The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-07-01
SOUTHERN TRAINAEN
READY TO STRIKE
Only Await Order Follow
ing Decision of Conference
Held Here Today.

Negotiations through mediation, 90
avert q general strike or the -49a-
traiumCu and conductors on a dozen
Southern railroads reached the brcskius
point today, ard Tie present indications
point 20 a struggle that VIII Involve
upward or I1aG15 men
The crisis came today when Vice
President 2. T. Curtiss ol t1e order OF
Railway Conductors. and VICE PTeSi-
dent valentine FirET arricIz- of inc
brotherhood Of Railv ty Traiumeu- vent
into the aual conference with mediatcrs-
following Yesterdays conference be
tween the railroad presidents and the
medIators-
PRESSED bv go DELEGATES from the
ia -umeu and CONDUCTOR orders IN the
So-th for immediate action The tUo
leaders Issued treir uldmatUm FOR
a substantial increase 5n The wage
scales and better working conditions
They went into She conference with the
understanding that a. v-1s:ld be their
final overture for a peaceful settlement
The ne5ia.ers- Conmi-sioner Martin
A. Knarp. Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. and C1U-risiCueT OF Labor
Charles p Neil. had 90 present 10 the
Two TeDrsseutativc- of the trainmen and
conductors the best terms that the rail-
road presidents would submit as oasis
Of settlement
Committee Has Full Powers.
Wheeler -bess terms and conditions
imposed are satisfactory has been left
By the employees to rr-s discretion OF
NeSsrs Curtiss and FitzDetTick. IN
whom IS invested fun power 20 act A
comDIete understanding exists Jetw cen
the two leaders and the employees as
daily conferences have been heid for the
Dast two wcclls with tlfe 30 DELEGATES
Before q strike Is formally declared
there VIII be Il mass meeting Of al the
delegates and a detailed report wiz be
E7'de by Messrs. CUrJiss and Fttzpat-
ri,.z covering the points at issue, and
1Ust what concessions the roads ar
y ling 10 make on this report VIII
hinge the question Of strike.
After being in Washington two weeks
the 200 deleCates nave become lmpati-
EN- and their feeling Is much pent up,
the general inclination OF the men Dc-
ir- fo Aofa for a strike unless they re-
cpi1-p liberal Concessions from The roads
fFufl nOvre- has been vested IN these
eie deIe2ates 30 treat the situation as
t1ev see ft They feel that the eyes Of
every frasuman and conductor in Dixie
Is focused on them. and they VIII act
in way that they believe silI meet
wiki the fun approval OF their Fellow
Z WORKING leIl-
Increased Wages Demanded.
Agitation for an increase in wages
was inaugurated at joint convention
Of the traiamen and conductors last
January in Macon, Ca Immediately
thereafter grievance or adjustment
committees took Up their demands with
the general managers Of the roads. and
for Several months the wage question
I and other points were threSbed out
with the general managers with no sat
fsfactOry results 70 the men
At the call Of the national Chairmeu
Of the 40 orders a meeting of the
chairneu OF lhe various grievance COM
rnittees. mum 5ering about go, was call
ed 10 be heid in washington. Hints Of
. a strike were implied in the call and
the railroads IheTeUpon invoked media
tion through the Interstate Commerce
(Continued on Seventh Page3