New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-22
Rail Chiefs and A. f. L.
Announce Union
Against Capital
AGREE TO OPPOSE
ARBITRATION PLAN
Attorneys Work to Get
Adamson Law Decision
Before January |
.r..,, s,.- co--..prnarl, Of III, Tribune

.r...... s-,- Correspondent o, The Tribune
WASHINGTON. Nov. 21.-Three OF
;be brotherhood presidents, assured
q the undivided support Of the
American Federation of Labor, went
70 Kansas City tonight to watch
from the side lines while the rail-
roads fight the government on the
Adamson Law.
The Supreme Court may pass on
the consti.utionality of the Adamson
law befors January /. Attorneys for
the railroads conferred tonight with
Attorney General Gregory with a
view 10 bringing a test case before
the court as soon as possible. There
is prosps-t of such an agreement TO-
MORROW.
The situation so far as the broth
,rhoods are concerned was sharply
defined n the understanding they
eft behind with the Federation at
Baltimore. Substantially that un-
Outstanding was as follows:
William G. Lee, president of the
Brotherhood Of Railway Trainmen,
old the Federation that if the four
tain service organizations did not
get the eight-hour day guaranteed by
the President and the Adamson law
they would fight for it.
Federation Promises Aid
Warren 5. Stone, head Of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers, declared that unless they
got an dght-hour day on the rail-
roads there would be "some uniin-
ished business" before the country.
The Federation, speaking through
its president. Samuel Gompers, and
more emphatically in the enthusiastic
welcome and applause that greeted
the brotherhood heads when the lat
ter addressed the convention, an
rounced vociferously that it expected
the trainmen TO inaugurate the eight
hour workday On January l.
The brotherhoods also declared
their intention to oppose compulsory
arbitration while they have breath
% fight; 10 band together with the
federation TO oppose the Presidents
plan for compulsory investigation,
and to oppose any arbitration that
IS not acceptable to u.s."
Will Work Together
Above and beyond all this, however,
ss we'll as underlying the combined de-
dsnce OF both groups Of organized la
Dor, the brotherhoods and the Fedora
ion. in the words Of Mr.. Lee himself
have come nearer complete afiliauon
ihan was ever dreamed of before. The
appearance OF the big four" at the con-
,ention and their talk 10 the delegates
seemed to dispel all doubt about COM
plete alliance in the near future. The
rules OF the brotherhoods interpose at
present, but. Mr.. Lee said, no ruis
prevents US from acting together"
There is a better understanding" he
announced. ave are going to hang to-
re,her IN the future because we kno"
II We don't We will hang separately.
an about anarchist enough TO say ths'
ae are going TO work together Tor
universal cight-hour day for every class
Of labor and II we can't get II peace
ably. then well fight for IT,"
A few minutes later Mr.. Gompers
struck a chord that sounded even more
menscing. lie referred 20 the recent
formation OF the National Industrial
Conference Board, TO combat legislative
syressions Of labor.
Accepts Moneys Challenge
when the money power Of the United
States" he said in his solemn, delibera'
tive fashion. failed to corrupt the elec.
iOra,e they showed their colors. They
net and gave a public declaration OF
their intention TO antagonize every ef-
fort put forth by organized labor. TO
bght Us industrislly, politically and leg
Continued on page .. column .