Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-09-06
NATIONWIDE STRIKE IS OFF.
Congress Passes Measure that ut
Least PostponeS Tie-up.

Congress last week by the railroad
brotEerhoods rs the price Of calling
off the nationwide strike ordered
for tomorrow, was signed by Presi-
dent Wilson to-day in his private
car at the Union Station, where he
stopped on his way from Shadow
Lake, n. j., to Hodgenville, Ky.
That there may be no question as to
the legality Of the measure as re-
suit Of it having been signed on Sun
day, the President will affiX his sig
nature again upon his return to
Washington next Tuesday.
How long peace shall reign rs a
result OF the bill. apparently, is de-
pendent upon developments in the
proposed move to test the constitu-
tionality OF the act. Should the rail
roads take no action, but await the
beginning OF an investigation Of the
workings OF the eight-hour day by
the special commission for which the
measure provides, the brotherhOods
will remain inactive. The en-
ployees' leaders declare, however;
that should the law be held uncon-
stitutional, and the railroads at
tempt to restore the ten-hour day
On their lines, strike will follow
promptly.
Brotherhood Heads Silent
Brotherhood heads, in a circular
letter to their members, to-day made
no comment on the measure as pass
ed. They merely pointed out that it
would not become effective until
next January l, and that many
things might occur between now and
then which would change materially
any suggestions or comment they
might make.
None Of the brotherhood leaders
witnessed the signing OF the bill.
They had expected, according to ten
tative arrangements made by Secre-
tary Wilson last night, to be pres
ent, but the President decided to at
tend to the business at the railroad
station. and newspaper correspond
ents gave them their first informa-
ton about it. The four pens used
by the President in signing the bill
one for each syllable Of his name
will be presented to the four bro
therhood heads, A. B. Garretson,
w. G. Lee, w. S. Carter and w. S.
Stone, after being used for resign
ing the bill Tuesday.
No Ceremony Attended Signing.
No ceremony attended the sign
ing to-day. 1t originally had been
planned that the President should
go to the White House, but this was
changed, and instead Rudolph Fors-
ter, assistant secretary to the Presi-
dent, took the bill to the train. Near
the car window a group Of trainmen,
in their overalls. paused in their
work long enough to watch the Pres
ident write his name. An engineer,
passing on a yard engine. celebrated
the occasion with several prolonged
blasts Of his whistle.
While at the station the President
also signed several commissions and
executive papers and sent Secretary
Tumulty to the home of Majority
Leader Kern, of the Senate, to urge
that the Senate pass the Webb bill,
passed yesterday by the House, de-
signed to permit American firms to
utilize common selling agencies
abroad without violating the Sher-
man antitrust law.
Strike First Planned for August 20.
1t developed to-day that the bro
therhoods before being summoned to
Washington by President Wilson
three weeks ago, had agreed to call
strike effective August 20. The or
ders they drafted were used when
the strike finally was set for Labor
Day. After having been printed in
preparation for the proposed strike
on August 20, they we're locked in a
vault In New York. Decision a week
ago last Saturday to order a strike
the following day, when the major
ity Of the committee of $40 were
leaving for their homes, was follow
ed by hasty trip to New York by
two representatives of the brother
hood. The strike date, September
4, was filled in with rubber stamp,
but the original date of the call, Au-
gust ia, was not changed.
Many Opposed Strike.