The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-15

uIating the transportation 1nuus- try fin the public interest; or
 '2. A board of arbitration under
 the Newlands arbitration act of
 1913. law enacted at the joint
 request of the employees and the
 carriers. or
 a. A board or inquiry to be ap-
 pointed by the President.
 OFFERS WERE REJECTED
 Our offers for peaceful settlement were all rejected by the brotherhoods If we had refused to meet with our employees to discuss their demands, or if we had refused to submit the issue to arbitration, this great body of work CTS might have been justified in leav- ing the service. But under the circum- stances, the threat of a nationwide strike was indefensible. We left every door open for a fair determination of the merits of the controversy, and every door Is still open
 The Adamson railway wage law, hastily enacted last summer to avert the threatened strike, is now before the high est court for determination as to it's constitutionality and meaning. The rail- roads entered into an agreement with the government to keep the pay roll records of these 300,0o0 employees from January l, in such manner as to assure prompt pay ment to the employees of whatever amounts may be due under the construc- tion placed upon the act by the court. The brotherhoods, on their part, pup licly stated that they would take no rad ical action pending the decision of the court.
 "Congress has made no provision, as so earnestly urged by the President, for insurance against the Interruption of rail- road traffic by strike, and the country is apparently in the same position now that it was in the crisis of last August
 "The serious international situation causes every good citizen to put every thought of personal right or desire second to his duty to his country. Surely this is no time for internal industrial war fare. The reported shortage of food and the generally congested traffic of the country bring forcefully to all our minds what would happen in the event of a stoppage of the railroads of the country
 With this situation before us, we feel confident that the patriotism and loyalty of our men will not countenance any rash movement which may seriously enl- barrass the government and give the impression outside our borders that this country is torn by industrial strife and, therefore, an easy prey to any foreign foe"
 After they had seen this statement the brotherhood chiefs issued the following:
 "The nearly two hundred chairnen of the transportation organizations meeting here today, representing number of principal lines in eastern territory, unani- mously approved the compromise proposi- tion presented to the managers commit tee last December, in the hope at that time of peaceful settlement.
 The railroads, after having refused to accept a settlement of the eight-hour controversy proposed by President Will son last August and after having re- fused to observe the eight-hour law en- acted by Congress, must accept respon- sibility for a strike should it take place. It is too late for them to now pose as patriots. hoping thereby to defeat the just contentious of their employees.
 .sWe have requested a renewal of ne- Cotiations commencing tomorrow in the hope of affecting peaceful settlement
 This statement was signed by w. S. Stone, grand chief engineer of the Broth erhood of Locomotive Engineers; l.. E. Sheppard, acting president of the Order of Railway Conductors; w. 8. Carter, president of the Brotherhood of Locomo- tive Firemen and Enginemen. and w. G.. Lee. president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.
 RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
 Resolutions were adopted here today by the board of trustees of the Aneri- can Defense society stating that in view of the international situation a wide. spread railway strike would inevitably result in appalling consequences to the nation,' and would ESQ delay supplies and munitions as to prove in truth a direct blow at our own naval and mili- tary arm" Such a result. it was de- clared, "could be characterized only al treason to the United States" It would also discredit organized labor, the resolu. ton said.
 Joseph Hartigan, commissioner of weights and measures of this city. to- night made an appointment to meet the four brotherhood chiefs tomorrow to at tempt to persuade them to cooperate with the railroads in keeping food trains running into New York in case Of a strike.
 FEDERATION WILLING Washington, March 14-Full co-opera-