The Detroit times., 1916-08-30

100000.
that justice was done the railroads
In the outcome 1 felt warranted IN
assuring them that no obstacle Of
law would be suffered 10 stand ia the
way 81 their increasing their reyo-
MUGS 10 meet the expenses resultinB
from the change 20 far as the de-
velopment OF their business and Of
their administrative efficiency did not
prove adequate 10 meet them. The
public and the representatives OF the
public, felt justified IN assuring
them, were disposed 20 nothing but
justice In such cases and were wilt
ing TO serve those who served them.
The representatives OF the brother
hoods accepted IN" plan, but the rep
resentatives OF the railroads declined
TO accept IL In the fact OF what
cannot but regard as the practical
certainty that they VIII be ultimately
obliged 10 accept the eight hour day
by the concerted action or organized
labor. backed rs the favorable judg-
ment OF society, the representative
OF the railway management have felt
justified In declining peaceful set
Element which would engage all the
forces OF Justice, public and private,
on their side. 10 take care Of the
event They feel the hostile inhu-
ence OF shippers, who would be OPP
posed % an increase OF freight rates
(for which, however. OF course. the
public itself would payl, they ap.
parently feel no confidence that the
Interstate commerce commission could
withstand the objections that would
be made. They do not care 20 rely
upon the friendly assurances Of the
congress. or the president They
have thought - best that they should
be forced Co yield, n they must yield,
not by counsel. but by tho suffering
of the country While my confer
enCes with them were IN progress,
ana when. 10 all outward appear
ance, those Conferences had come 20
standatill The representatives. OF the
brptherhords suddenly acted and set
the strike gov sept.
The railroad managers based their
dcClsipn 10 reject my counsel In this
matter upon their conviction that
thew must. ~ any cost 20 themselves
Cr 90 IN" country. stand hrm for the
irln ,ple ~ arhltra'lon' which tho
men had rejected based my coun-
sci upon The lndisputahle fact that
thE"c w97 mo- means - obtaining ar
hitTation The law supplied none.
wt earnest EFFORT AZ mediation had
failed - Influence IA" men lu the
least To stnnd Brm for the principle
OF arbitration and y~' not get arbi-
tration seemed to me futile and
something more than futile, because
II Involved incnlcuinble distress 20
the countr, and cons~uu~r~es Ira some
respects wore ihnn those Of war.
md that In the midst az peace.
-
alike. &c conviction md Of purpose 20
the principle of arbitration IN Indus
trial disputes, hut matters have come
60 sudden cviSls In this particular
dispute and the country hns hecn
cnught unproVId~d with arv prnctt-
cable means of enforcing TIM conYic-
tion la practice tbN whose fnuit we
VIII rot now stop "a Inquire. \ sit
uafion Lad 20 hT mot SIS hose elements
and 0Nct conditions were fu1i spuf-
able The practical and patriotic
course 'o pursue. U7 10 .ftrr.N @. rrr
was 10 secure immediate peace Iv
maNds 81 'hs mon which society if-,'f
and any g'n4trntoIs who raprcano ted
public Rruf mont wore r"H". lI'.Cl 90
approve. and immediately Law tNo
foundations FOR a.,ur.nr arbitration
with regard 80 cNrr.t"iug else I'M
volved The event has confirmed trat
Judgment ] was seeking 10 CuUp0so
the present in order 90 safeguard tho
future: for : wished an atmosphere
81 pence ana friendly cooperation "a
which to take counsel with the repre-
sentative ~ tho nation with regard
o. tho host means for providing. 40
far ne ~ might prove possible 10
provide. against the recurrence ~
such unhappy situations in the future
tho best and most practicable
means OF securing calm ana fair arhl-
tration OF all industrial disputes IN
the DAYS 30 come This Ia assuredlv
the best way ~ vindicating prin-
ciple, namelT, having fe3led 70 make
certain ~ It's observance IN the pres
cnt. 90 mako certain OF it's observance
in the future.
But could only propose. 7 could
not govern tho VIII of others who
took an entirely different view OF the
circumstances Of the case. who oven
refused 20 admit the circumstances
to ho what they have turned out 20
be
Having failed 20 bring the parties
10 this critical controversy TO an ac-
commodation therefore turn 10
YOU. decminC II clearly our duty rs
public servants 10 leave nothing IN
done that we can do 90 safeguard the
life and interests OF tho nation In
the spirit ~ such n purpose. | earn
estlv recommend the following leg
islatiCn.
First Immediate provision ;or
the enlargement and administrative
organization Of the Interstate COM
mcrcc commission along tho lines ON
bodied IN the bin recently passed bY
tho house OF representatives md now
awaiting action by tho senate. in or
der that tho commission NAV be en-
ablcd 20 deal with the many great
and various duties now deyo!ylng
uron n with promptness and thor
oughnesR which are with its present
constitution and means or action
practically Impossible
second Tho establis hment OF m
eight-hour day as the legal basl,
alilto Of work and wages In the en-
ployment OF all railway employees
who are actually engaged In the work
Of operating trains in Interstate
transportation.
Third the authorization OF the
appointment by the president OF
small body ~ men 20 observe the ac-
tual results IN experience 81 the adop-
ton OF the eight hour day in railway
transportation alike FOR the men and
for railroads. It's effects IN the mat
ter Of operating costs. IN the applica.
tion ~ the existing practices and
agreements to tho new conditions aud
In all other practical aspects, with
the provision that tho investigators
shall report their conclusions TO the
congress at tho earliest possible date,
hut without recommendation as TO
legislative action: In order that the
public may learn from an uuprc-
JUDGED source just what actual de-
VclOpmcnts have cnsued.
Fourth-Expligit approval hv tho