The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-14
All Eyes Conferred On Railroad
Situation Brotherhoods
Will Stand By Country.
ATTEMPT PEACEFUL
SETTLEMENT THURSDAY
President Will Again intervene
If Necessary In Order to
Bring Factions Together In
Face of Foreign Crisis.

Washington. March i5-Deciarine
that the problem of an eighthour
dav on the railroads of the country
should be solved, and Industrial
peace restored before our country be-
comes involved In war. the presi-
dents of the four great railroad broth
erhoods here tonight i a public state
ment announced that the employees OF
the railroads in the Southeast had en-
dorsed their ltest eight hour day de-
nand. The brotherhood chiefs said
they would once more seek peaceful
settlement at conference with the
railroad managers in New York on
Thursday They declared that the
railroads had sought TO postpone final
settlement OF the employees demands
until either q war or a panic should
halt the negotiations.
VIII Support the Country"
The announcement OF the brother
hood chiefs carried the assurance that
in the event Of declaration Of war
the railroad employees would sup
port tie country" 1t pointed out
that for more than year the rail
road men had sought TO settle the
eight hour-iay question. The state
ment was issued by w. G. Lee, presi-
dent of the trainmen. and was signed
by himself. l.. f. Sheppard, acting
president of the@ con dactors; w. S
stone, president OF The engineers. and
w. : Carter. president of the firemen
II was issued after The local chair
men of the brotherhcods on the
Southeastern railroads had endorsed
the foru of the proposal to be SUBJ
mitted b. the brotherhood chiefs III
THURSDAYS conference in New York
The statement said:
Text OF Statement.
All members OF the general com
mittees. representing Il number OF
railroads la the southeastern terri
tory. conferred here today and gave
thorough consideration 10 the appli'
cation of the basic eight-hour work
Iav as authorized by the chief eXecu'
tives. which was presented to and re
fused bv the national confer nee 81
the railways last Decembe., 1t wa'
then hoped by the brotherhoods tina
an application of the so-called Al
amson law could be agreed upon tina
would give train. engine and yard EN-
ployes at once the benefits intended
by the president when proposing the
eight hour law
The proposition submitted al to-
days meeting by the chief executives
was unanimously endorsed by the
various general committees thu,
authorizing the chief executives te
again renew their attempt to effect 9
peaceful settlement with the confer
ence committee at the meeting TO rs
held in New York. Thursday. March
15
"AlI destinations 10 the effect thai
transportation emptoyes are not loya
citizens on account OF their attempt
at this time 10 secure from their en-
ployes the benefits contemplated hy
the law. is absurd, and assurances OF
our willingness and intention to sup
port our country should war be de-
c!ared. has been given to the presi-
dent of the United states.
Surely the public must recognize
that for more than a year we have
made every effort to secure a shorter
work day. and our membership real
ICES that this question should be dis.
posed OF and industrial peace re-
stored. before our country becomes
involved in war, which now seem.
probable.