Show In Times Mlles 0 of Strife an and Uncertainty Nothing else gives quite so much comfort as the little I savings in ill the bank bank- and I II I those times come to us all aU I Why Thy not beg begin n to save I C i Well We'll pay you 4 per cent Bring in your account 36 MAIN STa CT tv V. a. a Pret Prest Anthon Authou II U. Lund Preat Ceo Geo Albert Vicc v. v ai M. cashier ashler Largest oriental ru rug house home In Sn the northwest wholesale an and rea retail George b. b J Co S a State Was J. J FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC J i C 1 r The Railroads' Railroads statement o of their post position j f fJ r J 7 tion on the threatened strike as presented t r. r i to the President of the United States t J W f A At 7 f r. r t t l A strike c on a all an the railroads of t the country has as been called by the Train Trairi r rv v Brotherhoods for or 7 o'clock Monday morning September 4 N ti This strike was ordered from was wasti Washington hen gt n while le the P President resident of tho the United States was vas s making b eve every r effort to avert t the e disaster k r if i k Y r tt h ri j The Final Railroad Proposal t i aI a I made the railroads for peaceful settlement nt of the con controversy 7 The final proposal i by or a o ersy but t which was vas rejected by the brotherhoods was vas r as follows vs i j t f r a al Tl The e railroads will effective S September i r 1916 actu actual l experience as t their ir judg judgment ent approves or the tho Jj keep the time of all men represented in in this movement F President may fix fir n not nv f t ho however e eer er less than three ft uon upon an 8 hour basis and nd by separate account monthly months with each man maintain a record of the the difference c In view of the far ron consequences of the between n the money actually earned by him on the declaration made b by the President accepting tha the 1 present basis and the amo amount nt that would h have ve been 8 S hour day not only upon the railroads and the classes earned upon an 8 hour basis overtime basis wartime on each basis of labor involved directly in in this controversy hut but to to be computed pro rata the tIe public and upon all industry it tt seems plain that q I 1 The amounts so shown son will be subject to the before re t the e existing c conditions are ch changed the whole f 4 decision of of the Commission provided for in Paragraph subject in In so 80 far as I it affects the railroads and and their 0 employees should be investigated and determined by bya f fc and able in c of this memorandum pa payable money as may be d' d dec directed lr ec t ed b by bj y said Commission in in its findings n g san and d a Commission to be appointed b by the President of M attention and to T- T d decision such standing as to compel respect its find findings The Th e JU judgment d t 0 of f such uc h a C Commission r rb b bl The Interstate Commerce Commission to would be a helpful basis for adjustments with ith labor l r suler supervise ise the keeping In g of these accounts and report the and such legislation as intelligent public o opinion union so in increased rc ed cost coat of the 8 hour basis after such period of informed might t demand L f Statement o of Executives ives to o the e President resi en r In n submitting this proposal to the President the fifty railroad e executives ves called to J Washington asI ington and representing all the great arteries of traffic made this statement to t him of t their heit convictions o 0 oThe The demands in this controversy have not been effort i is s required for Cor the public welfare would be M presented in our judgment for the thc purpose of fixing a harmful beyond calculation definite tc daily period of labor nor a a. reduction in the The widespread effect upon the industries indu of the he hee e existing hours of labor or change in m In methods method ref f opera opera- operation country as a whole is is beyond measure or appraise appraise- appraisement tion lon but for for the real purpose of accomplishing accomplishing- an ment meet at this time and we agree with the insistent and increase in In wages of approximately One Hundred widespread public concern over the gravity graty of the Million lillion Dollars per a annum num or 3 35 5 S per percent c cent n for the men situation and the consequences of a surrender by the theIn 1 in In railroad freight tram train and and yard d service service represented railroads in this emergency by the labor organizations in In this tins matter master In like manner we are deeply impressed with the After careful examination of the facts and patient sense of our responsibility to maintain and keep open and continuous consultation with the Conference the arteries of transportation which carry the life lifeblood Committee of Managers and among ourselves we blood of the commerce of the country and of the have reached a clear dear understanding of the magnitude consequences that will flow from even temporary of the questions and of the serious serious consequences to interruption of service over the railroads but tho the the railroads and to the public involved in the decision issues presented have been raised above and beyond of them the social and monetary questions involved and o ol Trustees for or the Public the responsibility for the consequences s that may arise anse will l rest upon those that provoke it As trustees for the public served by our lines and for the great mass of the less powerful employees not Pu Public hI IC I Investigation U Urged urge rge d less ess than 80 So o per cent of the thc whole number interested The involved in que questions are our respectful judgment judg judg- In in the railroad wage fund fund as as trustees also for the ment meat eminent eminently suitable for the calm investigation millions of people that have invested th their lr savings and nd and decision by the public through the agency of fair capital In in the bonds and and stock of these properties arbitration and cannot be disposed of to the public and who through the saving banks b trust companies satisfaction in any other manner and insurance Insurance are vitally vitally- interested to the companies lh The d decision of f C Commission B Board d of f A Arbitration Arbi b e cc slOn 0 a or oar 0 r It I- I millions of dollars in the c extent of integrity and t tr ton hav laving having ng the ills public confidence wl will l be accepted t solvency of the ra railroads of the country we cannot in r conscience s surrender without a hearing the P principle P ie b by the public and the social and fin financial rearrangements rearrange rearrange- 4 i involved nor undertake to transfer the enormous normous cost ments meats m made de n necessary ces ary thereby will be undertaken en b by bythe y th the le but bat in l less d deliberate erate Yd or er f that will m result to the transportation of the commerce public P In no ess nor orderly ordery Y of the country manner The railroads of the country cannot under present The hour eight day without punitive overtime nay conditions assume this enormous increase in their involves olves an annual increase increase increase approximately in the expenses If imposed upon them it would involve aggregate of Sixty Millions i of of Dollars and an increase Increase many in early financial embarrassment and bankruptcy bank bank- of more than 20 so p per r cent in n the he pay of the m men n ru p to y and imperil the power of all t to o maintain alre already dy the most highly paid in in the transportation their theft credit and the integrity of their securities service service The immediate increase in cost followed by other The ultimate cost to the railroads of an admission m increases that would be inevitable table would substantially in this manner of the principle under contention appropriate the present purchasing power of cannot now be estimated the effect upon the efficiency effi effi- the railroads and disable them from expanding and of the transportation of or the country now improving their facilities and equipment t to keep 1 1 already under severe test under the tide of of or business abreast of the demands of the country for efficient I now moving and at a time when more instead of less transportation n service I In n good faith a we ve have worked c continuously lv an and earnestly in in n a sincere sincere a effort ort to toi i solve the problem in in justice to all the p parties at interest These efforts were still j- j i in n progress when the issuance issuance of the strike order showed ved them to be a una unavailing aili n. n I f 3 Problem Threatens Democracy Itself J. J j The strike stripe if if it it comes will vill be forced upon the country b by t the e. e best est paid 1 class clas of laborers s in In the de world wort at a time e when the h e country has as the b greatest need J for transportation efficiency The problem presented is is not that alone of the railroad or business world but involving democracy itself and sharply presents the question whether an any group of citizens should shout d be allowed to possess the power to imperil imper l l t to the e h life t s o of the country by conspiring ir to block the arteries of commerce HALE HALB HOLDEN R. R s S. S LoVET LOVETT A A. H. H SMITH 1 Chicago Burlington Railroad Union a System New Nc York Cea Central Unu W W. W. W ATTERBURY DU Y I B E. E I P. P RIPLEY FRANK TRUMBULL Pennsylvania Railroad Atchison To l eka Santa Sala Fe Pe System A Ohio Obio Railway FAIRFAX HAR HARRISON DANIEL WILLARD Southern Railway Ranay Baltimore and Ohio R Railroad ti l 5 t I |