Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-31


legislation but rather between them
| selves.
1.-THE success of any labor organiza~
ton lies, to an extent, in its militancy,"
he said. I'VE are in grip OF power
g~ater than we, and 1t is unfortunate
that this situation has arisen. but i be-
lieve II settlement can be effected BY
| congress. even though we are opposed
to legislative settlements, we are Will
| ing to waive the age-old tradition
against 1t.
AS an ethical proposition" he said,
there is no more reason why a man
should be worked more than eight
hours than there is that he should be
worked "a. In the application OF prfn-
ciple. different situation arises.
To-day" he said, thousands or men
throughout the country are working
from 12 to 16 hours of which there is
no complete record"
These conditions. Garretson de-
clared, were responsible for the united
appearance OF the brotherhoods IN
sistently demanding the human right
to enjoy some of the things that other
men enjoy. The railroad men, he said,
are wanderers on the face of the earth.
I'VE believe" said Garretson. that
questions affecting society take prece-
dence over economies We believe that
the human element should be consid-
cred, regardless of its effect on divi-
! dends."
Mr.. Garretson argued that the effect
of an increased wage on dividends
should not be considered when 1t was
obvious that employees were not being
paid a proper wage.
| Attacking the railways plea for
arbitration as insincere, Mr.. Garrett
son insisted that 1t was not offered to
men who were so poorly organized
that they could not enforce demands.
Danger Under Social Crust
| 81 say on behalf of these railroad
men," Mr. Garretson declared emphat-
| ically, that there is evidence today OF
deadly danger underlying the social
crust, and that il is liable to be
brought to the surface unless means
| are found to settle this difficulty be-
fore it can reach the danger stage"
Frequently he declared the brother
hood officials could only call off the
strike by reporting that a satisfactory
settlement had been made.
"As for compulsory arbitration"
said Garretson, mo influence that ever
can be brought to bear can induce our
organization to accept 1t. l want to go
on record here as protesting against
| anything that savors of making men
stay at work during any investigation"
| To postpone the strike after the men
had voted II, Garretson declared.
would mean the disintegration OF the
brotherhood AMI the turning over to
the mob Of the trains as in 1877 and
1894"
II want to impress on the commit
tee," said he, that since the begin
ming of these negotiations no definite
proposal ever has been made to US by
the other side. They have said but
one thing; they have offered to leave
the whole matter to the interstate
commerce commission"
Garretson added that he wanted TO
assure the senators that the brother
hoods were not opposed to arbitra-
ton.
I'VE believe in the principle OF ar
bitration," he said, but not in arbi-
tration where we stand only to lose.
The experience OF our men with arbi-
tration has not made them in love
with it's practical results.
Under ordinary processes Of our
policies" said Garretson, I'VE would
be out OF accord with all OF the five
propositions made by the president.
But in the hope of effecting settle
ment we are willing to aid in passage
of legislative remedy that will make
1t possible to recall the order to strike
Sept. A."
GOmpers Attacks Legislation.
Samuel Gompers, president or the
American Federation OF Labor, who
followed Mr. Garretson, said that the
federation supported the brotherhoods
and protested against compulsory ar
bitration. He attacked government
operation of roads for military pur-
poses, contending it was CONSUMPTION
and indefensible in times of peace.
i Senator Newlands denied his con-
tention that the legislation denied the
right of a worker to quit his Job. Mr..
Newlands reiterated it meant only to
affect the right to quit in concert.
Mr.. Gompers said he believed he
lad contributed as much as anybody
in America to avoiding strikes.
But. gentlemen" he said. there
are things worse than strikes. We
have got to live when that strike is
over and is history, and where, ask
you, will we find upon the statute
books a law that says that men are
criminals If they strike in concert?
Such a condition is intolerable.
trust this legislation will not be en-
acted"
Senator Newlands asked Gompers
to give the committee the solution OF
the problem.
"On Monday" said Mr.. Newlands.
1.-THE railroads of the country will be
tied up / think the members of this
committee agree with me that COM
pulsory arbitration and compulsory
service are both impossible and in
advisable. The suggestion therefore
is made that the government make an
Investigation and there be mediation.
and that pending an inquiry into the
facts the parties maintain the status
quo. Now If this remedy is not right
and is wholly wrong, what is the
remedy?"
Mr. Gompers replied that under the
circumstances the employees should be
left free to strike whenever they saw
At and not forced to unfold their
arms" by law. The question Of
bringing about peace now, he insist
ed. should devolve upon the railroad