The San Francisco call., 1910-03-16
RAILWAY fIREM[N
WILL ARBITRATf
Accept the Offer of Mediation
Made by Commissioners
Knapp and Neill
Insist, However, That Hearings
Shall Begin Without Delay
in City of Chicago

III Suby vi SIAlSOSO
CHICAGO. March 15.-Danger of an
immediate strike of $4,000 locomotive
firemen the throwing out of employ
ment of more than 125,000 other en-
pIoyes and the temporary suspension OF
business on practically every railroad
between Chicago and the Pacific coast
was averted today through the accept
federal authorities
At the requests of the general mana
gers of the AZ railroads involved Chair
man Knapp of the interstate commerce
commission and Commissioner of Labor
Nein telegrapfed an offer of mediation
to the union officials. This offer was
accepted, w. S. Carter, president of the
brotherhood of locomotive firemen and
enginemen, stipulating, however, that
action must begin at once.
ELEVENTH HOUR MOVE
The appeal to Washington was taken
walkout, which, it was declared. threat
that of 1894 Thirty-s seven members of
the western federated board of the
brotherhood at midnight last night for
mally voted for strike. The hour for
striking had been set for next Monday
morning and the members We're pre-
pared to start for their homes to put
the strike into effect when the media
tion steps were taken.
1t is stipulated that the nediatorS
come to Chicago. According tO Carter.
their functions will be not to arbitrate
the matters in dispute but to determine
what shall be arbitrated. The questions
involve wages, which both sides have
agreed upon as arbitrable, the two other
technical points, involving promotion
and representation in the union, which
the brotherhood contends are arbitrable,
but which the railroads say are not.
IF the mediation falls through the
strike will go right on as planned"
said Carter.
CONSENT TO SHOW FAIRNESS
The acceptance of mediation was con-
tanned in the following telegram sent
by the brotherhood to Neill and Knapp:
Matters in controversy involve
pairing to leave city, but If assur-
ance is given that mediation will
begin Immediately and in the city
to leave the service of the COM
panies will be temporarily with
held. The fact that we have pro-
posed arbitration on ali matters
in controversy and the fact that
the managers committee has re-
jected our proposition does not lead
from mediation, but as evidence of
our fairness will accept your
friendly offices under the condi-
tions named herein Please answer
promptly. w s. CARTER
WANT IMMEDIATE ACTION
The committee sent the following
| letter to the general managers:
w. c. Nixon. Chairman of the
Managers Committee-Dear Sir:
Your letter of March Is has been
received, in which you communicate
the information that the managers
have invoked the aid of the Erd-
man of the interstate commerce
commission and the honorable COM
missioner of labor have been re-
their good offices. This is to advise
the general managers committee
that the chairman of the interstate
commerce commission and the COM
missioner of labor have rendered
by wire their friendly Offices in an
endeavor to settle through media
tion the pending controversy.
The proposition of our committee
| that matters in controversy be sub
| mitted to arbitration is the evil
ueICe VI the TeSdIu I0dI we nave
| for the interests of the public and
after giving the matter further
| consideration our committee in
| structs me to notify the man
| ayers that it has accepted the
good offices of the chairman of
the interstate commerce commits
| sion and the commissioner of labor
in effort to arrive at an amic-
! able adjustment of the matters in
| dispute. provided that such media
ton shall be conducted in the city
of Chicago and without delay.
Our 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 man
ayers committee and the employees
represented by our committee.
| In a statement given out tonight the
general managers said:
"All prospects of a strike are over.
There viii be none. Settlement of the
| whole controversy by mediation and
arbitration is assured