Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-03-15
RAILROAD WORKERS
DEMAND 8-HOUR DAY
BEFllff NARSTARTS
Brotherhood Chiefs Say Carriers
Delay Concessions.
ASSURE LOYALTY IN WAR
President Wilson Prepared to Act if
Strike Situation Becomes Acute
Conference Between Union
Chiefs and Managers
Thursday.
DAYS MOVES IN STRIKE CRISIS.

DAYS MOVES IN STRIKE CRISIS.
Strike orders received by Chicago
trainmen.
Railroads assert they will look to
president to prevent a 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 brOtherhOods here
in public statement announced the
railroad employees in the Southeast
had Endorsed their latest eight-hour de-
mand
The brotherhood chiefs said they
Il
Element" at a 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
panic should halt the negotiations.
Assures Loyalty In War.
The announcement carried the as
surance that in the event of war the
-ailrOad 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 g. Lee,
president of the Uainmen. and was
signed by himself, l.. +. Sheppard, act
ing president Of the conductors; w. s.
Stone, president of the engineers, and
W. $. Carter, president of the iremen
The statement said:
''All the members of the general com
mitreeS representing a 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-
ttves was unanimously rendered by the
various general committees. thus au-
thoriZing the chief executives to again
renew their attempt to effect a peace
full settlement with the conference
committee at the meeting to be held in
New York Thursday March Il.
All inSinuatiOns that transportation
employees are not loyal citizens be
cause of their attempt ut this time to
secure from their employers the bene-
fits contemplated by the law is absurd
and assurances Of our WILLINGNESS and
intention to 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 n
shorter workday and our member
shin, realizes that this Question should
be disposed Of ana industrial pe&1e
restored before our country becomes
involved in war, which now seems
probable.
Seemingly it has been the purpose
Of the railroad companies to postpone
final settlement Of this question until
either Il panic or a war should defeat
our demands"
President Ready to Act.
President Wilson will act promptly
and decisively to prevent any general
tieup of the commerce of the country
through 4 great railroad strike during
the present international situation.
Convinced both the railroads and
their employees will put aside their
own differences to join in the defense
of the country, the president is pre-
pared To step once more into the con
fr0versy if the strike threat becomes
acute
Gets Data on Situation.
Although confined to his room, the
president conferred at length with
Secretary Of Labor Wilson and re
ceiyed a detailed report of the situa-
ton. He will he kept advised as to
the progress of discussion between 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 will be
prepared TO act at once and exert all
of the federal governments influence