The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-03-18
STOP A GREAT STRIKE |
ON w A,STERN RAILROADS
WILL NOT GO OUT.
Accept Offer Of Mediation; Officials
Agree to Submit Differences to
Chairman Knapp of Interstate Com
mercc Commission and Commits
Sioner of Labor Neil; Railroad
Managers Lock for Adjustment.

Chicago, March 16.-Danger of an
immediate strike of $1,000 locomotive
liremen, the throwing out of employ
ment of more than H., 900 other EN-.
ployes and the temporary suspension
of business on practically every rail
road system between Chicago and the
Pacific coast was averted through the
acceptance of offers OF mediation from
the federal authorities at Washington.
At the request of the general man.
ayers of the forty-seyen Western rail-
roads involved, Chairman Martin A.
Knapp OF the interstate commerce
commission and Commissioner of La
Dor c. P. Neill telegraphed an offer of
federal mediation to the brotherhood
officials. This offer was accepted, w.
S. Carter, president of the Brother.
hood of Locomotive Firemen and En-
ginemen, STIMULATING, however, that &C.
ton must begin without delay
The appeal to Washington was taken
as an eleventh-hour move to prevent
walkout, which, it was declared,
threatened the greatest railroad strike
since that of 1894. Thirty seven men,
bers of the Western federated board
of the brotherhood formally voted for
strike. The hour for striking had
been set for next Monday morning and
the members were prepared to start
for their homes, some of them as far
as the Pacific coast, to put the strike
into action, when the mediation steps
were taken.
Mediators to Meet in Chicago.
1t is stipulated that the mediators
will come to Chicago. According to
Mr.. Carter their function will be, not
to arbitrate the matters in dispute,
but to determine what shall be arbi-
trated. The questions involve wages,
which both sides have agreed upon as
arbitrable, and two other technical
points, involving promotion and rep
rescntatiOn in the union, which the
brotherhood contends are, but which
the railways assert are not, arbitrable.
IF the mediation falls through the
strike will go right on as planned
said Mr.. Carter The acceptance of
was contained in the fol.
lowing telegram sent by the brother
hood to Charles p. Neil, commissioner
of labor, and Martin A. Knapp, chair
man Of the interstate commerce COM
mission:
MATTERS in controversy involve
of employment and increase
in wages. Committee preparing to
leave city, but if assurance is given
that mediation will begin Immediately
and in the city of Chicago authority
for the men to leave the employ of
the company will be temporarily with
held. The fact that we have imposed
on all matters in controversy and the
fact that the managers committee
has rejected our proposition does not
lead our men to expect settlement
from mediation, but, as evidence of
our fairness, will accept your friendly
offices under the conditions named
herein. Please answer promptly"
In statement the general man
ayers said:
"All prospects Of a strike are over.
There will be none. Settlement Of
the whole controversy by mediation
and arbitration is assured"
Mr.. Garter received telegram an
nouncing that Mir. Knapp and Mr..
Neil would arrive in Chicago Thurs
day.