The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-09-01
CONGRESS WILL
STOP STRIKE.
IS THE Belief


tivcs of the railroads, of the trainmens
hlotherhoods and of shippers organiza-
tious argued for nine hours today be-
fore the senate interstate commerce
committee on legislation proposed to
avert the threatened strike, recompense
the roads for any added financial bur-
den and perfect machinery to make i'm
possible in the future another crisis
like the present. Tonight the commit
tee worked until late on the bill to be
presented to the Senate tomorrow.
Out of the nine hours argument two
facts stood clearly. In the estimation
of all affected parties Congress alone
can prevent a strike, and the public
eventually will foot the bill for an s.
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 done.
All sides apparently were more or
less satisfied with the hearing which
had given them an opportunity to lay
their cases before the public.
A dramatic scene, in which A. B
Garretson, spokesman for the trainmen
and president of the Order of Railway
Conductors. was the general figure
10 al, 10
night shortly before the taking OF
testimony closed.
Throughout the day members of the
committee at different times had ask
ed the four brotherhood heads if they
were powerless to stop the strike save
by reporting a satisfactory settlement
to their men. The question was in
variably evaded, the replies being tha
MI Garretson would explain the stu
alton before the hearing closed.
For almost an hour Mr.. Garretso1
kept the crowd laughing with quain
expressions and humorous stories. Wher
he had only three minutes left in which
to speak, his brother presidents urge(
him to answer the question of powe
tS Pes.fosae str'ke Ha ] ,drr,,f he
came serious, stood erect, gazed at tn
ceiling for a moment and then begal
to speak.
"We have been asked,'' he said slow
lv, eff we have the power to defer thi
strike. 1t has been called for mex
Monday. I have the power to defe
that date in my organization, but il
the other organizations the situatio
is different The heads of the othe
brotherhoods cannot call back the OF
der to strike.
Garretson's Gethsemane.
''But here is where I stand. Fc
years my men have trusted me. Whe
/ stood before the President the othe
night and he asked me if this coul
the men who have made me the recip
ent of all these things, / owe my fir:
obligation. I can put it off, but if
did. without gaining satisfactory sa
tlement there would linger in the m1ne
of those who have trusted me though
Of treachcry. If I put it off, across
fair record of thirty years would
written the word traitor. -
For moment the witness pause
and seemed to peer far out over tt
heads of the crowds. Then tears can
into his eyes and rolled down h
cheeks. He started to speak but cho
ed. Apparently summoning all b
strength, he threw out his arms, lowe
ed his eyes to the crowd and in a lo
voice asked, ECan I face it?'' al
dropped into his chair.
Not person in the room moved t
several seconds. Mr.. Garrctson
Geved the situation by rising from
chair and leaving the chamber.
A. P Thorn, general counsel for
Southern Railway and counsel for
railway executives advisory comm
tee, closed for the railroads.
He said the railroad companies WI
acting in fidueiary capacity that tn
must see that there is a fair retr
on the money invested in railroads a
that any wage increases are not c
trihuted to only comparatively SIN
part of their employees.
HWe do not claim the right to dee
this question: said Mr.. Thorn, 's
more than we think that any inter'
ed party ought to be allowed to
eide it. We are told that the eie
hour day is not arbitrary. The ans
that is that these gentlemen would
have an eight-hour day and would
accept it if 1T was rendered to theI
Work Hours, Be Paid for 10.
Mr.. Thorn said that never was tt
a legislative act nor in any party ?
form had the position been taken
man should work eight hours and
paid for 10.
"We promised to keep an acct
on the basis of an eight-hour day W
a commission sought to ascertain
facts and to pay from the 5eginl
whenever an award should be made
added. HI call upon your console