New Britain herald., 1916-08-31
Belief At Capitol Is That Threatened Walk Out Ma Be Averted But It Is Not Reflected In Other
 Sections of U. S---Heads Prepare to Fight
Congressional Hearing
 Is Under Way---Gar-
 retS0n Gives Attitude of Union Workers; Gompers Also Speaks

Gompers Also Speaks Washington, Aug. 31.-Railroad of fcials and representatives of the trainmen's brotherhoods appeared in force today at the senate interstate commerce committees hearings on President Wilson's legislative pro- gram to prevent the threatened rail- road strike.
 Elisha Lee, chairman of the man. agers committee, headed the delega- ton of railway officials, which in- cluded President Underwood of the Erie; President Willard of the Bal timore & Ohio; Samuel Rea, president of the Pennsylvania; Fairfax Harri son, president of the Southern, and R. S. Loyett, chairman of the Union Pacific
 Representing the men were A. B. Garretson, w. G. Lee, W: S. Stone and w. S. Carter, the four brotherhood 1 heads.
 Officials of the American Federation l of Labor headed by President Com l pers, Assistant Attorney General Todd, l and E. E. Clark of the interstate com merce commission also were present At the outset of the hearing Sen | ator Newlands, chairman of the com- | mittee, announced it's purpose and said none of the proposed Iegtsla on included compulsory arbitration. Tt simply provides,' he said, fin case of the failure of voluntary mediation and arbitration, for a gov ernment inquiry and the stay of the action of all the parties to the contro- versy until investigation and report should be made, leaving them free thereafter to act as they might be ad- vised." Will Precipitate Civil War. Senator Newlands spoke of the short time remaining for congress to act, and said:
 'This present dispute, if carried to it's extremes, will involve the United States in a civil war. The question is whether we cannot find some means of bringing about a settlement of this dispute between employers and em- ployes without resort to force"
 Arrangements of Hearing.
 The brotherhood representatives were heard first. At the request of MT. Garretson it was agreed that the brotherhood leaders should address the committee two hours in opening and an hour In closing. Between those two periods, representatives of the employers and shippers have six hours. He announced that beside the heads of the four brotherhoods, Sam uel Gompers, President of the Ame,i- can Federation of Labor, would speak.
 MT. Garretson then began with general review of the circumstances which led up to the present condi- tions
 It was the belief of labor organiza- tions he said. that differences between employers and employees should not be settled by legislation, but rather between themselves.
 Garrctson's Address.
 '"The success of any labor organiza- ton lies, to an extent in it's militancy," he said. we are in grip of 8 pow CT greater than we. It is unfortunate that this situation has arisen, but I believe if a settlement can be effected by congress, even though we are op- posed to legislative settlements, we are willing to waive the age-old tra- dition against 1t. Such a settlement in this controversy will be desirable in the circumstances.
 ''Today,'' he said, thousands of men throughout this country are working from twelve to sixteen hours of which there is no complete rec ord.''
 These conditions, Garretson de- clared, were responsible for the united appearance of the brotherhoods in sistently demanding the human right to enjoy some of the things that other men enjoy.
 Society vs. Economies.
 we believe" said Garretson, "that questions affecting society take pre- cedence over emonomics. We believe