West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-09-28


mediation. because l knew how much
was involved. not only in the imme-
diate effects OF great strike such as
was threatened. but also i'm the ulti-
mate effects. the soreness left. the re-
sentiment that would remain. the feel
ing OF hostility that would be accen-
tuated
And so l asked the privilege OF con
ed with them l. OF course. made my
self acquainted with the points at con
troversy. and learned that they were
very simple indeed: that the men de-
manded an eight-hour day and that in
order to make the eight-hour day work
they demanded that he railroads pay
them one-half more for overtime than
they paid them for the time in the
regular day. the men alleging that that
was the only way in which they could
obtain a genuine eight-hour day, by
making the railroads pay more for
the time beyond the eight hours than
they paid for the time within the eight
hours.
II saw at once that there was one
part of this that was arbitrable, but
that. I'm my opinion. there was another
part that was not arbitrable | do
not regard the question of the princi-
pie OF the eight-hour day as arbitra-
BILE.
The first thing ! told both sides be-
fore requested their opinion was
that / stood for the eight-hour day
received no suggestion OF any kind
from either side as TO what the basis
of settlement was TO be. except that
the railroad executives did suggest
that Congress give them some sort of
assurance that II the eight-hour day
went into operation they would get In
creased rates for the carriage OF their
freight I pointed out TO them that IT
was impossible to tell whether they
would need increased rates for the
carriage of their freights.
I'VE believe In the eight-hour day
because man does better work with
I'm eight hours than he does within
more extended day, and the whole
theory OF II. a theory which is sus-
tained now by abundant experience.
is that his efficiency is increased, his
spirit in his work is improved, and the
whole moral and physical vigor OF the
man is added to.
This is no longer conjectural.
Where 1t has been tried II has been
demonstrated. The judgment of So
ciety. the vote OF every legislature in
America that has voted upon Il is n
verdict in favor OF the eight-hour day.
And, therefore, I said to those gentle
men on both sides at the very begin
ming The eight hour day ought TO be
conceded But they said 1T will
cost us an immense sum OF money
cost your
"You remember there was a case de
cided by the Supreme Court OF the
United States. II was known as the
tion in the state OF New York, 80 cents
was established as the charge for the
unit of the supply of gas, and the law
was contested upon the ground that IL
was confiscatory, and therefore uncon-
stitutlonal. And when the appeal
reached the Supreme Court OF the Uni
ted States, II said
Nobody can tell until you try TO
manufacture gas at so cents whether
it is confscatory or not. Go ahead
and manufacture gas and sell It for
so cents and then, II II proves impos-
sible to conduct your business upon
that charge, come back and discuss
with us the conhscatory character of
this act And II may be remarked I'm
passing that the company never went
back to discuss IT,
II said to the railroad executives:
You are asking that the result OF the
eight-hour day be predicted and the
prediction be arbitrateG. You are ask
ing for an arbitration Of a conjecture,
OF an opinion, OF forecast OF the
figures OF experts based upon an en-
tirely different experience, and II you
were to ask me personally TO arbi-
trate such a question. I would say !
am not competent to arbitrate II. The
reasonable thing to do is to grant the
eight-hour day, not because the men
demand &C. but because IL is right, and
let me get authority from Congress to
appoint a commission OF as impartial
a nature as can choose to observe the
results and report upon the results In
order that Justice may I'm tho event
be done the railroads In respect OF the
cost OF the experiment.
THAT was the proposal which they
rejected and which Congress put into
law. a proposal which T made to them
before ! conferred with e. which 7
urged upon them at every conference
and which. when the one side rejected
and the other side accepted. ! went TO
Congress and asked Congress 70 en-
act,
81 did not ask either side whether II
suited them. and 7 requested my
friends I'm Congress not 20 ask either
side whether II suited them. I learn
Cd before the controversy began, so
far as was concerned in Il, that the
whole temper OF the legislative body
Of the United states was I'm favor q
the eight hour Day,
when I carried II to Congress some
very interesting things happened. In
the House OF Representatives the plan
was passed, was sanctioned by vote