Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-01

The administration is confident that mi
nority senators will not carry their OPP
usition so far as to make 1t impossible
10 get the necessary legislation through
both houses by midnight Saturday
President Wilson will be in his room
at the Capitol when the Senate meets
and has arranged to spend the forenoon
there aiding in putting the legislation
through At 3 O'Clock in the afternoon he
leaves for Shadowlawn, his summer home
in New Jersey, where on Saturday he
Is 10 be notified formally of his nomina-
ton for reelection.
Representatives Of the railroads, of
the tra;nmen's brotherhoods and Of
shippers organizations argued for
nine hours before the Senate inter-
state commerce committee on legisla-
ton proposed to avert the threatened
strike recompense the roads for any
financial burden and perfect machir-
cry to make impossible in the future
another crisis like the present. To-
night the committee worked until late
on a bill to be presented to the SEN
ate tomorrow
Public to Pay
6ra of tha ,,,,a
facts stood clearly In the estimation of
all affected parties Congress alone can
prevent strike and the public eventually
viii foot the bill for an eight-hour day
with 10 hours pay which the trainmen
demand. The railroad executives and the
shippers insisted that the strike order at
least should be postponed. and the four
brotherhood chiefs declared with equal
vehemence it could not be.
Garretson's Declaration
dramatic scene In which A. B. Gar
retson, spokesman for the trainmen and
president of the Order of Railway Con-
ductors, was the central figure, brought
the hearing to a climax tonight shortly
before the taking of testimony closed.
Throughout the day members of the
committee at different times had asked
the four brotherhood heads II they were
powerless to stop the strike save by re-
porting satisfactory settlement to their
men. The question invariably was evad-
ed, the replies being that Mr.. Garretson
would explain the situation before the
hearing closed.
For almos: an hour Mr.. Garretson
kept the crowd laughing with quaint
expressions and humorous stories.
When he had only three minutes left
ip which to speak, his brother presi-
dents urged him to answer the ques-
ton of power to postpone strike. He
suddenly became serious. stood erect,
gazed at the ceiling for a moment and
then began to speak.
We have been asked" he said
slowly. If we have the power to de-
Ter this strike. 1t has been called for
next Monday. have the power to de-
Ter that date in my organization. but
IN the other organizations the situa-
non is different. The heads Of the 9TH
er brotherhoods cannot call back the
strike order.
But here is where stand. For
Sears my men have trusted me. When
stood before the President the other
Eight and he asked me II this could
aot De done, I found my Gethsen1ane.
10 them who have made me the recip-
tent Of all these things I owe my first
oohgation. I can put 1t of. but II
uio without gaining a satisfactory set
uement there would linger in the
MINDS Of those who have trusted me
thoughts Of treachery. II I put 1t off
across fair record OF 30 years would
&c written the word 'Traitor!'"
50 far We have refused nothing.
re declared, with tears streaming
GOWN his face. "wc have only said
" others refuse to do anything we
VIII DC nothing" He described all the
eontending parties to tho hearers as
'uitures. lowering about the carcass
VI the public. The public. he said.
would pay the bill in the end in any
event.
The public will pay. a. it always
mas paid" he said, but it will not
psy Tor the increased wage. As 1t has
lor many generations, it will pay for
DISQUALIFICATION.
The railroads do not see the hu-
.aanitarian side Of this fight. They say
.aey will pay II they have to. but that
han."
Tor a moment tho witness paused
aao seemed to peer far out over the
"eaos OF the crowd. Then tears came
-a'o his eyes and rolled down his
.neeks. He started to speak but chok-
ea' Apparently summoning all his
strength he threw out his arms. low
,seo his eyes to the crowd and in q
~" voice asked: Can I face 1T" and
dropped into his chair.
MOI person in the room moved for
several seconds. Mr.-Garretson relieved