The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-29
ID STRIKE F ROADS
 DON'T MEET DEMAND UItimatum of Employees to
 Western General Managers ARBITRATION IS FAILURE
Chairman Knapp and Commissioner NeiI Go to Chicago to Confer With Trainmen and
 Conductors.

Chicago, March 2S.-The controversy over a wage scale between the general managers of the western railroads and their employees in the train service, can not be arbltrated, and the only way in which a strike can be averted is for the officials of the roads to make terms with the men.
 This is the ultimatum issued by the rep resentatives of the two unions involved in the difficulty. after a meeting held to- night to consider the action of the rail- roads in asking the federal government to intervene and endeavor to bring about a settlement by mediation, along the lines provided by the Erdmann act The move ment by the general managers to have the matter adjusted by arbitration was considered at considerable length by the union representatives, but the proposi- tions were finally rejected, and a resolu- tion passed refused to arbitrate the wage scale question with anybody
 Grave Situation.
 The general managers tonoght for the first time admitted that the situation was grave The crisis was intensified by tue fact that compromise had been ef- fected with the representatives of the b. O0O locomotive firemen, who are here ne- gotiatlng for higher wages, and an eight hour day. Another conference was held today between the general managers as- sociation and committee representing the fremen, but nothing in the way Of d settlement was accomplished.
 Secretary Thompson of the General Managers association tonight said:
 We are waiting to see what the gov ernment will do We do not expect to hear directly in answer to our request that the whole difficulty should be arbi- trated along the lines suggested by the Erdmann act, but we believe that when the labor leaders involved in the trouble receive word from Washington that the government has been asked to take a hand in the matter, the representatives or the union will look at the matter in a different light, and will be willing to sub init the question to arbitration.
 "We are not looking for trouble, but we have made all the concessions that we can afford to make under the present con- ditions, and the sooner the men become reconcied to this the better it will be for every one concerned.
 Must Grant Demands.
 When informed tonight that Chairman Knapp of the interstate commerce com mission, and Charles P. Neill, commits sioner of labor, were coming to Chicago to endeavor to effect a settlement of the trouble P II. Morissey, grandmaster Of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, said:
 .trhe committee representing the men will be glad to hear suggestions rom governmental sources, still action Will not be delayed unreasonably awaiting their intervention We are not unmind- ful of the public's right in the matter, a- we are not going to do anything hfstiIy. One thing Is certain, however. an that is the men will not accept the last proposition of the general managers. Ii the eoverhmental officials can prevail upon the railway officials to grant our demand everything vii, be amicably ad- iusted, but qnless this IS done don see what cam prevent a strike"