Evening journal., 1916-11-15
WAR TO bitter END
ON ADAMSON ACT
Elisha Lee Says Managers
Can Prove Eight-Hour
Laws UnconSti-
nationality
UNIONS STAND
VOW FORETOLD

NEW YORK. Nov. 15.-The inter-
rupted conference between represent
tatives Of the nations railways and
their 100000 brotherhood employees,
looking toward an adjustment OF
their newly formulated differences
on the Interpretation of the Adamson
eight-hour law, was not resumed here
yesterday. Instead of meeting. the
railway managers announced their
purpose of fighting the law to the end
in the courts. while the brotherhood
chiefs who remained in the city left
for their homes, protesting to believe
that they may safely rest their case
with President Wilson.
Both sides admitted they could not
foretell the probable outcome OF the
new controversy. The railroad man
ayers are certain they can establish
the uuconstitutionality of the Adamson
law. while the brotherhood leaders are
equally sure the law will be upheld by
the courts and enforced In letter and
spirit The attitude Of the railways
was summarized I'm a statement issued
by elisha Lee at the close Of an all
day meeting of the railroad represen-
tatives. The statement read:
We are all agreed to fight 10
the end. The means to be en-
ployed we're fully discussed, and
the consensus of opinion was that
Il was necessary to file.suits ques-
tiOninR the constitutionality OF the
law in every Federal district court
In which the affected railroads OPP
crate.
Warren S. Stone, president OF the
brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
summarized the brotherhood's side OF
the case Just before boarding a train
tor Cleveland. The other chiefs left for
heir homes last night and this morn
ng. Mr.. Stone said:
The situation Is closed in so far
as we are concerned. We are not
at all alarmed. We know what
President Wilson intended we
should have. We know tho ex-
PLANTATION he made TO our 800
ohairmen in the White House. We
feel confident that II the present
law does not give us the eight-hour
day the President will give us
law that will.
We can't understand the atti-
tude of railroad managers. They
did not file their first suits until
the day after election. believing
that Mr.. Hughes had been
elected. Personally, / believe they
are either whistling TO keep up
their courage or they are trying
p 70 scarce the public into sympa-
Nhizing with them.
Mr.. Stone then disclosed the pro-
ceedings at yesterdays secret con-
ference and the plan of action he
said the railroads outlined at the
conference. He said:
We asked for the conference
to reach a working agreement on
the operation of the new law.
They told us they did not In
terpret it as meaning that the
old schedules, providing for
rate Of pay based on the length
OF a run. were TO be continued,
They said the old schedules we're
to be wiped out.
When they asked us to reach
sentative agreement" on this
point we told them Il was inn
possible in view OF the fact that
our understanding OF the law
provided for a retention of ex-
istlng schedules. We refused to
discuss further this question
when they informed us that the
suits they had filed would be
permitted TO stand during any
negotiations We might enter into.
We rejected their proposal TO
join with them in an appeal TO
the attorney general, requesting
his approval Of a plan TO defer
the operation OF the law for thirty
days In order that decision on
the suits might be obtained be-
fore the law went into effect.
They were surprised when in
formed we would not defend the
suits. We told the railroad man
ayers the suits were government
matter and as such would be
properly defended by the gov
eminent
The railroad managers will meet
again tomorrow.