Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-08-31

to settle this difficulty before 1t can
reach the danger stage"
declaration that the brotherhood on
Gals could call of the strike only by
reporting that . satisfactory settlement
had been made.
As to the question Of authority -
he said. II can do it. II we have sat
isfactory settlement there will be no
question about that feature"
Would Not Disrupt Brotherhood.
He also spoke of the trying situation
in which he was placed when con-
fronted by tho President with a re-
quest that he postpone the strike after
his men had voted it. To take such a
step, he said. would have meant the
death of the effort to which he had de-
voted himself for twenty-seven years.
and the turning over to the mob Of
the trains. as in 1877 and 1894"
Mr.. Garretson also emphasized the
fact that on some railroads the men
that in this proposition they were
asked to arbitrate whether they should
be permitted to hold that. Men, If
they are human" he said, won't arbi-
trate a proposition that might result
in taking away from them something
they already have"
II want to impress on the committee
that since the beginning Of these ne
Eotiations no definite proposal ever has
been made to US by the other side.
have offered to leave the whole matter
to the interstate commerce commits
sion. We promptly refused"
Mr.. Garretson added that he wished
to disabuse the committees mind of the
idea that the brotherhoods were op-
nosed TO arbitration
Would Not Arbitrate to Lose.
1--WE believe in the principle of arbi-
tration." he said. "but not in arbitration
where we stand only to lose. The expe-
rience Of our men with arbitration has
not made them in love with its practical
results. There have been many unfair
men on our arbitration boards
Interpretation of arbitration awards
by the railroads so that the employees
would gain nothing has discouraged the
brotherhoods with arbitration, he said.
Can you imagine two men having a
case passed on in court he said. and
then after the litigants had left the
courtroom one of them arrogating to
himself the right to interpret the YER
dict?''
Under ordinary processes of our poll
cies," said Mr.. Garretson. I'VE would
propositions made by the President. But
in the hope Of effecting a settlement We
are willing to waive many deep-rooted
principles, and are willing to aid in the
passage of q legislative remedy that
will make it possible to recall the order
to strike September 4. Given the eight
hour law, accompanied by provision
to assure the ten-hours' pay pending
inquiry. and, suggest, a provision that
the government should bring suit in
case the road refuses to grant the pay
as is provided in the hours of service
law, would satisfy us in this emer-
gency.'
Against Compulsory Arbitration.
LAS now proposed, the only remedy left
the worker is to bring suit himself
That would be about as valuable to the
individual as compulsory arbitration.
LAS for compulsory arbitration, no
influence that ever can be brought to
bear can induce our organization to &C
cept it,"
Reviewing the Canadian compulsory
arbitration act, Mr.. Garretson cited
several concrete cases to show that it
had not worked out fairly to the work
ers The New Zealand act had been
successful he said, due to the fact that
all of the government officials were
pro-labor.
You can readily see the difference
that would exist in this country and
Canada and New Zealand under those
conditions" he said. Il want to go on
record here as protesting against any
thing that savors of making men stay
at work during any investigations"
Here Senator Newlands interrupted