Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-04
Con.
Railroads. erothsrho Gods

at this time that our readers may Del
ter understand the facts when an
nouncement is mads next Monday.
Aug. Z, Of the vote Of the employees for
or against a strike. So much has
been said by and for both sides, much
of it misleading, unfair and incom-
plete. il not absolutely false in par
ticular and purpose, that the general
public has become confused as to the
issue and the facts in the case. The
Associated Press has prepared a plain
statement that is as impartial and re-
liable as can be hal from any source
and as complete as is necessary for
the general information Of those not
directly interested in the outcome.
The crisis in the railroad situation
! was reached in New York city on
June Is, last, when the conference be-
tween the representatives Of 235 rail-
road systems in the United States and
100000 employees failed to arrive at
an adjustment. Of their differences.
The conference began June l follow
| ing the presentation on March 80 Of
demands by the men for an eight
hour day and time and a half over
time.
| 1t had been hoped that he confer
ence might make unnecessary the
| taking of a strike vote by referring
the questions at issue to arbitration.
After hearing the demands Of the
unions, however, the railroads de-
clined to make counter proposal and
dismissed the subject by offering to
further discuss what they termed =
tentative proposition" which granted
the mems eight hou:- demand but re-
fused all others.
The unions declined to consider the
tentative" offer and the railroads
then suggested placing their differ
ences before the Inter-Stat Com
mission for decision, or II that body
was without authority, that both sides
join in petitioning Congress to grant
the necessary power. If this proved
unsatisfactory to the unions the rail-
roads suggested arbitration under the
Newlands Act.
The men rejected the two PROPOSE
lions. Their spokesman, A. B. Gar
retson, president Of the Order OF
Railway Conductors, in an impas-
stoned speech said that the mer
would never consen. to arbitration
because of the failure Of the unions tc
obtain justice in prior disputes
through that method.
The leaders Of the four unions, the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
the Brotherhood Of Locomotive Fire.
men and Enginemen, the Brotherhood
of Railroad Trainmen, and the Order
Of Railway Conductors, upon with.
drawing from the conference lost nc
time in drafting the strike ballot and
in order to expedite the vote caused
their distribution throughout the
country by the 900 union delegates
that had also attended the conference
It was pointed out at that time by
the Brotherhoods' leaders that a vote
ordering a general strike did not ne.
lcessarily mean the Immediate institu.
ton Of the strike. It was explained
that the strike order would not be is
sued until every effort looking TOWARD
an arnicable settlement had been ex.
hausted.
In statements issued by the railroad
heads. following the breakup Of the
|conferencsc it was held that the eight
hour day demanded by the men die
not actually mean a shorter workda,
but rather an increase Of IS per cen,
over existing wages for the same
amount Of work, and an increase II
many cases Of s71a per cent for ovel
time as compared with present rates
The demands pertaia only to freight
and not to passenger service.
The railroads maintained that to al.
low the increase would add 100000.
900 year to the operating expense.
Of all roads in the United States, "fo1
the benefit Of men whose average pay
per day was increased from 80 to (;
per cent from 1903 tc 1914. while thu
wages Of tho western engineers were
further increased in 1915"
The mems proposition submitted a,
the conference provided that 100 miles
or less. or eight hours or less SHOULD
constitute a day, with overtime be.
ginning at the expiration Of eight
hours on runs Of less than 100 miles
and as soon as 100 miles had been rur
on longer trips. overtime to be com
puted at one and one-half times the
pro-rata rate, no one to- receive less
than they previously received for 6
minimum day. The men were to be
guaranteed the right to retain any
rates OF pay Of schedules in effec;
Janaury /, 1916. which would be pre-
ferable to the new schedule.