Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-20
issue Statement Citing Rea
sons for Their Insist
ence Upon Principles
of Arbitration.

WASHINGTON. August le.-Hale
Holden. on tehalf OF the railway ex-
ecrtives in conference with the prc.i-
lent at the White House to day over
he threatened nationwide strike. said
the railroad representatives had given
ecutive's proposals, and expressed a
sense of the grave responsibility upon
their shoulders. In previous stages OF
the negotiations, said Mr.. Holden, the
conference committee OF managers had
constantly adhered to the policy OF
arbitration as fundamental principle,
a substitute for wasteful litigation.
He indicated its surrender would
amount TO a denial OF the right to be
heard. which does not exist under any
form of government known to the. race.
Continuing. MIR. Holden said:
The eight-hour day--I shall not at
y time stop TO fully analyze or COM
ncnt upon the Importance of the diff
ercnce between tho eight hour day as
commonly understood in the building
nd manufacturing trades, and the So
:alled eight. hour basis day demanded
this controversy. The eight t-hour
:ay. in Oh" mature Judgment, when
considered iE connection with railroad
train service. is question upon which
lonest minds may differ. and is there
fore necessarily a subject for arbitra-
ion. In that manner the contentious
II the parties may be considered and
\ fair answer given.
,ONTENTED MILLIONS WORK
MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS
Social questions affecting the ordi-
lary workday in which for six days
week regular daily routine is pur-
sued, are those which determine how
ong. during each Of those periods. the
aborer should work. and while In some
states eight hours has been adopted
S the desirable or compulsory maxi
| mum, this broad land is to-day teem
nE WIKI the contented and efficient
| industry of millions of workers that
ire working more than eight hours n
| lay. The precedent, therefore, exists
| It exists IN fact. and the right or
| 0rong OF it, as we feel. has not yet. In
| his country. passed beyond the realm
! " debate
"Eut these arc not our problems.
Tho railroad day Is n different thing,
rs has been patiently. and. infer.
many times, explained Railroad trains
Inn throughout the twenty -four hour
period The public demands that they
run on Sundays and holidays. They
start at any hour that the necessities
may demand. T'hey cannot stop until
a. terminal is reached. and many con-
ditIohs. stated and accidental. render
| 1t impossible to restrict the hours Of
railroad labor to fixed standard.
In a general movement of some years
ago the present ten-hour basic day was
negotiated and approved by the repre-
sentatives of railroad labor throughout
the country. and has continued. with
some exceptions. to the present day
These exceptions have been worked out
under local conditions. different often
from the general conditions affecting
the question.
we stand for the principle Of arbi-
tration for the settlement OF industrial
disputes. Arbitration Is the ideal to-
ward which public sentiment and legis-
latlon OF this country have been
steadily tending for the settlement of
disputes between employers and en-
ployees. particularly In the case OF
public-service corporations, rather than
1.-THE strike and the lockout, with at