Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-03-30

annually transport 202,000,000 passen-
gers, and which handle freight amount
ing to 80,000,000,0OO tons per mile per
year, are wondering If they are to be
denied the right to the uninterrupted
use Of the great commercial agency for
moving the products Of their lands into
the markets of the country.
The national civic federation, of
which P. H. Morrissey and A. B. Gar
retson are members, offered to use Its
good offices toward securing arbitra-
ton, which was declined by the train
men and conductors.
Chairman l. G. Rawn, chairman Of
the general managers committee, re-
oeived the following dispatch from
Seth Low:
Washington, D. c., March %, 1907.
Chairman Managers Committee, Chi
cago.-Failing agreement, sincerely
hope arbitration will be resorted to for
settlement of dispute. This seems
clearly in interest of general welfare,
as we'll as your own.
"Seth Low,
Chairman Cancellation Committee Ma
tional Civic Federation" ii
/ Mr.. Rawn sent the following reply:
Sa4ACl6O.5 lS1IslGIA 40, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Low, Chairman Cancellation Commit
tee, National Civic Federation, Wash
ington, D. C.-Your message received.
We agree with you that arbitration is
the proper action at this time, and
have taken steps to bring it about un-
der the Erdman act
II. G. Rawn. Chairman"
Trainmen Spurn Civic Federation.
The same communication passed be-
tween the chiefs Of the railway men
tion, but the answers differed, mas
much as the employees committee re-
fused to recognize the good offices of
the federation, and declared that their
program toward making the strike ef-
fective would be carried out regardless
Of propositions for arbitration. The
men did, however, decide to delay the
walk-out for a few days, claiming that
the officials Of the railways would
weaken and grant their demands be-
fore they would allow the men to in
augurate the contemplated strike.
Chairman Rawn yesterday COM
municated with Martin A. Knapp
chairman of the interstate commerce
commissioners. asking him to act in
conjunction with Charles P. Neill Of
the department Of commerce and la
UOI, Tile ACT, dIlO lTy
to have the dispute submitted to arbi-
tration.
This proposition the employees were
not so anxious to decline fatty, but
sidestepped its provisions by saying II
the companies wanted peace they
could acquire it much sooner by grant
ing the wage increase demanded by
the men,
Ralph Easley, secretary Of the Ma
ro1 ix,;o for5 IT,,
Chicago today and urge Morrissey and
Garretson, who are members Of the
executive board of the federation, to
accept the services of the federation In
the capacity of mediator and arbitra-
tor, the principles for which the fed
GRAFTON was organized.
Trainrnen Issue Statement.
To get their side of the controversy
squarely before the public the chiefs
of the employees issued the following
statement last night:
The committee representing the
conductors and trainmen on western
lines have terminated negotiations
with the committee Of general manag-
ers after being informed by the man
ayers committee that the companies
refused to change in any particular
their last proposition, which was SO
overwhelmingly rejected by the en-
PAos ~ AAASSA >s'SSA
This vote also authorized the commit
tee and officers Of the organizations to
declare a strike If satisfactory set
tlement could not otherwise be reach
ed. The employees committee having
the matter under consideration have
taken action directing that this course
be adopted.
The managers committee invoked
the ErdIlan arbitration act. While the.
committee in charge of the matter will
hear and consider suggestions from
governmental or other friendly sources
still action will not be dalayed unrea-
sonably awaiting their irltervention We
are not III mindful of the public's rights
in the matter, nor have we been hasty
in our conclusions Our consideration
of the subject has covered a period
of over four months, almost one month
of which was taken up in discussion Of
the question with the managers COM
n1ittee. The managers committee
claims that it has conceded all that the
roads can afford. The employees have
before them the figures showing the
prosperity of the rail-
ways during the past few years, and
at this late day ask for better rec
ognition of their responsible and ex-
acting service