New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-16
Men Ask Public to Put Part
OF Blame for Strike on Roads
Brotherhoods Plead They Must Either Lower Living
Standards or Work More than ! f1ours-Accuse
Employers of Waiting for War

day through any method. they should
! be willing TO grant it directly to their
/ employees, and not prolong the eontro-
/ versy.
The public should remember that,
after having failed 20 reach an agree
ment with the conference committee o.
/ the railways last August, President
Wilson interyened and attempted TO
mediate our differences, and, after hear
ing both sides Of the discussion and
considering the matter for several
days. proposed a settlement, which set
Element is practically the same as we
have just proposed to the railroads.
"The railroads refused to accept the
| Presidents proposition. when the Pres
ident recommended to Congress the
enactment Of a law similar to his prop
osition. This Congress did. when the
railroads again refused 70 accept the
decision Of Congress, and have not yet
observed the law IN a single instance.
Say Lines Wait for War
ut is apparent to US that the pur-
I pose of the railroads is TO avoid any
/ settlement of the matter until such
! time as the country becomes involved
settlement of whatever character.
Even though the Supreme Court
should decide that the law was consti-
tutional, we have noticed that they will
not accept our Interpretation thereof.
which is practically the same as the
President proposed when he recon-
menGed the enactment OF the law;
therefore, a decision of the Supreme
Court unfolding the constitutionality
of the law would not even indirectly
secure for the employees the purpose
of the law.
at goes without saying that railroad
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
at must not be overlooked that dur
ing this period. when the railroads have
persistently denied their employees that
which was intended by the President in
his proposition, and that which was in
tended by the Congress in the Adam
son law, the railroads. during a years
period, show net earnings Of over a
thousand million dollars, while the en-
ployes. with no increase in wages. have
suffered an increase in cost of living
equal to more than 40 per cent.
"If after more than a year we have
failed TO secure some relief. and train
and engine men conclude to fold their
hands and staTve in reality rather than
by degrees. should they be considered
as disloyal 20 their flag?
"Why not place some of the responsi-
bility on the employers, who can very
easily stop all talk of stoppage Of trains
By recognizing that such employees must
- k,r krfr Of I'd M 2
they must work longer than ten hours
out Of each twenty-four in order TO re-
tain American standards Of living
Railroads Statement
Elisha Lee. chairman Of the national
conference committee for the railways.
said:
81 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 re-
gret that the leaders of the organlZa-
tions have refused 10 accept this oher'
and that they have notified us that they
have ordered a series of strikes or the
railroads Of the country, beginning sat
urday night at 6 o'clock.
Inc ultlWdluW pIfsful'u ." NV
railroads by the organizations was that
we must Immediately put into effect
their Interpretation Of the law, now
before the Supreme Court for deter
mination as to its constitutionality and
meaning. without waiting for the de-
cision Of the court
eve declined 70 accept this propo-
sition. 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.
a. If the Supreme Court holds the
I Adamson law to be constitutional, and
the two sides cannot agree upon the
application of any Of the points. We
will agree that the Eight-Hour Com
mission shall determine how the law
shall be applied.
"2. In case the law is declared I'M
constitutional, we offer to join you IN
asking the Eight-Hour Commission to
determine the whole controversy; any
settlement arrived at to be effective
from January |. 1871
"This offer for a peaceable adjust
ment was refused"