Arizona republican., 1910-03-16
STRIKE HALTS
 TEMPORARILY 0n a Proposition To Invoke
 Erdman Act AN ELEVENTH HOUR APPEAL
Western Bremen Accept Offer of Mediation, But Must Include All Mat ters in Controversy and Begin at Once.

Chicago March 1J.-Thc danger of an immediate strike Of s7.O00 locomo- tive fircmen. throwing out oG employ mcnt more than l25.000 other en- ployes and the temporary suspension of practically every railroad from Chi cago to the Pacific, was averted today by the acceptance of offers of media ton by the federal authorities
 At the request of the general man. agers of the railroads involved. Chair man Knapp of the interstate com merce commission and Commissioner of Labor NeilI telegraphcd an offer of mediation to the union officials This offer was accepted by W. S. Car ter. president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Bremen and E,nginemen, stipulating. however. that action must begin Immediately.
 The appeal to Washington was taken as an eleventh hour move. to prevent walkout. which 1t was de- clared threatened the greatest railroad strike since 1894 Thirty-seven mem- bers of the western federated board of the brotherhood at midnight last night formally voted to strike The hour for striking was set for Monday morning. and the members had pre- pared to start for their homes to put the strike ipto effect when the media tion steps were taken
 IL was stipulated that the mediators should come to Chicago According to Carter. their function will be not to arbitrate the matters in dispute. but to determine what is to he arbitrated
 The questions involve wages. which both sides agreed was arbitrable There are two other technical points involving promotion and representa- ton in the union.- which the brother hood claims are arbitrable but which the railroads say are not.
 If mediation falls through the strike will go right on as planned, ." said Carter.
 The acceptance of mediation is contained in the following telegram sent to Messrs. Knapp and Neill:
 The matters in controversy involve conditions of employment and in crease Of wages The authority for the men to leave the service will be temporarily withheld The fact that we have proposed an arbitration of all matters in controversy and the fact that the managers committee has rejected the proposition. does not lead the men to expect s settlement from mediation. but as evidence of our fairness, we will accept your friendly offices under the conditions named herein. Please apswer promptly.
 "(Signed) W. s. CARTER"
 The committee sent the following letter to the general managers
 'W. C. Nixon. chairman of the gen eral managers committee: ' Your letter of March I5 received. in which you communicate the infor- nation that the managers invoke the aid of the Erdman act. The honorable chairman of the interstate commerce commission and the honorable com- missioner of labor have been request ed by the managers to tender their good offices.
 This is to advise the managers that the chairman of the interstate com sioner of labor have rendered their IT anu Wiii tiutdNoT tp settle the pending controversy
 The following communication was sent by President Carter to Chairman Nixon:
 The proposition of our committee that the matters in controversy be submitted to arbitration is evidence of the regard that we have for the interests of the public. and, after giving the matter further considera- ton the committee instructs me to notify the managers that it has ac-' cepted the good offices of the. chair man of the interstate commerce com mission and the commissioner of la- bor in an effort to arrive at an am icable adjustment of the matters in dispute. provided such mediation be conducted in the city of Chicago without delay.
 The committee again insists that aside from the interests of the public there are no other parties concerned in this dispute except the railroads. represented by the managers com mittee. and employees. represented by our committee
 In a statement tonight the managers said: All prospects of strike are over There will be none. A settle ment of the whole controversy by ar bitration is assured"