The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-03-15
Brotherhood Chiefs Say Carriers
Delay Concessions.
ASSURE LOYALTY IN WAR
President Wilson Prepared to Act u
Strike Situation Becomes Acute
Conference Between Union
Chiefs and Managers
Thursday.
DAYS MOVES IN STRIKE CRISIS.

trainmen.
Railroads assert they will look to
president to prevent tie-up.
Wilson is ready to step into breach.
Brotherhood chiefs declare compro-
mise will not be accepted; assert eight
hour question should be settled before
war comes.
Conference in New York will be
held tomorrow Walkout is set for
Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Washington, March 14.-Declaring
the problem of an eight-hour day
should be solved "and Industrial peace
restored before our country becomes
involved in war" the presidents of the
four great railroad brothcrhoods here
in public statement announced the
railroad employees in the Southeast
had Endorsed their latest eight-hour de-
mand.
The brotherhood chiefs said they
would "once more seek peaceful set
Element" nj conference with the rail-
road managers in New York Thurs
day.
They declared the railroads had
sought to postpone settlement of the
demands until either a war or a
panic" should halt the negotiations.
Assures Loyalty in War.
The announcement carried the as
surance that in the event of war the
railroad employees would support the
country"
1t Is pointed out that for more than
year the railroad men had sought to
settle the eight-hour day question. The
statement was issued by w. q. Lee.
president of the trainmen, and was
signed by himself, l.. L. Sheppard. act
ing president of the conductors; w. s.
Stone, president of the engineers, and
w. S. Carter, president of the tiremen,
The statement said,
HAll the members of the general COM
mittees representing number of rail-
roads in the southeastern territory
conferred here and gave thorough CON
sideration TO the application of the
basic eight-hour work day as author
lied by the chief executives, which was
presented to and refused by the nation
al conference committee of the rail
ways last December.
1T was then hoped by the brother
hoods that an application of the So
called Adamson law could be agreed
upon that would give train, engine and
yard employees at once the benefits in.
tended by the president when propOs-
Ing the eight-hOur law.
Charge Purposefui Delay.
''The proposition submitted at yes
terday's meeting by the chief execu-
tives was unanimously rendered by the
various general committees, thus au-
renew their attempt to effect peace
full settlement with the conference
committee at the meeting to be held in
New York Thursday, March l..
"Ali insinuations that transportation
employees are not loyal citizens be-
cause of their attempt at this time to
secure from their employers the bene.
fits contemplated by the law is absurd
aud assurances of our willingness and
intebtion - support our country,
should war be declared, has been given
to the president of the United States.
Surely the public must recognize
that for more than Il year we have
made every effort TO secure d
shorter workday and our member
ship realizes that this question should
be disposed Of and Industrial peace
restored before our country becomes
involved in war, which now seems
probable
Seemingly ii has been the purpose
of the raiiroad companies to postpone
final settlement OF this question until
either 4 panic or u war should defeat
our demands
President Ready TO Act
President Wilson viii act promptly
aud decisiyely to prevent any general
tienp 81 the commerce Of The country
through great railroad strike during
the present international situation
Convinced both the railroads and
their employees win put aside their
own differences 10 join III the defense
OF the country, the president Is pre-
pnred "a step once more into the con
troversy IL the. strike threat becomes
acute.
Gets Data on Situation
Although confiaed to his room, the
president conferred NJ length with
Secretary Of Labor Wilson and re-
ceived detailed report Of the situa-
ton. He will be kept advised as to
the progress Of discussion betwecn the
..big four" brotherhood chiefs and the
conference committee Of railroad man
ayers In New York which begins Thurs
day.
Under his direction the federal board
Of mediation and Cancellation win be
prepared TO act at once and exert an
az The federal coye-n,;eut's influence