The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-16


thy TO AVOID SETTLEMENT.
mt 10 apparent to US that the
purpose of the railroads is to avoid
any settlement Of the matter until
such time as tho country becomes
involved in war. when they expect
to escape any settlement of what
ever character. Even though the
supreme court should decide that
the law was constitutional we
have noticed that they will not &C.
cept our Interpretation thereof,
which 10 practically the same as
the president proposed when he
enacted the law; therefore q de-
cision of the supreme court up
holding, the constitution of the law
would not even indirectly secure
for the employees the purpose of
the law.
way employees have been patient
and loyal to the interests of the
country and in the event of war,
have offered their services to the
government. IL must not be over.
looked that during this period,
when the railroads have persist
. emily denied their employees that
which was intended by the presi-
dent in his proposition and that
which was intended by the con-
gress in the. Adamson law, the
railroads during a years period
show net earnings of over q thou.
pIoyes, with no increase in wages,
have suffered an increase in cost
of living equal to more than forty
per cent.
Responsibility on Employer.
eff, after more than a year, we have
failed to secure some relief, and train
conclude to fold their hands
and starve in reality rather than by
degrees, should they be considered as
to their flag?
why not place some Of the respons-
lbility on the employers, who can very
easily stop all talk of stoppage of
trains by recognizing that such en-
ployes must either lower their stand-
ard of living or they must work longer
than ten hours out Of each "a in order
to retain American standards Of liv-
Ing?"
The statement was signed by the
four brotherhood chiefs, w. G. Lee,
for the trainmen; w. s. Caster, for
the firemen: L. e. Sheppard. for the
and w. s. Stone, for the
engineers.
"We have offered to leave to the
Goethals eight-hour commission, re-
Gently appointed by the president, any
questions that may remain unsettled
by the decision of the supreme court
In the pending Adamson law case. We
regret that the leaders Of the organ
Izations have refused to accept this
offer and that they have notified us
that they have ordered a series OF
strikes on the railroads of the coun-
try beginning Saturday night at 8
o'clock.
'The ultimatum presented to the
railroads by the organizations was
that we must Immediately put into
affect their Interpretation OF the law
now before the supreme court for a
OF its constitutionality
and meaning without waiting for the
decision OF the court.
Railroad Propositions.
I'VE decline to accept this PROPOSE
ton. feeling that we must await and
abide by the judgment Of the court;
and we thereupon made the following
formal offer for a settlement of the
issues involved:
81. If the supreme court upholds
the Adamson law to be constitutional
and two sides cannot agree on any of
eight hour commission shall determine
how the law shall be applied.
"2. In case the law Is declared un-
we offer to join you in
asking the eight-hour commission to
determine the whole controversy; any
settlement arrived at to be effective
January 1. 1917.
"This offer for feasible adjustment
was refused"
New York, March 16.-In a state
ment to the New York Central en-
ployes President Smith said:
Concerning the controversy now in
progress regarding wages OF employees
in train service, wish to give you the
facts for your information.
THE position of this company Is
that we should properly await the de-
cision of the supreme court which now
has the Adamson law under consider
alton. We have joined with other
railroads in saying to your represen-
that if the Adamson law is declared
you are automatically
taken care Of Should any question
arise as to the Interpretation OF the
law which we cannot readily agree
upon among ourselves we shall be
glad to abide by any award made in
the matter by the Goethals commits
sion, which was appointed by the gov
eminent to Investigate the question.
Should the Adamson law be de-
clared unconstitutional, the Goethals
commission shall act as intermediary
and declare what Is equitable and we
shall abide by it's decision. which shall
date from January, 1917
you are all aware that the people
of this country are confronted by
many critical situations at the pres
emit moment. These include food for
it's people. supplies for the missions
Of laborers engaged in manufacturing
plants, as well as the safety Of the
nation itself.
I'm view of the foregoing facts. /
ask you to remain at your work pend
ing a conclusion Of the matter as
above outlined, which we trust will
be reasonably prompt and equitable
and we trust that the government and
the people will see to it that the rail-
road companies themselves are In
some way fairly reimbursed to meet
these new requirements as well as the
very high cost of all material and sup
plies we are now using and which IS
causing much embarrassment and re-
tarding their development"