About Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920 | View Entire Issue (March 20, 1917)
Cht cnii *Wcclfls 3wnal - VOLUME XIV. WILSON CONFERS WITH WAR CHIEFS ON CRISIS German Army Retreating Rapidly Along Front of Near 100 Miles in France GREATEST MILIWY | MOVE IN TWO YEARS NOW IN FULL SWING French Territory Approximat •ing 620 Square Miles Has * Been Abandoned Since Great * Retirement Was Begun Bt Aswriawa Press. > • LONDON. March 19. —A British de stroyer an da merchant vessel were sunk, and another destroyer was damaged in the German na'al raid at Ramsgate, the aimiralty announced today. 3y Associated Ptesa.) XHW YORK. March 19-—The greatest military movement on the Franco-Bel gmm front since the battle of the Marne ts still in full swing with the Ger- | •mans in retreat on a front of nearly 1 >n miles French territory approximating <2® square miies nas been abandoned. w Th» retirement of Field Marshal von, Hindenburgs western armies has al ready virtually resulted in the straight ening out of the famous Arras and Noyon salients and apparently the retrograde movement is still in progress Should the expectations of many mili •nry observers who have been watching the operation be realized the retreat will not stop short of the powerfully fortified I line running from Lille to Laon. through rhe strong defensive positions of Cam bra i and St. Quentin. Today's German official statement speaks of the movement with a certain note of finality as if it were entirely completed- "The previous retirement *n the Somme region, however, was marked *~by such a statement made in the midst of its progress. The broad scope of the operation is succinctly indicated in the Berlin announcement that the ground evacuated wa* a strip between the Ar ras district and the Aisne which takes in virtually the entire front from a snort distance south of Lille to the Sois ron*-London district. Both the British and French are sharp > following up the retreating Germans, ►mpoyment of cavalry having enabled •be pursuit to keep in close touch. Movements of importance are also tn progress In other fields. in Persia both the Russian columns, advancing to hem in the .disorganized Tucks retreating the British u > •he Tigris from Bagdad, have made fresh progress The column from Sakkiz has oushed almost to the Mesopotamian bor der from Baneh. while the Hamadan „niiy to the south has advanced twenty •nlle- southwest of Kermanshah and oc cupied Harunahad. Berlin announces’ a successful Zeppe lin attack on la>ndon last Saturday night bomba being dropped during a period of an hour and a half on the city and the southeastern English counties and the airships returning safely. Fifteen men arc still missing from the -rew of the American steamer Vigilan- * is. sunk by a German submarine with out warning, it is declared. French bioseiy Pursuing Retiring German Army By Associated Press. t PARIS, March 19. -The French, close ly foliowing the retiring Germans, re occupied Guls-card last night and at ?Cev «ral paints reached the railroad from Hara Xesle. the war office announces Troops were pushed aiong the national load to St. Quentin. East of Xel-e the second German po sition was captured. The«statement says 10ft villages have been reoccupied by the French in three days. Many of these towns had been devastated Thousands of persons whom the Germans were unable to send to the rear came -forward to greet the French. On the Verdun front the Germans made a heavy attack between Avocourt and Dead Man hill, after artillery prep aration. They penetrated the French lines on a front of 25ft yards, but were ejected from part of this position after violent hand to hand fighting The German line at labt accounts was in full retreat over a section which rep resents almost one-fifth of the -vast front from Switzerland to the sea French troops advancing along, a forty-mile front, have recaptured im portant towns and many square miles of territory accompl shing this at small cost to themselves. In the Lassigny region west of Rsye the Germans appear to have made only a weak defense since the French were able io push forward thirteen miles at one bound. «Jenera I Xlveile. the French com mander. who is credited with possess ing almost uncanny ability to gauge the powers of his opponents, is follow ing up the retreating Germans wish ’great rapidity. It is-regarded here as doubtful wheth er the Germans will find it feasible to offer serious resistance before reach ing the basic line of defense between Lille and Soissons. two days' march from where they now are. Britain Now Spending 6,000,000 Pounds Daily (By Associated Press.) IjOXDOX. March 19.-—Replying to a question in the house of commons today Andrew Bonar Law. chancellor of ex chequer. said the dally average expendi ture of the British government from April 1. 191®, to March 31. 1917. wouli work out at 6.o9ft,®ft<» pounds SOLEMN WARNING TO KAISER SOONDED BY BERLIN NEWSPAPER “Shall the World Say That All Nations on Earth Are Free Except Germany?" Asks Vorwaerts B-r Associated Press.) AMSTERDAM, March 19-—(Via Lon don.)—The Berlin Vorwaerts. compar ing the situation in Russia with that in Germany asks: "Shall the world say that all the na tions on earth are free except Ger many?” The newspaper compares the declar ation of the Russian provisional gov ernment with the declaration of Chan cellor von Gethmann-Hollweg in the Prussian diet to the discredit of the lat ter. it comments: "How much longer? The king should straightway give back to the Prussian people their franchise, which was taken away in 184V’ Russian Revolution Means Uprising in Germany, He Says BT J. H. DUCXWOITH. NEW YORK, March 19.—”1 have not the slightest doubt that the revolution in Russia will lead to serious uprisings and momentous changes in Germany. The kaiser must see the writing on the wall. Autocratic monareh'.vs are doomed. "That is the explanation for Chancel lor Bethmann-Hollweg’s belated cham’- pioning of political reforms. At all costs the Hohenzollerns must «ead off a Ger man revolution." This is the interpretation of Herman Bernstein, greatest authority in the Uni ted States on 'Russian affairs, of the re cent happenings in -Russia and Germany. For 20 years Bernstein, editor of the American Hebrew and of the Day. has been fighting for the freedom of Rus sia. He was a friend of Count Tolstoy. He visited Russia in 1908. 1909, 1910 and 1911. In 1912 he was barred from Russia be cause of his articles in the United States criticising the Russian government’s refusal io recognize the passports of Russian-German Jew?. Coloney Mya soyedoff. who turned him back at the Russian-German frontier, was hanged a few months ago for his part In a gigan tic grafting scheme. "I believe." continued Bernstein, “that the men in German trenches, led to be lieve fhey are fighting a defensive war, will he»the very leaders of these upris ings in Germany. They will demand drastic changes and reforms in the junker government that has so wickedly misled them, ami that has heen respon sible for the horrible catastrophe now facing the German people. "A well-known German writer told me when I was in Germany last year that ?e would not be at al> surprised if a rev olution were to break out in Germany at any time led by a man now fighting in the trenches. "This war has brought many ills in its train. But it ha« brought one conso lation—democratization in the ranks of armies everywhere. That Is why we see I Russian troops supporting Russian revo i lutionaj-ies. the same troops that ten i years ago helped crush the people. “1 believe the entire Russian revolu tion is due to the fact that the liberal element of the people believed a separ | ate peace would kill all immediate hopes a democratic Russia. It knew Ger many preferred a backward, reactionary Russia for a neighbor, a Russia it could I point to as more reactionary than itsef. "Bethmann-Hollweg and others of the i kaiser s ministers must have been un ' pleasantly surprised by the Russian rev : olution. They would have welcomed a J revolution that would have npllt and weakened Russia and at the same time I driven Russia into their hands. • representatives of the Russian {people have revolted, not along lines de sired by the Get mans, but along lines of > ijeal liberalism and freedom. i"An.l another dream of the kaiser has failed to come true.” Farm Loan Board Fixes Federal Land Bank Rate At 5% (By Asseciated Press.) WASHINGTON, March 19.—The farm loan board announced today that the interest rate on all loans made to farm er» throughout the country by federal loan banks would be a per cent. A rate of 4 1-2 per cent on bonds to l»e issued by the land banks also was officially announced. Five Are Drowned When Boat Overturns • Specie! Dispatch to The Journal.! PAVO. Ga.. March 19.—Five persons. Miss Sallie Simmons, aged eighteen; Miss Idabelle Simmons; aged sixteen. Miss Pattie Hart, eighteen; Miss Hazel Hart, ten. and Frank Blanton, were drowned when the boat in which they LEGISLATORS READY FDR SPECIAL SESSION ON "BOHir LAW “Dry” Jubilee Held Monday Night and Extra Session Convenes on Tuesday—Fili buster Is Not Expected Legislators gathered in Atlanta to day on the eve of the extra session do not believe there will be any Organized effort to prevent die passage of bone dry prohibition bills, although there is some talk of the minority attempting to secure a compromise in the effective date of the measures. Whether this talk will materialize into definite plans no one can say. It is suggested that the minority might in sist on the effective date of the bills being fixed several weeks or months in the future, instead of making them effective immediately. It is pointed out that if this were done it would mean that the advantage of an extra session had been lost, since the legislature will meet in regular session in June. At 4 o’clock Monday afternoon Gov ernor Harris went before a caucus of senators and representatives in the Kimball house and submit a draft of the bill which he desires the legislature to pass, and at 7:30 Monday evening the governor called to order’ the great prohibition jubilee io the auditorium. This jubilee, called fay a committee of Atlantians .who have been interest ed in advancing the cause of prohibition for several years, celebrated both the dry victories in Washington, where national legislation has been passed, and in Georgia and the south in gen eral. JUBILEE SPEAKERS. Governor Harris called the Jubi lee to order and outline its purpose and significance. Then William J. Harris, chairman of the federal trade commis sion. took the gavel and presided throughout the program. Senator Hardwick spoke on ’lnterna tional Relations." Senator Hoke Smith, who was also ex pected to be on hand, was prevented from coming on account of pressing business in Washington. In addition to these, invitations had been sent to Congressmen William Schley Howard. Charles R. Crisp and Charles G. Edwards to deliver ad dresses. Mayor W. J. Pierpont, of Savannah, arrived during the day with a delega tion of y»0 citizens from that city. Mayor Asa G. Candler, of Atlanta, welcomed the visitors to the jubilee, and among the other speakers will be Jerome Jones, editor of the Atlanta Journal of Labor, and Mrs. W. H. Fel ton. the noted writer and temperance Advocate of Cartersville. CLERKSHIP RACK A great deal of interest centers in the race for <-lerk of the house to suc ceed Colonel John T Boifeulllet. who resigned some months ago to accept appointment by the governor to the rail road commission. There are three ac tive candidates for clerk, as follows: E. R. Moore, of DeKalb county; Lind ley W. •'amp. of Cobb county; J. B Jackson, of Jones county. The present house will elect a clerk only for the extra session, and the new house will elect a clerk for the 1917-18 session when it convenes next June. This means that the winner of the race for the extra session must run a race to hold his place in the regular session. The friends of both Mr. Moore and Mr. Camp claim that they have upwards of 100 votes pledged. The membership of the house Is only 189. A majority of 95 is necessary to elect. The candidates a.nd»their friends were exceedingly active among members of the house in the Kimball house lobby and other gathering places Monday. A “delegation of Cobb county citizens came to the city to solicit support for Mr. Camp, who hails from Cobb. In addition to the clerkship race there is a lively race for messenger of the house to succeed the late Dan Paulk, who died a few weeks ago. There are four candidates for this po sition. as follows: W. C. Davis, «»Y At lanta; J. B. D. Paulk, of Fitzgerald, a brother of the late messenger; J. O. Morgan, of Covington; M, G. Murchison, of Washington county. FELDER SUPPORTS HARRIS. It was reported Monday morning that Thomas B. Felder, the Atlanta attorney for the Georgia Dry ’Federation, ha 1 drawn a bill different from the gover nor’s bill and would try to get it intro duced. Mr. Felder was found at the Kimball house, where he lias taken a room and was asked about this report. He said. “I have not prepared any prohibition hill and don’t Intend to prepare one. My appeal to the members of the legislature is to vote for any bill prepared by Gover j nor Harris, for any bill which he pre i pares will have my heartiest indorse ment.” were riding on Handcock's pond, near here. Sunday, overturned. Vera Hart was saved by a young brother on the shore. All were residents of this coun ty except Miss Hazel Hart, who was from Albany. ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1917. DRASTIC STEP MW BE TAKEN TO BREAK submarine menace After Coiiference With Lan- sing, President Visits Navy I and War Secretaries and I Definite Move is Expected (By Associated Press ) • WASHINGTON, March 19.—New and aggressive action to protect American 1 shipping against German submarines ap pears certain e-s a result of yesterday’s | sinking of three unarmed American merchantmen with possible loss of American lives. Technically, an armed neutrality still, existed, but officially it was admitted Germany has committed the '‘overt act” which precipitated a virtual state of war. Secretary Lansing was called to the White House by President Wilson early today and they discussed the policy of the government. President JVilson made another per sonal visit ti) the state, war and navy building this afternoon and there were outward indications that some new definite action was impending as the result of the latest- destruction of American ships by German submarines. President Wilson conferred with Sec retary Daniels, it was understood, about the issue of 3150.000,000 in bonds for hurrying natal construction because of national emei-gency. There wat no official announcement, however, to i onfirin this. Calling of congress in extra session before Aprji 16, loomed as the strong est probabifi y, although President Wil son was d jderstood to have other courses umfer consideration. With a ships' already being armed, thedfmost probable step would be an aeffle campaign to clear sub marines wp of the shipping lanes. There A«ea red to be no plan to have the Unit&K states enter the war in the sense ’ Hat the European nations have entered ' The ftft that some American ships are on file other side of the ocean un armed ia a factor in the situation and as warships are ineffective againsfcsubmarines, the problem for the government is to get smaller submarine chasers® Most of the American fleet is needed at homely to guard against operations of German submarines in American wa ters. There seemed to be no doubt that steps to supplement arming of Ameri can ships would be taken and the only question was whether the president would take such steps on his own re sponsibility or wait for congress tc grant specific authority. No comment was made at the White \ House today beyond the statement that the president was getting reports and considering the question thoroughly. The latest developments! brought the government face to face with the prob lem of formulating a definite policy for the nation in case the United States actually enters the war. This pos- j sibility was mentioned by the president' in his inaugural address March 5. All of the conditions outlined by the president in his message announc-, ing the diplomatic break with (Sen I many as leading to a state of armed j neutrality- have now been fulfilled. The “overt act” described by him then has I actually come: if. in fact, it had not! been eommittted when the president! went before congress. Since then he: established a state of armed neutrality! without the specific authority of con gress. President Wilson was out automofll ing when ttfe first Associated dispatch es telling of the three disasters came ih quick succession. Through Secre tary Tumulty he was given all availa ble facts immediately on his return. In the meantime Secretary Lansing and other state department officials. as well as cabinet members, were given the information. Several hours later official reports capie from Consul Frost at Queens town and Consul General Skinner at London, telling of the sinking of the City of Memphis, the VigHancla and the Illinois. These dispatches confirmed press reports, but added few details. International lawyers and constitu tional experts here showed no hesitancy tonight in saying that President Wilson has full authority to interpret this as an act of war. and announce that this country considers that an actual state of war exists by reason of Germany’s flagrant assault on American shipping Despite the sinking of the big pas ; senger liners like tlie California and the the jeopardizing of Americans 1 on nearly a score of other vessels, and ; the sinking of three other American I ships, tlie Housatonic. the Lyman M. [ Law and the Algoquin, since the unre i stricted warfare began, some officials. ■ inspired by the president’s announced 1 reluctance to believe that Gertnany ; would carry through her threat, have ! clung desperately to the hope that some : slight respect for international law might' still be shown. * German sea warfare may fairly be stated, however, to have surpassed even the most pessimistic forecasts here. That she actually means to send every vessel to the bottom that dares to ven ture within her forbidden zones is now accepted as a fact. Neutral, passenger | and Belgian and relief ships appear to be all In the same category. With the virtul certainty that this country will become involved in hostil ities with Germany, even if only for the keeping open of the sea lanes io Europe, officials are closely scanning i the news from the various war fronts An advance on the west front or in Mesopotamia is now studied with the j keen eagerness born of a realization i that it may have a direct effect on America's future history. The kaleidoscopic developments of the; last few weeks’ history have been fol lowed most keenly. The apparent crumbling of Turkish power In Mesopo tamia and Persia as shown in the cap revolution in Russia, threats of internal ture of Van by the Russians, follow ing the fall of Bagdad to tlie British, the unexpected sweeping in a wide swath on the west front, the pro-war (Continued on Page 7, CoL 6.) Adamson 8-Hour Law Held 1 * ■ • Valid in Every Particular In Supreme Court Decision Worlds Dryest Bone-Dry- Prohibition Bill Drawn By Governor Nat Harris GEORGIA Will have what is probably the most drastice prohibition law that was ever enaeted in any state if the legislature passes the bone dry bill which Governor Harris will submit to the caucus of senators and representatives Monady afternoon. The principal features of the bill are understood to be as follows: The bill repeals the present shipping law, which permits the ship ment of two quarts of whisky, or four quarts of wine, or twenty-four quarts of beer, to one individual in a period of thirty days. The bill repeals the clause of the present so-called omnibus pro hibition law which permits an Individual to keep in his home • two' quarts of whisky, or four quarts of wine, or twenty-four quarts of beer. The bill prohibits the shipment into the stafe of any quantity of whisky or wine or beer, with slight exceptions noted below. The bill prohibits the keeping on hand by any individual in any place of any quantity of whisky, or wine or beer, with slight exceptions. The bill prohibits the sale of any medicine containing alcohol when the same is intended to be used as a beverage. There is no provision in the bill prohibiting the manufacture and sale of whisky, wine or beer, since this prohibition is already contained in the present omnibus law and needs no strengthening. The bill does this, however: It provides that the first violation of any prohibition statute, or any section thereof, shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of 31,000 or one year in the penitentiary, either or both: and it provides that all subsequent violations of any prohibition statute, or any section thereof, shall be a felony, punishable by one to five years in the penitentiary without a fine. The only exceptions contained in the bill are these: It permits the shipment of alcohol into the state to be used for medical, pharmaceutical and manufacturing purposes, under the strict est sort of regulations; and permits the shipment of small quantities of wine into the state to be used for the holy sacrament, under the strict est sort of regulations. • The bill provides that the commissioner of commerce and labor shall be ex-officio prohibition commissioner of the state. It requires county ordinaries, who keep the records of alcohl and wine shipments, as above stated, to furnish duplicates of these records to the commissioner It charges the commissioner with the duty of exercising a general su pervision over the enforcement of the prohibition laws throughout the state. It provides that 10 per cent of all fines and forfeitures for vio lation of the laws shall be set aside as a fund to pay the office and tavel ing expenses of the commissioner and to pay his salary up to $1,200 a year. All above shall go into the state treasury. If 10 per cent of fines and forfeitures is not sufficient to pay the expenses and salary of the commissioner, he gets no pay. The bill goes into effect immediately. If the caucus approves the bill Monday afternoon. Governor Harris will send it immediately to the state printer and have copies on the desks of the members of the house and senate when the extra session convenes at 11 o’clock Tuesday morning. POLICE IMPLICATE DORGAN IN WURM MURDER MYSTERY Say Negro Confesses Com plicity—Jerome Yarter De clares He Will Be Able to Throw Light on Crime Two important developments in the unraveling of the mystery surrounding the disappearance and death of John Wurm, the youth whose body was found floating bn the waters of the Chattahoo chee were disclosed Monday. Andy King, former chairman of the police board, made a statement to the effect that Vaster Dorgan, the negro, who is being held on a charge of larceny in order to keep him here while detec tives carry on the Wurm probe, had con fessed to complicity in the murder of Wurm. The other development came when Jerome Yarter. now held in the tower to face trial for two paymaster robberies, stated to The Journal that he perhaps could throw so much light on the mys tery surrounding Wurm's death that the arrest and conviction of the guilty par ties might follow It has been rumored and discussed at police headquarters, and at the court house for some time, that slowly but surely the drag net of the law is closing on the perpetrators of the crime that! caused such a sensation last summer. Yarter, who is an automobile mechan ic, when seen at the tower and question ed regarding reports that he was being! quizzed regarding the Wurm case, said: | “Officers have been to see me, and I told them that I could possibly tell them a great deal about the Wurm murder. They have tne locked up here charged with two crimes, and thi* would sure be the wrong time for me to divulge my in formation.” "What was the motive in the Wurm' murder?” he was asked. "He knew too much on somebody and they had to close him up,” he said. “What's the use for me to tell all I know. There will be a proper time for me to give officers my information about the Wurm murder. And when I do I can help clear up that cs sc. They said in the "Boots" Rogers trial that J mentioned something about the Wurm ease in that faked dictograph conversa tion. 1 didn't, but it’s right funny that they knew I could say something about IL” When Yarter was told that the grand jury was going to be asked to indict ■ Dorgan on the charge of murder, in con nection with -the Wurm case, Yarter sneered. “It will take a kangaroo court to do it,” he said, meaning that he (Yarter) knew nothing on Dorgan. According to Mr. King. Dorgan has confessed to complicity in the murder although he denied to newspaper men that he had made such a statement. According to the man who is alleged to have received the confession from > Dorgan. the negro was working at the j SEVEMTEENTH REEIMEHT LEWES EL PASO TONIGHT McPherson and Oglethorpe Barracks Being Prepared for Interned Germans (By Associated Press.) WASHINGTON. March 19—The Sev enth infantry, designated as guard of the interned German sailors who are to he sent to Forts Oglethorpe and Mc- Pherson, will leave El Pasc tonight and should reach their destinations within five days. The war department took up today the question of providing accommoda tions and equipment at the army posts for the German sailors. Surveys of the barracks at Oglethorpe and McPherson are being made and stockades may be built around the quarters assigned to the Germans. Arrangements for tne transfer of the interned men from Philadelphia have not been completed. The sailors will be moved to their new camps under escorts of marines some time this week. Secretary Dan iels indicated they would make the en tire journey by rail, although the pos sibility of towing the interned ships to Savannah with the men aboard had been considered. Mustering Out Order.in Central Division Suspended (By Associated Press.) I CHICAGO, March i».—-trders wcre_ is | sued today by Major General Barry. ; commander of the central department, suspending all mustering out of troops in the department "subject to further notice.” j Entire National Guard To Be Mustered Out On or About April 1 <By Associated Press.) WASHINGTON. March 19. —It was authoritatively stated today at the war department that demobilization of the national guard would continue as plan ned, and that delays in\ the mustering out of troops in certain districts result ed from local conditions and did not re flect any <*hange in the attitude of the ' government. It is expected that all national guard forces will have been mustered out by- April 1 or very shortly thereafter. ■ steel plant on the night of the boy’s disappearance, and came upon the as sassins of Wurm, who were seeking ! to dispose of his lifeless body. They forced Dorgan to carry the body j of Wurm to the river bank, he is alleged I to have confessed. RULING OF FEDERAL JUDGE IN TEST CASE IS REVERSED. 5 TO 4 X aZ/ j Decision Follows Agreement of Railroads to Avoid Strike. by Yielding to Trainmen’s. Demand for Eight Hours •- • a (By Aatociated WASHINGTON, March 19.—FoMcwtne the agreement of the railroad mana<«M Sunday to put into effect the provisions of the Adamson 8-hour law pending ths> decision of the supreme court as to its constitutionality, the supreme court to day handed down its decision declaring the act valid in all respects. The decision makes eight hours the 1 standard of a day’s work and wages for men in operation of trains and legalises the wage increase which went into tenta tive effect on its passage. The decision was 5 to 4. Justice Day, ] Pitney and VanDevanter announced their dissent from the bench and later Justice Mcßeyonlds announced Ms. Federal Judge Hook’s ruling in the Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf railroad test case, enjoining enforcement of the Adamson act and holding it “uneonstb tutional, null and void” was reversed. The immediate, temporary wage in creases won by the railroad employee af fect 400,000 trainmen, as of January 1 and are estimated to total between 940,- 000,000 and $50,000,JQ0. —_ JUSTICE WKETTYA’S VIEW. Justice McKenna concurred in the ma jority opinion but. on slightly d liter ent .grounds. Justice Day read his own dis senting poinion and Justice Pitney deliv ered the other dissenting opinion in which Justice VanDevanter joined. Justices Pitney and Van Devanter in their joint dissenting opinion held that I the law should be held unconstitutional , and void “because congress, although confessedly not in possession of infor mation necessary for intelligent and just treatment of the controversy, arbitrarily imposed upon the railroads the entire and enormous cost of an experimental increase in wages.” Justice Day. in his dissenting opin ion, said the legislation amounted to “de privation of the railroads’ property with out due process of law.” In concurring in the majority opinion Justice McKenna differed in that he be lieved the law “an hours of service" statute and only secondarily a wage fix ing law. and thus within power of con gress. Justice Mcßeynolds delivered a sep arate opinion saying congress did not have power to pass the law, but that he now bows to the majority’s ruling. Tn dissenting Justice Mcßeynolds said /hat congress did not have power to en act the law. but that the majority de cision now gives it authority to fix traitp men’s maximum and minimum wages, “to require compulsory arbitration As labor disputes which may seriously jeop- i ardize movement of traffic and to take' measures effectively to protect the frte J flow of commerce against any combina tion. whether of operatives, owners or strangers.” The supreme court's ruling was an nounced by Chief Justice White. Announcing the opinion -the chief jus tice reviewed the negotiations leading to enactment of the law. He did npt read from a prepared opinion, givlngTt apparently from memory. He toid of the president's efforts to avert the strike last September. “He suggested arbitration The erfW ployers accepted and the employes re fused,” said the chief justice. “He then suggested a basic eight-hour day stand ard. The employers rejected that and the employes accepted.” How the president went before con gress was then recited.- "Congress passed the law that Is be fore us and the carriers refused to rec ognize it.” be continued. He said the agreement to expedite the case was "very laudable." Justice' White said that law is bosh • an eight-hour and also a statute. He said it “strips the partiek of power contract,” as to wages. He said the eight-hour provision is the paramount feature. Regarding whether the law was an hours of labor wage-fixing law, the chief justice said .it was both. He said the question of fixing hours of labor by congress was out of the case as un questioned. He cited the “hours of service acf* as an instance of “hours of labor” legis lation by congress. He said transpor tation is nf both private and public interest. •POWER TO REGULATE. “The dividing line is so marked that government will not destroy the pri vate right.” said the chief justice. “The power to regulate rests upon both the private and public* interests Involved.” He then inquired if it was relevant for congress to provide for the tempor ary wage increase. He said the right of private parties to fix private wages was an inherent right and to take 1t • way would be unconstitutional. But said that considering what congress intended to do and the failure of the railroads and employes to reach an ’greement. to say that the government ■■•♦horitv did not have the power'."to fill the void would be to declare (Continued on Page 7, Col. 1.) / “• « NO. 48.
