The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-16
Offer Of Fed deral Media
tiorl Is Acc epted by y
Employees.
HAD SET TIME
FOR WAL LKOUJT'
Request for Mediation Was Made
by Railroads, and Knapp and
Neill 1mmed diately Proffered
Their Services-Nego
tions Must Begin
at Once.

tions Must Begin
at Once.
chicago. March 15.-Danger OF an
immediate strike OF 27.000 locomotive
Sflremen, on Western railroads. and the
contingent throwing out OF employ
ment OF more than 125.000 other em-
sployes, was averted to-day throughst the
acceptance OF mediation from the Fed
eral authorities at Washington. At the
request OF the general managers of the
Sforty-seven railroads involved, Chair
man Martin A. Knapp, of the Interstate
Commerce Commission. and Commis-
sioner OF Labor c. p. Ncill. telegraphedI
union officers. This offer was accept
ed, w. s, Carter. president OF the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Flremen
and Enginemcn. stipulating that action
must begin without delay.
" The appeal to Washington was taken
as an eleventh hour move to prevent
walkout. which It was declared threat
ened the greatest railroad strike since
that OF 1894. Thirty-scven members OF
the Western federated board of the
brotherhood last midnight formally
voted for a strike.
Hour for striking Had Been Set.
The hour for striking had been set
for next Monday morning. and the
members were prepared to start for
their homes to put the strike into ac-
ton. when tho mediation steps were
taken.
The mediators will come to Chicago.
and according to Mr.. Carter. Will NOT
arbItrate the questions in dispute. but
viii determine what shall be arbitrat-
ed. The questions involve wages. which
both sides had agreed TO aTbitrate, and
two other technical points, involving
promotion and representation In the
union. These latter subjects. the bro.
therhood contends, must be nroitratea,
but the railroads assert they CANNOT
be arbitratcd, because they relate 10,
irternal union q diapute. .s:3
.'If the mediation falls through. the
strike Will go right on as planned
saAd Mr.. Carter to-ni sht.
In a statement given out to-nisnt.
the general managers said:
..Ail prospects OF q strike are over.
There viii be none. Settlement OF the
whole controversy b. mediation and
arbitration Is assured.
surprise to the EnEincmen.
News from washington that the con-
4 troversv5 would be submitted TO medla-3
,tion under the Erdman act came as
surprise to the officials Of the iiremens
Z and enginemen's union. Enlle l.ey
were in sesslon TO decide on the I, =. nout
when the strike should pc Cd
+ FyIy1,,lc z M d direct 6intInlation OF tho
Il time for calling the strike was given
nv nc union officials. It was tntimated
that the date for calling out the men ne,
would give them time to reach their
homes before receiving notice to guilt
work. Others may be given mint
4 not to start out on long trips.
Application Made by Roads.
n wa shinEtnn, March 15.-Mediation
,,ndar the Erdman act was requested
nffthe controversy that has arisen be-!
tween the railway lines operating
wastward out of Chicago and their
27.oo0 firenlen and enEinemer,.5 The
Sanplicavion for mediation was made
bv tho, railroads. The request was
granted.
80 INN diately5 after Chairman Knapp,
4 sion, arrived at his office to- day rep-
resentativcs OF the railroad general
managers committee presented to him
the application of$the railroad officials
X for mediation OF the trouble The ap-
4 5plicat ton was q formal statement OF
Il tho lines involved In the controversy.
"a and was signed BY ". G. Nixon. chair
man Of the general mana gers' commlt-
Z tee 3si = 5llss
The request was for the mediat'
Z OF the difficulty that had "a risen on the
a subjects OF wages. hours Of labor and
conditions OF employnent'1 between
II tho fortY-seven roads nvolved and the
Il brotherhood OF Locomotive Firemen
and Enginer en-. z. 81
1T was requested in the application
that tho mediators, Chairman Knapp
q and Dr. N ELL. Commiss ioner5 OF La Dor,
n enter into communication With W.. S.
Carter, president OF the brotherhood,
with a view to an amicable adjustment
q OF the trouble. s
TO begin Immediately.
Chairman Knapp assured the repre-
sentatives OF the general managers
that he and Or, Neill would take IN
u sary, would go to CHIC go in an effort
4 toaadiust the controversy s8l
Chairman Knapp5 and DR. Mel II h had
a 8 conf ference during the early part OF
the day to determlne upon what hey
would do. Chairman Knapp was en-
y aaged in the morning in some 4 imp ort-
( ant conf farences with other commission
ers OF intersta to commerc 5Sas 81 i{
! The application for mediation made
4 BY the II genera n ma M gers committee
J is comp re henstv in scope includes
y not merely tho question of wages
which Is the crux II OF the "a dispute.. but
I also hours OF la Dor and condi itions of
employment. t. In fact q covers every
q phase OF the al fficulty I hat has arisen
between the ro ads and their employees
i.3t5s a ction Was Anticipated. a .a
IT As known that presentatiYes fot
4 tho general ma anagers co ommittee have
been Ia Wash ingto on for several Il days
4 prepared ana FULL N authorized to make
tho application in tn q form II wa s. pre-
u sent ga to- lay as so bon as fail lure of the
U negotiations at Chicago g b ould he 4 In,
dicnt ed. u. 5s5 ri N .l \. i$5
u Ilt Fis expected I'm washington that
q 4 representatives Of the en1pl oyes ]
81 cooperate wi tn "A he Srai lway off ctals
IN the al fort to gad jus The scontroYersS
y " ~ med diati ton, as they heret ore have
II ndieated their Wi lng ness su btatl
II the dispute to the med iat Ton gof Chair
sS lPaaE EKpapp and ar,