The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-15
On Eve Of Brotherhoods Demands That Eight Hour Day
BE Granted II Strike Is to Be Averted, Railroad
Committee Urges Restraint.
CHIEFS OF MEN SAY THEY ARE BACKED
BY ALL EMPLOYEES IN PROPOSED DEMANDS
Plan to Strike Now Before War May Be Declared They
Say-Men Are Acting as If Adamson Law Were
Not Pending in Supreme Court

n law enacted at the Join request OF
the employees and the carriers; or.
''Three--A board of inquiry to be
appointed by the president
Our offers for 4 peaceful settlement
were all rejected by the brotherhoods.
II 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
workers might have been justified In
leaving the service. But under tho
circumstances the threat of a nation
wide strike was indefensfbl,. We
left every door open for a fair deter
mination of. the merits OF tho contro-
versy and every door is still open.
Await Court Decision.
"The Adamson railroad wage law.
hastily enacted last summer to avert
the strike, is now before the hghcst
court for q determination as to its
constitutionality and meaning. Til,
railroads entered into an agreement
with the government to keep tho pay
roll records of these 100000 employees
from January /. in such manner as to
assure prompt payment to the en-
ployes of whatever amounts may be
due under the construction placed up
on the act by the court Tho broth
orhoods on their Part publicly stated
they would take no radical action
pending the decision of the court.
Congress has made no provision as
was earnestly urged by the president
for insurance against the interruption
of railway traffic by strike, and tho
country is apparently in tho samo po-
sition now that it was in the crisis of
last August.
Duty to Country.
| 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 in
dustrial warfare. The reported short
age of food and the congested traffic
of the country bring forcefully to all
our minds what would happen in the
event Of 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 counte-
nance any rash movement, which may
lembarrass tho government and give
the impression outside our borders
that this country s'torn by Industrial
strife and, therefore, an easy prey to
any foreign foe"
After they had seen this statement,
the brotherhood chiefs issued the fol-
lowing:
Brotherhoods' Statement.
"The nearly 200 chairmen OF the
transportation organizations meeting
here today. representing a number Of
the principal lines In eastern territory
unanimously approved the compro-
1mise proposition presented to the
managers committee last DeccmhCr
in the hope of a peaceful settlement.
THE railroads after having re-
fused to accept a settlement of the
eight hour controversy. proposed by
President Wilson last August and
after having refused to observe the
eight hour law enacted by congress.
must accept responsibility for a strike
should it take place. It is too late
for them to now pose as patriots, hop
ing thereby to defeat the just contcn-
tons Of their employees.
I'VE have requested renewal OF
negotiations commencing tomorrow in
: the hope of affecting a peaceful set
Element"
This statement was signed by w. s.
stone, grand chief engineer of the
brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers:
l.. f. Sheppard acting president of the
order of Railway Conductors: W. s.
Carter. president of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Firemen and Engine
men. and W. G. Lee president of the
brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.
Strike Called Treason.
Resolutions were adopted here to-
: day by the board of trustees of the
American Defense society stating that
in view of the international situation.
a. widespread railway strike would
; inevitably result in appalling consc-
nuences to the nation" and would so
delay supplies and munitions as TO
prove in truth a direct blow at our
own naval and military arm"
Such a result it was declared could
y be characterized only as treason to the
United States" 1t would also dis
r credit organized labor, the resolution
J. said.