The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-03
VICTORY SCORED
OVER EMPLOYERS
BY RAILROAD MEN
Agreement Is Reached
and Strike Danger
Passed.
THIRTEEN ROADS
WERE INVOLVED
Mediators Knapp and Neill Bring
About Settlement Of Trouble !
Which Threatened to Tie Up /
Traffic Throughout South.
End Comes After Heart
Breaking Struggle.

Washington, d. c., July c.-Oficiak
announcement was made by the medin-
tors Tonight that nm amicable adjust.
mcnt of the controversy between thsl
railroads In the Southeastern territory
and their conductors and trainmen had
been reached. The agreement signed
provides for n substantial increase ipi
the wages of the employees and Inn
proved conditions and hours OF labor.
The adjustment also will avert
threatened strike OF 10000 men, which /
would have involved approximately /
10000 others. The settlement reached
ia regarded ms n distinct victory for
the trninmen, although concessions
were made by both sides.
While no statement was made oon- !
7cerning the terms of settlement OF the
controversy, 1t is known that the men
have been granted an increase of
wages ranging from 10 per cent. TO Az
per cent. 1t is impossible, in the pres I
ent condition of the arrangement ef- I
fected. definitely to state what In
creases are given by the agreement to
the several classes OF labor. This
seeming confusion results from thel
fact that the several railway lines en-
ploy different methods OF computing
their wage scale. Some of the men
1
ceive pay in accordance with the num-
ber of miles they cover each day, and
yet others are paid according to the
distance they travel and the speed
made by their trains.
Regarding the question of wages,
the mediators felt that they could say
no more than that tho increases in
all capacities of employment were. by
the terms of the adjustment, very con-
siderable.
Will Improve Conditions.
The conditions OF railway labor
throughout the Southeastern territory
were among the Mooted questions adj
justed by the mediators.A In every in
stance and on every line OF the thir-
teen roads involved the labor condi-
tions of the men, by the terms of the
agreement. will be materially i'm
proved.
When the controversy was submitted
to the MISUNDERSTANDING Martin A.
Knapp, of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. and DR.. Charles p. Nelll.
Commissioner OF Labor-sixteen days
ago. thirteen separate demands were
made upon the railways by their en-
ployes. OF these thirteen deman nds the
representatives of the employees have
scored a victory on practically all.
Until within day or two scarcely
any likelihood existed of satisfactory
settlement of the controversy by the
mediators.
Twelve days were spent in almost
fruitless endeavor to get the repre-
sentatives of the two parties to the
controversy together on a reasonable
basis of settlement. Arbitration under
the Erdman act was proposed. but that
proposition finally was abandoned.
During the pendency of the mediation
proceedings a strike vote was taken
by the labor organizations involved
In the controversy, and by a large ma
iority a strike was ordered by the men
unless the companies acceded to their
terms Even when that fact becams
known the mediators did not abandon
their efforts, eventually being able to
adjust the difficulties. Finally the
presidents of five of the great railway
systems in the South were called into
conference with the mediators in an
effort to settle the trouble without
strike.
Wenricd With Struggle.
The members of the general mana
gers committee and the representatives
of the labor organizations committees
had wearied of the protracted struggle
to reach an agreement, and both sides
were almost upon the point OF abandon
ing any further effort amicably to ad-
lust the differences which existed.
The alternative was strike that in
volved directly about 10000 conductors &
and trainmen and indirectly approx
imately 10000 other employees of the
railways. Such strike. it was
realized would be a calamity to the
South and would affect seriously all
parts OF the United States. It was
appreciated by the financial heads Of
several of the railroad systems that
a strike OF that magnitude at this
time might spell bankruptcy for sey-
cral of the lines. They said frankly
to the mediators and to the represent
tatIves of their employees that they
We're not in such financial condition
as would warrant a heavy increase In
wages. or all the railways In the
Pacific coast. they pointed out. the
roads In the Southeastern territory
We're the only lines which recently
had not increased their freight rates
In view of that fact. they felt that
some consideration ought to be given,
them in regard TO the matter or In
creasins wages,
The representatives of the employees
however that the wages of ~
railway men in the Southeastern ter-
ritory should he standardized, and
that in amount they should approx
mate the wages paid for similar ems
,loyment In the Western territory. In IS
rs final analysis, the agreement
reached TO-DAY, after series OF con-
'erences between the mediators and
Continued on second Pags.) - M
N r. s Isl u