Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-31
COMMITTEE HEARS ALL
ARGUMENTS OF BOTH SIDES
INRAILROAD CONTROVERSY

reach the danger stage" Frequently,
he declared, the brotherhood officials
could only call off the strike by re-
porting that a satisfactory settlement
had been made.
To postpone the strike after the
men had voted it, Garretson declared,
would mean the disintegration of the
brotherhood and the turning over to
the mob of the trains as in 1877 and
1894"
II want to impress on the COM
mittee." said he, that since the be-
ginning of these negotiations no
definite proposal ever has been made
to US by the other side. They have
said but one thing; they have offered
to leave the whole matter to the In
terstate Commerce Commission"
Not Opposed to Arbitration
Garretson added that he wanted to
assure the Senators that the brother
hoods were not opposed to arbitration:
I'VE believe in the principle OF
arbitration" he said, "but not in
arbitration where we stand only to
lose. The experience of our men with
arbitration has not made them in love
with its practical results There have
been made unfair men on our arbitra-
ton boards. Can you imagine two
men having a case passed on in court,
he demanded, land then after the
litigants had left the courtroom one
of them arrogating to himself the
right to interpret the verdict?"
Under ordinary processes of our
policies" said Garretson, 1--WE would
be out of accord with all of the tve
propositions made by the President.
But in the hope of effecting a settle
ment we are willing to waive many
deep-rooted principles, and we are
willing to aid in passage of a legisla-
tive remedy that will make it possible
to recall the order to strike September
4. The eight-hour law accompanied
by a provision to assure the ten hours
pay pending inquiry and 1 suggest a
provision that the government should
bring suit in case a road refuses to
grant the pay as is provided in the
hours of service law it would satisfy
us in this emergency"
"As for compulsory arbitration,
said Garretson, mo influence that ever
can be brought to bear can induce our
organization to accept 1t. ! want to
go on record here as protesting against
anything that savors of making men
stay at work during any investi-
CATION"
Garretson to say it was his understand
ing that the proposed bill would not
prevent any man from leaving his en-
ployment during Investigation; Con-
quite true" Mr.. Garretson said.
but If only men, individually threatens
ed to strike on the railroads, we would
not be here now discussing this pro-
posed legislation"
The brotherhoods, Mr.. Garretson said,
would not oppose being drafted to run
trains as long as it was only for mill
tary purposes.
Asked for the attitude of the broth
erhoods on Senator Lees pending reso-
luton to have the strike postponed
week, Mr.. Garretson said he would like
to discuss that later; So far as could
cation of the brotherhood leaders ac-
ceding to the request. They still in
sisted that they were powerless to post
pone the strike without satisfactory
Garretson declared that in accepting
the Presidents proposal the men had
yielded fifty per cent. cent Of their demands.
son, said the federation. supported the
brotherhoods and protested against
government operation of roads for mill
itary purposes contending 1t was con-
scription and indefensible in times of
peace.
Senator Newlands denied the conten-
tion that the legislation denied the
FNsa of q as JOB ONLY ME t.
Gompers said he believed he had con-
tributed as much as anybody in Ameri-
ca to avoiding strikes.
have got to live when that strike is
over and is history and then, ask you,
will we find upon the statute books a
law that says that men are criminals
If they strike in concert? Such a con-
dition is intolerable. trust this legis.
lation will not be enacted"
Senator Newlands asked Gompers
to give the committee the solution of
the problem.
ON Monday" said Mr. Newlands,
the railroads of the country will be
tied up. I think the members of this
committee agree with me that COM
pulsory arbitration and compulsory
service are both impossible and in
advisable. The suggestion, therefore,
is made that the government make an
investigation and there be mediation,
and that pending an inquiry into the
facts the parties maintain the status
quo. Now if this remedy is not right
and is wholly wrong, what is the
remedy?"
Mr.. Gompers replied that under the
circumstances the employees should be
left free to strike whenever they saw
fit and not forced to unfold their
arms" by law. The question of bring
ing about peace now, he insisted.
should devolve upon the railroad
heads. who should be expected to
agree to some sort of satisfactory set
tlenent.
"It is more essential" he said, that
the liberties of the employees should be
safegUarded than that some suffering.
which is certain to follow strike, be
avoided"