The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-11-20
INDUSTRIAL BATTLE
| CRY IS SOUNDED
Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion Starts Investigation of
Adamson Eight Hour
Law.
RAILROADS AND LABOR
American Federation Of Labor Has
sent Out ito Challenge Against
Legislation on
Strikes.
RAILROADS AND LABOR
[By Carl D. Groat, United Press STAFF
COrresDOndent

lOy SdIl ~. IAOSdI, OA4LCO / ! COO ~ oAI
Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 20
The curtain lifted here on one OF the
most dramatic battles Of industrial
units in the nations history today.
The Joint committee OF the interstate
commerce commission started it's in
vestigation of conditions relative to
Interstate and foreign commerce and
necessity for fun ther regulation along
the lines of the Adamson eight hour
law and to ne,riy all Interstate pub
lie utilities. s-
Represented in the fight are COM
mercial organizations of all kinds and
from all over the country, great
manufacturing corporations and in
dustries. Every influence Of capital
and labor will clash during the hear
ings.
The railroads fight will be directed
by the railway executive, advisory
commission uf which Frank Trum-
bull, chairman Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio, is the head. The brotherhocds
will have their four chiefs-Stonc. Of
the engineers; Cnrter. of the Arer. an /;
Lee. Of the strainmen, and Shpeard, OF
the conductors. all Of whom are now
in the city ready to work. Each side
is armed with statistics to support
contentious that have been made for
years.
"The public is the interest most to
be considered In this controversy" "
Judge Adamson, vice chairman Of the
Joint congressional committee and
c.-ent Of the eight hour law said to-
day. Both The railways and the
rotherhoods seem for the moment to
forget that they are our servants In
this matter"
During the day. Judge Adamson
will confer with President Wilson on
the question of putting through con-
eress the legislation the president
has proposed for settlement and pre-
yention of Industrial disputes. The
American Federation Of Labor has
already sent out it's challenge on
such egislation-voicing determi-
nation to oppose any legislation
which will limit the strike right OF
labor.
The committee spent its morning
session CLASSIFYING those who will be
heard. This afternoon an executive
session was held.
Some surprise was occas1oned When
railway labor heads failed to ask rep
resentation. The brotherhood ch1efs
may later make application to be
heard.
Capital, represented by mighty
list of railway presidents and heads
of commercial organizations. served
notice that it wants full hearing.
The main contentious Of this group, 1t
was announced, will be opposition to
government ownership Of public utili-
ties and support of federal control
Representatives Of state railway
commissions announced they Will
f1rht any attempt to wrest control
from them.
Requests for hearing came from
business organizations in Boston,
Philadelphia, Chicago, New York,
Seattle. Memphis and elsewhere from
telephone, telegraph and express
companies from traffic bodies ana
live stock growers organizations.
In a formal st1 tement before the
committee convened Chairman New
lands explained the object OF the
hearings.
upon the initiative of President
Wilson. a congressional Joint commit
tee composed of five senators ana
five representatives was authorized to