Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-03-15
May Settle Strike.

Chicago, March 15.-The
committee of railway general
managers announced this after
noon that Chairman Knapp of
" the Interstate Commerce COM
mission and Labor Commission
er Neill had accepted their in
vitation to act as mediators in
the threatened strike of railway
firemen.
Soon after this announce
ment, President Carter of the
y Brotherhood said that the fire.
men probably would agree to
accept government mediation to
prevent a strike on all western =
lines.
= sS@*
Chicago, March 15.-Although a
general strike of more than $4,000
firemen has been called by the high
officials of the Brotherhood, it ap-
peared probable today that the actual
walkout of the men would not be or
dered before the end of the week.
The few days delay in making the
strike effective is for the purpose OF
allowing the Pacific coast officials OF
the Brotherhood to return to their
nOHtS 10 QlItCl OpCIdllOlS
The date for the beginning of the
strike, which will affect 40 Western
and Southern railroads will be an
nounced today to the committee of
railroad general managers.
Pres. Carter, of the brotherhood
of F1remen and Enginemen, was in
of the Brotherhood throughout the
night.
The decision to strike was reached
at midnight by the general federation
board of Western railroads of the
Brotherhood organization, after
Chairman Nixon. of the managers
committee finally had refused the
employees demands.
Apparently the only hope of pre-
venting the strike is that of federal
Intervention.
The railroad officials have tele-
eraphed a request to Chairman
Knapp, of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, and Labor Commissions
er Neill to act as mediators, under
the Erdman act.
Questions of wages and working
rules are the rocks on which the OPP
posing sides have split.
The railroad managers are willing
to arbitrate the wage question, but
not the working rules. These, they
hold to be matters of discipline, and
not debatable.
One of the rules provides for pro-
motion of firemen from seniority In
service, while the other is that the
firemen shall have a representative
on all employees committees involving
engineers grievances.
On the other hand the unionists
demand arbitration upon the rules
question, and will not submit to the
railroads refusal of the demand.
The men are demanding a general
increase of 121a per cent in wages.
The principal lines affected by the
strike order are the Santa Fe, Chi
cago & Alton, st. Paul, Rock Island
Colorado Southern, Great Northern,
Illinois Central, NJ. X. a. T., Northern
Pacific. Oregon Short Line, o. r. &
N, Frisco, Southern Pacific and
Union Pacific
Later in the day the Brotherhood
officials received kilograms from
Knapp an dNeill asking if their pro-
posed mediation would meet with the
approval of the Brotherhood,
Second Strike I'm Year.
Chicago, March 15.-If the bro
therhood Of fremen carries out its
strike order, the second big railroad
strike within six months will be re-
corded.
The switchmen OF the northwest
ern roads went out several months
ago and are still on strike.
1t is estimated that their action
has cost the railroads $4,000, 900.
It affected but few roads however.
when its scope is compared with the
extent OF, the proposed strike OF the
hremen.
The walkout of the firemen Will
affect 10000 miles OF track, which
is over half the track mileage OF the
United States.
Would ParaIyze San Francisco.
San Francisco, March i5.--In
case OF a strike OF railroad iremen
this city would suffer more than any
other big city on the Pacific coast.
Only one electric. Inc operates out
OF San Francisco and that termin-
ate at San MaetO.
The Southern Pacific ferry boats
10 Alameda. Oakland. Sausalito ami
TiburOn and the Santa Fe ferry TO
Point Richmond all depend upon
railroad connections 10 a large ex-
tent Electric Inca connect with the