The Washington times., 1916-01-25
Union Leaders Say Mediators
Are Unable to Handle Prob
lens To Be Decided.
WHOLE COUNTRY AFFECTED
Roads Themselves Feel That
Issue Should Be Put Before
Competent Tribunal.

NEW YORK, Jan. 25.-That the in
terests of the whole country are q
stake In the demand for On eight-hou
day which the four great railroad labOl
unions are planning to make, and tha
1t Is for the public to furnish the solu
ton of this great issue between labol
and the railroads, is the opinion which
seems to be held most generally in
railroad circles, where little else is be.
ing discussed.
The two chief points emphasized fol.
low:
I. The reiterated determination Of
the labor leaders not to submit this
time to arbitration a demand inyolv-
ing upward of 100000 railroad work
ers ana affecting the whole question
railroad economies and the cost
OF living IN this country.
II. The inability of the present
railroad plant to handle the normal
business of the 100, 900 900 persons now
IN this country, and the necessity
confronting the railroads of spend
ing at least &1,250, ,OOO.eO0 a year for
some years to bring this plant up
To the demands of business II living
costs and its general welfare are
not TO be adversely Affected
Think Arbitration Proper.
Although the railroads have not al
an been satisfied with the results of tho
recent arbitration awards the feeling
among conservative railroad executives
- that with the issue as big as Il Is
arbitration would be the proper course
Tor them to follow providing that 1t
could be done by a competent tribunal
A permanent wage commission. some
Lh1ng Ike the Interstate Commerce
Commission, whose members would
gradually acquire experience fitting
Lhem 70 pass upon this whole matter.
mas been suggested. Many railroad men
would undoubtedly welcome ii. But the
time would appear to be short in which
10 accomplish this.
But although this is the attitude of
conservative railroad managers. IL is
not the attitude CT the labor men who
and therein lies. as the railroad man.
ayers see II, one of the most serious
featuTee Of the situation. 1t was ap-
parent from a statement made by Tim
othy ES1ea. assistant TO the president
OF the Brother hood OF Locon1otiye Fire
men, that the sentiment among the men
toward arbitration has not Changed
IRON what It was when all OF the
unions passed. resolutions denouncing IL
Although the labor Tepresentatives
themselves secured the passage of the
Newlanqa act. providing for two rep
resentatives of the public to sit with
two members of each side I'm the dis
pute as an arbitration tribunal. some OF
them are now denouncing it, ID. l..
Cease editor of the Railroad Train
man, the official organ of the union
VINO was a member of the last arbIrra-
uon board. In an editorial in the pres
ent issue says;
Thinks Public Has No Right.
1T seems unnecessary to say that
the Trainman does not agree with the
notion that the public has a right to be
represented In the presentation OF a
case before a board of arbitration be-
tween railroad companies and their en-
plOJes any more than it has a right TO
such representation on any arbitration
board with the business or winch II
has nothing to do"
Where some OF the labor representa-
tives and the railroad officials seem to
diner is in the interest of the public in
the situation, which will be presented
If the unions make the demand, as they
are almost certain to do, Judging from
the way the vote is going on the refer
endum. Because of the Unprecedented
scope and character of the proposed
demand, Involving every mile of rail-
road in this country, the railroad execu-
tives and managers, 1t Is said. are will
ing to concede that the public has as
much, if not more, at stake than the
railroads themselves.
The reason for this lies primarily.