Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-15
UNION HEADS NOT
. HALTED BY APPEAL
TO PATRIOTISM
Intend to Renew Demands
at Conference in New
York To-Day.
SUPPORTED BY UNANIMOUS
VOTE OF BROTHERHOODS
Want to Get Issue Settled Now,
Because of Possibility That
Soon There Will Be War.
DENY CHARGES OF BAD FAITH
Spokesman for Railroads Declares
Every Door Is Open for Fair
Determination OF Merits.
SUPPORTED BY UNANIMOUS
VOTE OF BROTHERHOODS
DENY CHARGES OF BAD FAITH
rRy Associated Press. ,

BY Associated Pressl
NEW YORK, March 1t.-.tn appeal
TO the patriotism of the members of
the four great railroad brotherboods
TO refrain from any rash movement.
Which would bring on industrial war;
rare in the present national crisis was
made here tonight by the national
conference committee of RAILWAYS on
the eve of the conference Tomorrow
with the chiefs OF the trainmcn.s or.
sanizations. There were additional in
dicatons. however. that the brother.
hoods were determined to call strike.
unless their demands were granted
After the meeting here with several
hundred general chairInen, and chair
men or the locals in the brothc rhood
organizations on lines entering New
York. W. G. Lee. president OF the
brotherhood of Railroad Trainmcn. an
nounced that unanimous support had
been voted the brotherhood chiefs in
the demands they intend to make at
to-morrow's conference These de-.
mands. he said, would be based on tho
modified demands OF last December
"hich called for Il basic eight hour
work day, ana pro rata pa. for over
time. 8
law would give IL put in force he sa i'd
The original program Of the men, the
refusal OF which resulted i'm the call
las, September of the strike. which
was arcrtcd by tho passage of tho
Adamson act, included an eight -ho,Ir
basic day with time and half for
overtime. Mr.. Lee indicated that there
was no intention of going back to the
original claims.
"GOOD GUESSERs" FORECAST
COUNTRYWIDE STRIKE
nc admitted that recent forecasts
OF progressive countrywide strike,
beginning Saturday night at 6 o'clock.
unless the railroads acccde to the ulti-
matum OF their employees. "werc writ
ten by good 6. csser.'
Charges that we arc acting In had
faith in bringing up this question again
az this time. without waiting for the
decision of tho Supreme Court on the
Adamson act, arc basclcss." he declared.
we we're not parties to the agreement
entered into between tho attorneys for
the railroads and the representatives
OF tho Attorney-Cicnerars Office to do
nothing until the decision is handed
down.
our position is the sam. as IL there
wcrc no Adamson law and no decision
pending. Whether tho decision is for
or against the law, our dcma nds which
We shall present tomorrow. will be
nnaltercd. If tho law is uphcld il.
would give US what VIC will ask for to-
morrow. IL il is thrown out, NO still
VIII stand pat, and take no less than
the Adamson law would have given us.
VIC four brotherhood chiefs, through
these recent meetings with our men
now feel that VIC have the united back
ing OF our men behind US in this. We
want 10 get this question OF tho eight
honr day settled and settled quickly.
The reason for our seeming haste at
this time in forcing it to an issue is
that the country may be in a war
within few weeks or months. and
We believe this ought to be settled be-
fore that comes"
CONSIDERS DEMANDS
Or MEN BEYOND REASON
The statement of the national con-
ference committee. signed by its chair
man. Elisha Lee, said:
We are sincerely desirous that tho
wages and working conditions of our
employees should be on the highest
plane consistent with the efficient on
Grafton Of tho railroads. When the ma
honal wage demands of the four train
hrothcrhoodS were made last year we
felt that they were beyond reason, en-
failing, as they did, an annual in
crease OF S10o.00o.00o or about 80 per
cent in the wages of the 500. 900 most
highly paid workers in the country.
But We were ready and anxious TO
submit this wage controversy for set
uement TO some impartial public tribu-
nal In the hope that our employees
would join with us in seeking the judS-
ment of such a board OF inquiry, we
earnestly urged that the whole case
be referred to:
Il. The Interstate Commerce Com
mission. the government body regulat-
ing tho transportation industry In the
public interest; or,
-. y board of arbitration, under the
Newlands act of 1913. la1 enacted
at tho joint request of the employees
and the carriers; or,
%. board OF inquiry. to he APP
pointed by tho President
''onr offers for peaceful settlement
were all rejected by the brotherhoods.
II we had refused to meet with ours