New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-31
created the present Board OF Mea'a-
ton and Cancellation.
Wilson Pleads in Vain.

ton and Cancellation
Wilson Pleads in Vain.
President Wilson exerted every
force at his command to-day 10 induce
e. brotherhoods 70 rescind their STRIKE
order. or postpone it for su'he'en'
time to allow Congress TO act Seo'e-
,srv Wilson~of the Department OF La
hor had a long, earnest chat with Aus
Tin b. GarretsOn, Warren s. stone W.,
G Lee and W. s. Carter, but 70 al
intents and purposes the four eh''lS
tod srm. Then Samuel Gompers'
president of the American Federe'io"
Of Labor. interviewed on behalf OF '"e
Administration.
Administration leaders cannot con-
ceive of the unions executives stand'ng
bv the Monday strike order in the lace
Of the efforts Of Congress to enact
LEGISLATION that, If passed, would give
them all they ask. The unions nave
nothing 70 gain and all TO lose IN
admittedly they would forfeit puolle
Continent. but the leaders are keeping
fheir own counsel. The only nope Is
chat Congress may make enough prog
ross in the next few days TO force the
union officials 20 postpone preclplVale
action. The President is counting on
an immediate response from the couh-
nv demanding union delay.
The unions reply to this hope
whether merely bluff or real defiance
none but the leaders can say, was ms
.'No power under Heaven SAID W;
G. Lee. president Of the brotherhood
OF Railway Trainmen, short OF a sa'is-
factory settlement of the eight-hour oe-
mand BY the railroads can prevent the
men from striking on Labor Day,
Austin y. GarretSon contributed 70
the same opinion.
"You can say emphatically,' he ADDED
"that the question of a postponemeh'
of the strike is not even under con-
sideration.' .,.-
"Then we can assume that strike
will occur at 7 A. NJ, Eastern time,
Monday. unless the railroads meet
President Wilson's plan?' he was asked.
ave four heads" inteIpOlated Mr..
Lee. certainly could not obtain a post,
movement of the strike II we wanted
10. Nor could we postpone 1t II we
received messages requesting such &C
tion from every one OF the committee
of $40 who were here last week. fresl-
dent Wilson understands, as we made 1t
clear to him on Monday night that we
are powerless to act unless salts
factory settlement is made"
Bill Would Satisfy Union.
The eight-hour bill drafted for hear
80. +o-nnorrow certainly would give the
unions what they ask in that respect
N * the plan Of the Senate leaders
therefore, to rush through this meas
ure in an effort 70 ward oil eventuah-
ties II is extremely doubtful, however,
that il can be accomplished before
OpDosition of the railroads is rapidly
assuming shape. Alfred F. Thorn. gen.
eral counsel for the Southern Railway
and acting as counsel for the railway
executives advisory committee, the
group having the situation In hand, IS
prepared 10 offer vigorous opposition
TO the eight-hour measure on the the
ory that It put on the roads a $5O,OOU'-
900 burden.
This bill embodies the principle feat
ure Of the Presidents programme an
e;gbt-h hour basic payday. II provides that
"E1WNf hours SNllA ut Aftlii'N N.'N 49,
ure or standard Of days work for the
burmese Of reckoning the compensation
for service of all employees who are
now or may be employed by any com
mon carrier-engaged in the work or
operating trains in transportation OF
persons or property" in interstate traf-
fc
More radical than that provision, how
ever. is the section proposing that the
nav for the eight hours work estab-
iished as the new standard in railway
train service shall be the same as the
paw now given for ten hours work,
that is, ten hours pay for eight hours
work and pro rata pay for overtime.
The House bill already drafted differs
from the Senate tentative draft in that
it provides for time and a half pay Tor
overtime beyond eight hours. This
would cost. the roads say, SlOO'O0O'OO0.
The bills also prohibit the railroads