Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-09-01
Houses Will Act on Legisla-
ton Affecting Rail
Crisis Today.
BROTHERHOODS ARE
READY FOR ACTION
Representatives Argue for
Nine Hours Over Pro-
posed Measures.
VXYAsHINGTON Aug. s1.-Repre-

"AsHINGToN Aug. S1.-Repre-
w sentatives of the railroads. of
the trainmen's brotherhoods and of
shippers organization argued for nine
hours today before the senate inter-
state commerce commission on legts-
lation proposed to avert the threatned
strike. recompense The roads for any
added financial burden and perfect
machinery to make impossible in the
future another crisis like the pres
ent. Tonight the committee worked
until late on bill to be presented TO
the senate tomorrow. Out of the nine
hours argument two facts stood
clearly. In the estimation of all af-
fected parties congress alore can pre-
vent strike and the public eventu-
ally will foot the bill for an eight
hour day with ten hours pay which
the trainmen demand. The railroad
executives and the shippers insisted
that the strike order at least should
be postponed, and the four brother
hood chiefs declared with equal ve-
hemence 1t could not be.
All sides apparently were more or
less satisfied with the hearing which
had given them an opportunity to lay
their cases before the public.
dramatic scene in which A H.
C5rrctson, spokesman for the train
men and president of the order of
Railway Conductors, was the central
figure, brought the hearing to ell
max tonight shortly before the taxi
ing of testimony closed.
Throughout the day members of the
committee at different times had
asked the four brotherhood heads if
they were powerless to stop the strike
save by reporting a satisfactory set
tlement TO the men. the question In
varially was evaded, the replies be-
Ing that Mr. Garretson would explain
the situation before the hearing
closed.
For almost an hour Mr.. Garretson
kept the crowd laughing with quaint
expressions and humorous stories
When he had only three minutes left
in which to speak. his brother presi-
cent urged him to answer the ques-
tion Of power to postpone strike.
He suddenly became serious stood
erect, gazed at the ceiling for a mo-
ment and then began to speak.
I'VE have been asked" he said
slowly. "if we have the power to de-
fer this strike. 1t has been called
for next Monday. I have the power
to defer that date In my organization.
hut in the other organizations the
situation is different. The heads of
the other brotherhoods cannot call
back the strike order.
Sdn i race IL.
But here Is where | stand. For
years my men have trusted me- When
| stood before the president the other
night and he asked me II this could
be done | found my Gethsemane To
the men who have made me the re-
cipient of all these things / owe my
first obligation. / can put It eff, but
If | did without gaining satisfactory
settlement there would linger in the
minds Of those who have trusted me
thoughts of treachery. If / put 1t off
across a fair record of thirty years
would be written the word traitor I"
For a moment the witness paused
and seemed to peer far out over tn.
heads of the crowd. The tears came
Into his eyes and rolled down his
cheeks. He started to speak, but
choked Apparently summoning all
mis- strength he threw out his arms,
lowered his eyes to the crowd and in
low voice asked "can l face it, and
dropped into his chair.
Not person in the room moved for
several seconds. Mr.. Garretson re-
lieved the situation by rising from his
chair and leaving the chamber.
a.. p. Thorn, counsel for the railway
executives advisory committee, closed
for the railroads with a summary OF
arguments against the eight. hour day
we do not claim the right to de-
eide this question" said Mr.. Thorn,
"any more than we think any inter
csted party ought to be allowed {,
decide it, We were told that the eight
hour day was not arbitrable. The
answer to that is that these gentle
men would not have an eight-hour
day and would not accept IL IL Ii was
terdered to them"
Mr.. Thom said that never In any
legislative act nor in any party plat
form had the position been taken that
man should work eight hours and
be paid for ten.
Mr.. Thorn said in conclusion that II
part of the proposed legislation be en-
acted 1t all should be passed.
Elliott II. Goodwin, general secre-
tary of the chamber of commerce OF
the United States. was the first
speaker for the shippers He said
"a vote taken among more than seve n
hundred commercial organization 3
showed them almost unanimously in
favor OF submitting the present con-
troverV to the interstate commerce
commission.
Harvey Barlow, traffic manager
for the Chicago Association of Com
merce, urged postponement of the
strike that congress might have time
TO investigate fully.
Luther NJ. Walter, attorney for the
National Industrial Traffic league who
said he represented two hundred
thousand shippers and trade organiza-
tons. objected to any proposal that
looked. to an increase in freight rates
without a hearing on the merits of
the proposal and how 1t may affect
the country. He said there was no
reason why employees of Industrial con-
Germs should not make the same de-
mand and threaten to paralyze the
industries Of the country.