Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-12
TO SETTLE 8.H0UR
FIGHT NO MATTER
WHAT COURT SAYS
Adjustment of Rail Wag
rel, Irrespective Of How
Adamson Law Decided,
Forecast at Cleveland.
ASSURANCE SENT WILSON
Brotherhoods Say Strike Won't
Be Permitted to Embarrass
U. S. in Case of War.
CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY

NllildsO, MdiNh ia NoliiSlSHIS
between the heads of the railway
brotherhoods and the national confer
ence committee of the railroads has
been billed for next Thursday, March
IS, in New York. The cause of the
conference was not revealed.
Settlement Forecast.
Cleveland, O., March l1.-Settle-
ment of the railroad eight-hour con-
troversy, irrespective of whether the
supreme court holds the Adamson
law constitutional or unconstitutional,
was forecast III Cleveland by action
of conference of brotherhood
leaders.
Announcement of the four unions
compromise plan to be threshed out
at a meeting with railroad officials in
New York next Thursday, came
simultaneously with the revelation
that the brotherhood chiefs had noti-
fed President Wilson that strike
would not be permitted to embarrass
the government. i'll case the United
States was drawn into war.
Plan Drafted.
A statement was given out. signed
by Warren S. Stone, grand chief of
tile engineers. L. E. Sheppard, act
ing president of the conductors; w. S.
Carter, president of the fremen and
enginemen, and w. G. Lee, president
of the trainmen, announcing that
plan for settlement of the controversy
had been drafted by the brotherhood
heads and submitted to and approved
by the chairmen.
While the details Of the settlement
plan were not divulged, it was stated
that the union representatives would
lay before railroad officials a COM
promise plan based on the employees
fight for an eight-hour day.
Independent of Court Action.
"It was decided to renew efforts
to obtain settlement" the official
statement said, "and meeting has
been arranged with the national con-
ference. committee of the railways, to
be held in New York on Thursday,
March Is" S,
The settlement conference with
the railroad officials will have moth
ing to do with whatever action the
supreme court takes in the present
test of the Adamson law" President
Lee said.
"An effort will be made to reach an
agreement that will bring peace be-
tween the railroads and the men if
the law is held constitutional. An
effort also will be made to work out
plan that will effectively take the
place of the Adamson law in case it is
held unconstitutional"
Statement Of Chiefs.
The four chief executives issued the
following statement:
"a meeting was held at Cleveland,
March 10, by representatives of ths
four train and engine organizations,
the Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engi-
neers, Order of Railway Conductors,
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen, and Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen, in response to
call issued by the chief executives,
for the purpose of concurring as to
the situation regarding a settlement
Of the eight-hour proposition.
at was decided to renew efforts to
obtain settlement, and a meeting
had been arranged with the national
conference committee of the railways,
to be held in New York on Thursday,
March IS.
"The 400 chairmen of the four
transportation organizations attending
the meeting, reported the conditions
existing on their various systems as
even worse than on September 2,
1916, when the Adamson eight-hour
law was enacted.
They complained bitterly because
the men they represent are working
for the same rates of pay, and longer
hours and worse conditions, than
prior to the enactment of such law,
and called attention to the fact that
nearly all other classes of labor had
been given substantial increases dur
ing the last year, which in measure
offset the increased cost of living.
They authorized the chief execu-
tlves to press the matter to an early
conclusion and while the situation is
grave, the chief executives feel hope
full of effectng a peaceful settlement
when they meet the managers COM
mittee.
The men feel, and their officers
support them in the opinion that the
railway companies should have ap-
piled the law, as intended by congress
and the president OF the United States,
thus giving the men the benefit from
1nnuar,t [ inctnnd of Ii