning Mr.. Stone said:
.'The situation is closed insofar as
we are concerned. We are not at
all alarmed. We know what Presi-
dent Wilson intended We should
have. We know the explanation he
made to our 600 chairmen in the
White House. We feel confident
that if the present law does not give
us the eight-hour day the President
will give us a law that will.
I'VE can't understand the atti-
tude of the railroad managers. They
did not file their first suits until the
day after election, believing that
Mr.. Hughes had been elected. Per-
believe they are either
whistling to keep up their courage
or they are trying to scare the pub
lie into sympathizing with them.
Mr.. Stone then disclosed the pro-
ceedings at yesterdays secret con-
ference and the plan of action ne
said the railroads outlined at the
conference.
1--WE asked for the conference
he said. ito reach a working agree
ment on the operation OF the new
law They told us they did not in
terpret 1t as meaning that the ola
schedules, providing for rate OF
pay based on the length OF run
were to be continued. They said the
old schedules were to be wiped out.
"When they asked us to reach
tentative agreement on this point
we told them that it was Impossible
in view of the fact that our under
standing of the law provided for
retention of existing schedules. The
only differences, we contended, was
what the law specifically calls for
the substitution of the word eight
for the word ten wherever 1t APP
pears.
I'VE refused to discuss further
this question when they informed
rs that the suits they bad filed
would be permitted to stand during
any negotiations we might enter
into. They expected US. In other
words. to argue about something
that they did not concedc to exist
legally.
1--WE rejected their proposal 10
join with them in an appeal 10 the
Attorney General requesting his APP
proyal Of a plan to defer the opera
ton of the law for thirty days IN
order that a decision on the suits
might. be obtained before the law
Awent into effect.
"As we understand it they plan
TO have each of the 175 railroad sys-
tens involved file a suit In each OF
the Federal districts through when
their lines operate.
y "They were surprised when In
formed that We would not DEFEND