Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-05
THREATENED STRIKE
ON SOUTH'S ROADS
HAS BEEN AVERTED
Employees Win Victory on
Nearly Every One of the
Thirteen Points Which Were
Submitted to Arbitration
TEN TO 40 PER CENT
INCREASE IN WAGES

WASHINGTON, July 2.-Official an
nouncement was made by the mediators
tonight that ~ amicable adjustment OF
the controversy \tween the railroads In
the southeastern tefrStory and their con-
ductors and trainmen had been reached.
The agreement signed provides for a
substantial increase in the wages Of en-
ployes and Improved conditions and hours
Of labor. The adjustment also will avert
the threatened strike of 10000 men which
would have involved approximately 49,
600 others. The settlement is regarded as
a distinct victory for the employees, al
though concessions were made by both
sides.
TERMS OF AGREEMENT.
While no statement was made concern
ing the terms of settlement 1t is
known that the men have been granted
an increase of wages ranging from 10
per cent to 40 per cent. 1t is impossi-
BILE in the present condition Of the ar
rangement affected, definitely to state
what increases are given to the several
classes Of labor. This seeming confusion
is caused by the several railroads not
employing different methods of COM
putting their wage scale.
Regarding the question Of the wages,
the mediators felt that they could say
no more than that the increases In all
capacities Of employment were, by the
terms of the adjustment, very consider
able.
The condition of railway labor through
out the southeastern territory were
among the mooted questions adjusted by
the mediators. In every instance and on
every line of the 13 roads involved, the
labor conditions of the men will be ma
terially improved.
EMPLOYEES SCORE VICTORY.
When the controversy was submitted to
the mediators is days ago, Chairman
Martin A. Knapp, of the interstate COM
merce commission, and Charles P. Neill.
commissioner of labor, Is separate de-
mands had been made upon the railways.
The employees have scored a victory on
practically all. Until within a day or
two, scarcely any likelihood existed of a
satisfactory settlement of the contro-
versy. Twelve days were spent in al
most fruitless endeavor to get the rep
resentatives of the two parties together
on a reasonable basis of settlement. Ar
bitration under the Erdman act was pro-
posed, but that proposition finally was
abandoned. During the tendency of
the mediation proceedings strike vote
was taken by the labor organizations in
volved and by a large majority a strike
was ordered by the men unless the rail-
Finally the presidents of five of the
great railway systems in the south were
called into conference with the media
tors to settle the strike question. The
officials of the board had wearied of the
efforts of trying to reach a conclusion
and were on a point of abandon ing the
differences.
The strike would have been a great
calamity to the south and affect all parts
of the United States.
MEANT BANKRUPTCY.
1t was appreciated by the heads Of
several of the railway systems that a
strike of such magnitude might spell
bankruptcy for several of the lines
They said frankly that they were not
in such financial conditions as would
warrant a heavy increase in wages. OF
all the railways in the United States
except those on the Pacific coast they
pointed out, thee roads in the southeast
ern territory were the only lines which
had not increased their freight rates re-
Gently In view of that fact, they felt
that some consideration ought to be
given them in regard to the matter of
increasing wages.
The representatives of the employees
insisted, however, that the wages of the
railway men in the southeastern terri
tory should be standardized and in
amount they should approximate the
wages paid for similar employment in
the western territory. In it's final anal
ysis the agreement means that the
wages and conditions of railway labor
in the southeastern territory have been
standardized on a scale very slightly
lower than that in effect in other parts
of the country.
MEDIATORS THANKED.
At the final conference this afternoon.
both railway officials and employees rep
resentatives heartily thanked the media
tors for the efforts extended in behalf
Of an amicable adjustment of the con-
troversy. All were delighted that a con-
clusion had been reached.
This mediation proceeding was the
longest and most trying in the history
of proceedings under the Erdman act.
Both Chairman Knapp and DIR. Neill
have worked practically night and day
on the matter for 16 days.