1916, the four Brotherhoods
threatened to strike. The mode of reckoning pay--whether upon an
eight-hour or a longer day--was the subject of contention. The
Department of Labor, through the Federal Conciliation Board, tried in
vain to bring the opponents together. Even President Wilson's efforts
to bring about an agreement proved futile. The roads agreed to arbitrate
all the points, allowing the President to name the arbitrators; but the
Brotherhoods, probably realizing their temporary strategic advantage,
refused point-blank to arbitrate. When the President tried to persuade
the roads to yield the eight-hour day, they replied that it was a proper
subject for arbitration.

Instead of standing firmly on the principle of arbitration, the
President chose to go before Congress, on the afternoon of the 29th of
August, and ask, first, for a reorganization of the Interstate Commerce
Commission; second, for legal recognition of the eight-hour day for
interstate carriers; third, for power to appoint a commission to observe
the operation of the eight-hour day for a stated time; fourth, for
reopening the question of an increase in freight rates to meet the
enlarged cost of operation; fifth, for a law declaring railway strikes
and lockouts unlawful until a public investigation could be made; sixth,
for authorization to operate the roads in case of military necessity.

The strike was planned to fall on the expectant populace, scurrying home
from their vacations, on the 4th of September. On the 1st of September
an eight-hour bill, providing also for the appointment of a board of
observation, was rushed through the House; on the following day it was
hastened through the staid Senate; and on the third it received the
President's signature. * The other recommendations of the President were
made to await the pleasure of Congress and the unions. To the suggestion
that railway strikes be made unlawful until their causes are disclosed
the Brotherhoods were absolutely opposed.

* This was on Sunday. In order to obviate any objection as to the
legality of the signature the President signed the bill again on the
following Tuesday, the intervening Monday being Labor Day.

Many readjustments were involved in launching the eight-hour law, and in
March, 1917, the Brotherhoods again threatened to strike. The President
sent a committee, including the Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Labor, to urge the parties to come to an agre