Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1916-08-31
STRIKE ORDERED FOR
SEPT. 4, I A. N,
CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ONLY
MEANS LEFT TO AVERT GEN.
ERAL TRAIN TIE-UP

| g.
mary of developments in the strike
situation follows:
Negotiations between the railroad
son, definitely have been broken off.
Brotherhood leaders definitely OF
dered the strike to begin at 7 a. m.
Labor Day, unless the order is coun-
termanded. Only settlement favor
able to the men can change it.
Wilson prepares to go before con-
gress at $3.50 o'clock this afternoon
with proposals of a new law to pre-
vent a strike.
The latest authentic outline of these
proposals follows:
Increase of the Interstate Com
merce Commission from seven to nine
members.
An eight-hour day law for railroad
employees in actual interstate trans
portation. To empower the Federal
Board of Mediation to fully investi-
gate the operation of an eight-hour
day on railroads.
Empowering the Interstate Com
merce Commission to consider an
eight-hour day in connection with
making rates.
A measure similar to the Canadian
industrial disputes act for investiga-
tion of all disputes between railroads
and their employees.
A measure empowering the presi-
dent to operate trains with the pri-
mary object of providing American
troops on the Mexican border with
food.
Brotherhood leaders favor the
eight t-hour day features, but oppose
the proposal to adopt the Canadian
! plan.
Washington, Aug. 3O.-President
Wilson, laying the railway strike sit
uation before congress today with
recommendation for legislation, ad-
vanced the crisis to a state where the
next development depends upon two
!. ,ints. They are:
Whether the legislation he proposes
can be passed.
If enacted, will it be effective to
prevent strike already called for
September 4th at z A. M?
Neither of the questions can be an
swered tonight.
The brotherhood heads themselves,
announcing their intention to fight
certain portions of the president S
program are at logger-heads over
whether it's enactment would prevent
the strike.
The railway presidents, favorable
to President Wilson's plan, in the
main. think it would make it difficult
for the strike to begin.
Meanwhile, although negotiations
between the employers and men were
broken off today by the rejection of
the railway presidents latest pro-
posal for arbitration, President Will
son is continuing his efforts to bring
the two sides together on some form
of agreement. Efforts which might
we'll be described as almost superhu-
man are being exerted to that end to-
night.
Acted Without Delay
When the brotherhood leaders this
morning rejected the latest proposal
to the railroads and definitely set the
strike for Labor Day, without fur
ther notice, President Wilson decided
to lay the whole situation before con-
gress. Before joint session Of house
and senate, and with solemn recital
Of the distress a disastrous strike
would bring to the country, the pres
ident proposed a plan of legislation.
Immediately after the president
had delivered his recommendation,
congress set about to see how they
might be enacted into law.
The senate interstate commerce
committeae, which has before it bills
prepared to carry out the plans, did
not get quorum, and will meet to-
morrow morning. The house leaders
announce their intention of waiting
on the senate action.
Tonight President Wilson had a
conference in Speaker Clark's room
at the capitol. No definite conclu-
siOns we're reached.
Hopes They Will Yield
President Wilson confded to ad-
visors tonight his earnest hope that
the brotherhood, recognizing the fair
ness with which he has treated them,
would yield to his request that pend
ing action by congress they wou Id
rescind their strike order. He ask
ed the leaders to do so at the con-
efrence last night, but they refused
fatty, saying they had not the power.
The president intends to use all his
influence to hasten action in congress,
but should there be delay he intends
to appeal to the patriotism of the
leaders and their duty to the public
not to insist upon calling the strike
at this time. With the issues now
set forth before the country, the |
president expects the public to make
known to the brotherhood its opposi-
ton to strike regardless of the
merits Of the controversy.
-, Prepare For Strike
Meanwhile the railway heads pre-
pared themselves for strike. Or
lers not to, accept perishable freight
for shipment were issued by many
ines. Notices were issued to prospec-
tive passengers that unless they