New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-20
All Praise Eighth our Decision
Except Leaders Most Affected
labor Men See Augury of Shorter Day, Ultimately IN
Every Industry Brotherhoods Never Wanted
Adamson Law, Says W. C. Lee

The Supreme Courts decision dc
claring the Adamson eight-hour Ia"
constitutional was praised in this city
Yesterday by every one save the lead
ers of the two factions directly affected
the brotherhood chiefs and the eX-
ecutives Of the great railroads.
Labor leaders outside the railroad
field saw in the decision the establish
ment of a precedent which may uitl-
mately result in the eight-hour day IN
every industry.
eve would be better pleased If the
Supreme Court had declared the Adam
son law unconstitutional" said Will
lam G. Lee. spokesman for the brother
hoods. after the court had spoken.
1--WE never wanted it anyway. we
would prefer to make our own bar
gains with the roads.
"The ruling of the court does not
am sure, put US in the class of letter
carriers or others in like employment.
| do not know OF anything that Will
prevent us az some future time asking
for more wages if conditions, IN our
opinion. demand that we do so.
I've are opposed on general prlnei-
ples 70 having wages made a subject
OF discussion in legislative bodies, Just
as much as we are opposed TO govern
ment ownership. We are against gov,
eminent ownership because 1t would
mean too much politics.
As 10 whether or not the wages now
established would be high water marx
for some years to come, Mr.. Lee had
nothing TO say. though IL is known that
the chief objection on the part or
brotherhood members 10 having their
wages In any way fixed by law was
the belief that once the principle was
established their wages would remain
fixed, while the wages Of the morgan
izedized and poorly paid railroad en-
ployes were brought upward TO the
brotherhood standard.
Elisha Lee, representing the railroad
managers. had nothing 70 say on the
decision. holding that the letter OF the
managers yielding the eight-hour day
covered their position completely.
Secretary Lane declared that the de-
cision UNFOLDING the law was only what
ne had expected
at justified the efforts we made TO
secure the two-day delay so that trafhc
would not be tied up, the industries OF
the country would not be affected. and
the organization Of the railroads would
be left intact" ne said.
at is probable that radical and suS-
picious people, in view of past leak per-
formances, may say that the decision
coming down now was known in ad-
vance. Would you care to comment on
that superstition" the Secretary was
asked
There was no such knowledge in the
possession of either side," was the
reply.
Max Pine, head Of the United He
brew Trades, said:
"The ruling established precedent
which viii be hailed with JOY by every
worker If it is constitutional Tor
railroad workers to work eight hours
it must be equally so for the members
of other trades. | look TO see a gen
cral demand on the part of all organ
ized workers for the eight-hour day
as a result of the Supreme Court de-
cision"
Hugh Frayne. organizer of the Am
erican Federation of Labor. declared
Il regard it as more satisfying to
know that the railroad workers and
managers have been able to settle their
differences amicably than 10 hear that
the courts have decided in favor of the
law. II has been shown that agree
rnent is possible through intelligent
discussion and that harmony can be
maintained without legal compulslon.
"Some measure Of dissatisfaction un-
doubtedly would have rested with the
railroad managers if they had been
compelled to obey the mandate of the
courts in settling the strike question
There can be no such feeling now; the
strike was settled before the court de-
ciciop vsce m a do -