Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-03-16
Will Be Re-Issued, However, if Medi
alton Falls Through.
IMMEDIATE ACTION DEMANDE
Union Men Wire Washington officiah
to Hasten to Chicago. 2
ALL DANGER PAST, SAY MANAGERS
Railroad Officers Forsee AmIcabl6
settlement Although Employees
sny THAT Thctr Consent 20
AIedIRtion IL simply Evi-
dence % FaIrneus.

uehce OF FAArneuas
CHICAGO, March i5.-Danger OF an i'm.
mediate strike OF 1900 locomotive firemen,
the throwing out OF employment OF more
than l25,O0O other employees and the tenn
porary suspension Of business ON prac-
ically every railroad system between Chi
cago and the Pacific coast was avcrtcd
today through the acceptance OF offers Of
mediation from the federal authorities at
Washington.
At the request OF the general managers
Of tho forty-seyen western railroads In
volvcd, Chairman Martin a. Knapp Of the
Interstate Commerce commission and Com
missioner of Labor c. p, Nenl telcgraphcd
an offer of federal mediation to the union
officials. This offer was accepted, W. s.
Carter, president of the Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Flremen and Enginemen, stipu-
ating, however, that action must begin
without delay.
Strike Prevented Mt Last Moment.
The appeal to Washington was taken as
an eleventh-hour move to prevent walk
cut which, 1t was declared, threatened the
greatest railroad strike since that of 1894.
Thirty-seven members Of the western
federated board OF the brotherhood at mid
night last night formally voted for a strike.
The hour for striking had been set for noxt
Monday morning and the members were
pre- pared to start for their homes-somc OF
them as far as the Pacific coast--to put
the strike into action when the mediation
steps were TAKEN
1t is stipulated that the medators shall
come to Chicago, According to MY Carter,
this function will be not TO arbitrate the
matters in dispute. but to determine what
cboU bo vhK he
wa ges-which both sides have agreed upon
as arbltreble--and two other technical
points involving promotion and representa-
tion In the union. which the brotherhood
contends are arbitrable, but which the
railroads assert are not
"If the mediation falls through, tho
strike will go right on as planned" said
Mr.. Carter
Union Hen Agree to Mediation.
The acceptance OF mediation was con-
tanned in the following telegram sent by
tho brotherhood to Messrs. Neil and
Knapp.
Matters In controversy involve condi-
tions Of employment and increase in
wages. Come preparing to leave city. AS
surance is given that mediation viii be-
gin imme dlately and In the city OF Chi
cago Authority for the men TO leave the
service Of the companies will be tempo
rarily withheld. The fact that we have
postponed arbitration on all matters in
controversy and the fact that the man
ayers have &siectsA, our proposition, dones
not lead our men 70 expect settlement
from mediation but as evidence Of our
fairness will accept your friendly offices
under the conditions named herein. Please
answer promptly. wv $. CARTER"
FIremen's Reply 60 Manager.
The committee sent the following letter
to the general managers;
"W c. Nixon, chairman OF the manager
committee:
Dear slr-Your letter OF March 18th
has been received, In which you commun-
icate the information that the managers
committee has invoked the aid OF the Erd-
man act, and that the honorable chairman
OF the Interstate commerce commission
and tho honorable United States commits
sioner OF labor have been requested by the
managers committee to tender their good
offices.
This Is to advise the managers commit
tee that tchairinnn Of the Interstate COM
merce commission and the commissioner
of labor have rendered by wire their
friendly offices in an endeayor TO settle
through mediation the pending controversy.
The proposition OF our committee that
matter in controversy be submitted to arr
bitration Is evidence OF the regard that
we havc for the interests Of the public and
after giving the matter further considera-
ton our committee instructs me to notify
the managers committee that II has ac-
cepted the good offices OF the chairman OF
the Interstate Commerce commission and
the commissioner OF labor fl an effort to
reach an amicable adjustment OF matters
in dispute, provided that such mediation
shall be conducted IN tho city OF Chicago
and without delay.
Our committee again insists that aside
from the interests OF the public there aro
no other parties concerned In this dispute
except the railways represented by the
managers committee and the employees
represented by our committee
In statement given out tonight the gem
era managers said:
IAN prospects OF a strise are over. There
viii be none settlement Of the whole con-
troversy by mediation and arbitration il
! assured"
Railroads Stake Tirst Move.
The application for mediation was made
I by the railroads. The request was imme-
diately granted.
| Immediately after Chairman Knapp OF
the Interstate Commerce commission ar
rived at his office today representatives
Of the railroad general managers commit
= teo presented 10 him the application Of the
railroad officials for mediation OF the
/ trouble. The application was signed by W.
/ G. Nixon. chairman Of the general man
ayers committee.
The request was FOR TIE mediation II
the difficulty that had arisen on the sub
jects Of wages hours Of labor aud condi-
| tons Of employment" between the forty
seven roads involved and the Brotherhood
OF Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen."
II was requested IN the application that
the msdlators, Chairman Knapp and DR.,
Neill, commissioner Of labor enter into
Communication with w &, Garter. presi-
dent OF the brotherhood with view 70 an