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Show EIGHT-HOUR DAY IS IT FAVORED By CALIFORNIA W. R. Scott, general manager of the Southern Pacific, yesterday telegraphed tele-graphed the following to T. F. Rowlands, Row-lands, superintendent of the Salt Lake division: "San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Com-merce sent following telegram to President Wilson last night: "We respectfully submit that you are misinformed on the attitude atti-tude of the public on the question of eight-hour day. Certainly as far as California is concerned. At last general election in Call- , fornia in November, 191-1, the mat- ' tor was brought to direct issue through a general state initiative and strong efforts were made to secure universal eight-hour day in this state. Opponents of the universal eight-hour day were found among all classes of society. Particularly among the farmers and manufacturers and notably among the railroad employees. Other groups of workers realized the peril to their Interests. The popular vote was overwhelmingly against proposal, being 560,000 against the proposal with only 2S2.0Q0 favoring; this vote was larger than is usual on legislative measures submitted. It represented repre-sented SS percent of the total vote cast at this election. The vote of this eight-hour law represented repre-sented a greater average majority than was indicated by the vote on any other measure. Every county in the state gave a majority major-ity against proposal. Present contention con-tention of the Brotherhood is not for bona fide eight-hour day, and any sentiment which may exist in lio onnnrv ffivnrtnir n Timi'tof inn of work to eight hours is not applicable ap-plicable to the present situation. We deem it a national disaster that 100,000,000 people should be so seriously affected in their daily lives by permitting and encouraging encourag-ing the comparatively small number num-ber of railway employees concerned con-cerned to refuse to submit this issue to arbitration. With every respect to your high office we solemnly protest against the use of the Influence of a Presidency to coerce the railroad and through them the people of the country without a fair opportunity of demonstrating dem-onstrating the merits of the contention. con-tention. Inasmuch as the railroads rail-roads are governmentally controlled con-trolled and regulated in interest of all the people who ultimately must bear the additional burdens, they should not be made the victims vic-tims of arbitrary demands." |