The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-07-17
Another Conference Will Be Held Monday Morning
NEGOTIATIONS ARE REOPENED
.Ju.t When It Was Thought That q strike Would Occur It Is Found That Misunderstanding
 Must He Cleared Up

Philadelphia, July 16.--After two-days' suspension of negotiations between the contendlng parties, during which threats of strike have come from, one side and extensive strike preparations have been made by the other, the announcement was made this afternoon that the repre- sentatives of the conductors and trainmen will meet General Manager Meyers of the Pennsylvania railroad Monday at Il o'clock. An explanation of the reopening of negotiations was given by President w. G. Lee of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.
 "A telephone message was received last night" he said, from one whom l am not at liberty to name, but who has no official connection with either side of the controversy-you may call him merely private citizen. He said he was con- vinced that there had been misunder- standing which might be cleared up by another conference.
 q replied that I could not see how d misunderstanding was possible, but that I was willing to risk another meei- ing if there was hope that such was the case, provided the company was willing. was informed by this same person that the company would consent to meet us again if requested.
 q was still wondering how there could possibly have been misunderstanding, . continued MT. Lee, when MT. Sheppard, vice president of the Conductors union, and MT. Sines, vice president of the Trainmens brotherhood, arrived this morning from Pittsburg and said that the company had offered the western men substantially the conditions that we were fighting for. This caused me to place some oredence in the theory that there had been a misunderstanding, for I can not believe that the company would offer an acceptable proposition In the west and not on the eastern lines. Therefore, we asked MT. Meyers for another conference, and he set the hour for Il o'clock on Monday"
 Representative of the company declared that they would have nothing new to offer at this meeting, and could not re- cede from their position if they would, in view of the fact that the board of di- rectors had gone so far as to call spe- cial meeting and ratify their stand. Vice Presidents Sheppard and Sines left to- night for Pittsburg. where they have an- other conference scheduled for Monday morning with General Manager Peck of the Pennsylvania lines west. It is felt that their presence had a quieting effect on the strike talk that has been indulged In during the past few dayc.
 In spite of the fact that the situation has taken on a more hopeful aspect, the company is making extensive prepera- tions for possible strike In the vast West Pennsylvania yards freight cars are being fitted up as temporary quarters for the men who will be recruited. in the event of a strike, In the company's many shops In and about this city The special force of 1000 men on the lines between here and Pittsburg vxill be increased to 5000, and If necessary to 5000. The she-iffs of nearly all the counties in the state through which the companys lines ex- tend have been notified of the situation and warned to be prepared.
 When President Garretson of the Order of Railway Conductors was in- formed of these preparations he ex : pressed no surprise. T think the com pany would show a woeful lack of fore sight if 1t did not" was his only com ment.
 President Lee of the Trainmen's or der. when asked how the men could consistently call a strike if the com pany offered to apply the conditions and rates now operative on the eastern roads, said: We believe in standard izing up, not down. We will not con- sent to a standardization that cuts down single mans pay
 Gompers Will Give Aid
 Washington, July 16.-In case the threatened strike of conductors and trainmen on the Pennsylvania railroad materializes, Samuel Gompers, presf- dent of the American Federation of Labor, probably will go to the scene of conflict and cooperate with the railroad organizations.
 While the Order of Railway Con ductors and Order of Railway Tram men, the two unions involved. are not affiliated with the federation, MT. Com pers said that today he would do all in his power to help them. MT. Com pers will leave Washington Monday for the west and on hIs return trip will probably stop at Philadelphia or some other Pennsylvania city on Friday, if the strike order Is promulgated
 MT. Gompers today expressed sym pathy with the men and did not take seriously the company's announcement and belief that many of the old em- ployes would remain loyal He said the loyalty of the men to their organi- zations must be taken into consider ation and undoubtedly would be found to prevail.
 On Thursday Mir Gompers will con fer in Cincinnati with Joseph F. Val entine. sixth vice president of the fed eration, but he declined to divulge the nature of the matters to be discussed.
 Chairman Knapp of the interstate commerce commission and Dr. Charles P. Neill,> commissioner of labor, media tors under the Erdman act, have so far received n6 request for their in- tervention in the labor controversy on the Pennsylvania railroad.
 Pittsburg Is Quiet
 Pittsburg, July 16.-There was to- night practically no evidence in Pitts burg of any impending strike on the Pennsylvania lines running east or west. The leaders of the committee here, representing the 10000 conductors, trainmen and engineers "n the western lines. who have from the first been most reserved in discussing the situa- ton, were still firmly opposed tonight to causing the slightest alarm over the situation.
 Chairman c. R. Carlton of the Train mems committed. reiterated that the