Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-07
He Says Neither Party Was Willing
to Make Any Concession.
MIR. PERHAM TRIES AGAIN
Leader Of Telegraphers Has Another
Talk with Mr.. Knapp.
WILL STICK, SAYS HAwLEY
President of Switchmen's Union
VIII Not Call OFF struggle
Proceedings in Chicago
Case.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.--rhe Interstate
Commerce commission has abandoned all
attempts to mediate in the strike Of the
switchmen on northwestern roads. The
following statement was made public by
Chairman Knapp:
Nothing has resulted from the meetings
held with Mr.. Perham, president Of the
Order of Railway Telegraphers and head
Of the railway branch of the American
Federation of Labor, and the mediatorc
have abandoned any further effort to bring
about a settlement of the switchmen's
strike in the northwest"
This decision was reached at a confer
epce late today between the mediators and
Mr.. Perham Neither the strikers nor the
railroad companies could be induced TO
yield.
Mr.. Perham was keenly disappointed by
his failure to bring about a settlement. He
had conference in the afternoon with
Chairman Knapp, but it resulted in nothing.
Perham Tries Again.
Subsequently the statement of the media
tors announcing the abandonment of pres
ent efforts to bring together the strikers
and railroad officials was given to the
public.
Mr.. Perham expressed astonishment at
the statement and at once sought another
interview with Chairman Knapp. The latter
confirmed the statement to Mr.. Perham,
but assured him that IL the mediators could
be of service at any time in the future
they would be not only willing but glad to
act.
Mr.. Perham said afterwards that while
the mediators apparently had abandoned
their efforts to bring about an adjustment
he proposed to stick to it.
| IA
turn the affair had taken, but gave nc
intimation as to what ne proposed to do.
Proceedings in Chicago Case.
Proceedings in mediation of the contro.
versy between the officials of the railways
operating out OF Chicago and their switch.
men will be begun at the offices of the
Interstate Commerce commission in thi,
city next Wednesday. The negotiations
will be conducted under the Erdman act
If the mediation should prove unavailing
1t is entirely likely that the controvers!
will be referred to arbitration under thu
provisions of the law.
> The joint telegram to Chairman KNAPP
and DR.. Charles p. Neill, commissioner o
labor, the mediators, from S. e. Heberling
vice president of the Switchmens Union o
, North America, and f. o. Melcher, chair
man of the general managers committe
of the railways requesting mediation, wa
received today. The differences which ar
to be considered are precisely similar 4
, those which resulted in the strike of tn
, switchmen employed on the northwestern
; railways. The most serious questions in
, volved are those concerning wages an,
hours of labor, and double pay for over
, time and Sundays.
t VIII stick, Says Hawley.
e ST. PAUL, Mimi, Jan. 6.-The news iron
1 Washington that Messrs. Knapp Neil an
Perham had decided nothing further coul
be done to settle the swtchmens strik
= here was discouraging to the strike lead
f ers.
d President Hawley Of the switchmen, aske
T if he would call off the strike now THAT
: settlement was impossible, said:
"Oh, no, we intend to stick"
Big FOur Trouble Ended.
CINCINNATI, o., Jan. 6.-All danger G
a strike of the telegraph operators on tn
Big Four railroad was effectually ende
today when the committee of the Order c
Railway Telegraphers and the road off
cials agreed to submit the entire contrc
j. versy to arbitration.