The Washington herald., 1909-05-26
READY TO MEDIATE
IN GEORGIA STRIKE
Trains Expected to Resume
Schedules by Tomorrow.
COHNISsIONER NEIL THERE
Gov Hoke smith Suggests that Con-
trOversy Be Settled by Board 10 Be
Appointed by the Ros-d officials
and strikers s-Arbitratfon Looked
UPon IS Solution TO Difficulty.

Atlanta Ca. MAY 15.-ArbitSaticn was
the Keynote OF the strike situation TO-
day. and as a result Of the many cor
Eererces held during the afternoon and
evening. IT now looks Ike the strike
. is near an end. and II is confidently ex-
pectAd that trains VIII resume their
schedules within forty-eight. and possibly
as early as twenty-four. hours.
ConmIssione- Of Labor Neil arrived
in Atlanta about s O'Clock tonight. and
shortly afterward was in conference with
General Manager Scott Of the Georgia
Railroad al TIE Piedmont Hotel Tie
conference lasted for more than an hour.
but no statement was given out when II
was over
Then Commissioner Nell called upon
Second Vice President Ball, Of Toronto.
who heads the strikers, and held q con
sultatio1 over the situation with him
The impression prevails that. while
NeiTs friendly Offices viii prove OF value
il bringing the two sides together. The
actual work Of arbitration VIII be left
70 a board Of Georsians. as suggested
by Gov. Hoke Smith.
Board OF Mediation
The governor proposed that each side
appoint three prominent GeorEians 10 act
as a board Of mediation, before which the
strikers and the road should appear and
present their sides OF the situation.
Bal accepted, and appointed John Lee.
president Of the Farmers Union. Repre-
sentative Hardwick. and Judge Horace
Holden. OF the Supreme Court Of Georgia.
The first two accepted. but Judge Holden
declined, saying that the case might come
into the Supreme Court and then he
would be disqualified.
L IS understood that General Manager
Scott made positive efforts to-day 10
reach former Gov. Northern. and it is
believed that he wants him 10 be one Of
the roads arbitratCrs. Scott has been
averSe TO settling the strike in this way.
but the directors of his road to-day. il
is said. urged this course upon him.
In the afternoon a conference was held
at the capitol between Gov. smith. At
torney General Hart. General Manager
Scott. Sanders Mcdaniel. one Of the At
-4ILA attorneys Tor tGe road, and Mai
Cummings, who also represents the road.
Strike Near Settlement.
After it was over Gov. Smith and At
torney General Hart expressed themselves
as gTatifed at the progress made, and as
feeling more confident than ever that the
strike would be settled.
According 10 the strikers. Gov. Smith is
in sympathy with their cause. Last
night at the strikers meeting the presi-
dent OF the local union declared that be-
fore the strike began he went TO the gov
ernOr, Mayor Maddox. of Atlanta. and
others and stated the cause OF the strike.
lie says they all declared the ffremens'
cause a just one and their demands rea-
sOlable-
No trains have been running for eighty
hours. and tie people along the route OF
the Georgia. who, without otner means
Of getting their mail and provisions and
other necessities, are suffering as a result
Atlanta and Augusta post-ofices are
badly >congestei by the immense amount
Of mail stuff not sent out