The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-04-24

New York, April "a. Labor Com
missioner NeilI, beginning the work
Of mediation in an effort to prevent
strike Of locomotive engineers went
into conference with railroad presi-
dents today to find a basis for settle
ment Neill will confer with the
Brotherhood Of Engineers tomorrow.
New York, Apri, Mediation Of
the differences between the Brother
hood Of Locomotive Engineers and the
eastern railways, which have threat-
ened strike on fifty lines east Of
Chicago and north Of the Potomac, ID
expected to result from the action OF
the conference committee Of railway
managers in agreeing to confer with
Charles P. Neill United States labor
commissioner. and Martin ]. Knapp,
judge Of the United States commerce
court, regarding the dispute.
While the answer Of the railroads
to the letter OF Messrs Neill and
Knapp did not definitely accept medi.
alton, the opinion was expressed BY
the engineers that in the end thls
would be the result Commissioners
Neill in an interview given after hs
had received the railroads answer
also indicated that he considered that
mediation was intended. Last night
in all quarters the opinion was ex-
pressed that the possibility Of a strike
which appeared imminent Is decreas-
ingly remote
The decision Of the railway man.
ayers to confer with Messrs Knapp
and Neill was reached after a confer
ence lasting practically an day. The
presidents OF several Of the railways
involved also were in conference here
yesterday, and It Is understood that
they approve of the letter sent to the
government representatives.
Immediately upon receipt Of this
letter, Mr. Nenl announced his pro.
gram for immediate action toward
ending the trouble, If possible, It is
his intention to confer with the rail-
way managers, while Judge Knapp
win confer with the engineers.
They win meet later to compare
notes In this way he pointed out.
the contentious Of each side win be
protected by secrecy from the other,
while giving the government repre-.
sentatives a basis upon which to work
for a settlement.
On behalf of the railroads, follow.
ing the giving out Of their letter, It
was stated that the decision to con.
fer with the government representa-.
tiyes did not mean that they had
agreed to mediation. The position Of
the railroads. it was stated. is that
they will hear what Mr. Neill has to
offer them, but in case his proposals
are not satisfactory, the railroads are
free to refuse them. In this event,
affairs would return to their former
status-the refusal Of the railroads to
grant the demands OF the egineers.
From the attitude Of the engineers,
il appeared that they would Welcome
arbitration, believing that a review Of
the whole question would result in
concessions to them
More than twenty-five thousand en-.
gineers would be affected by the
strike order, and an equal number Of
firemen would so out in sympathy. it
is expected. The roads affected are
east Of Chicago and north Of the Nor.
folk & Western.
The strike order was issued last
Thursday but was suspended untIl
last night in order to give the general
managers Of the roads time to con.
slider further the demsnas Of the men.
The engineers demand an average
wage Increase Of eighteen per cent,
Standardization Of runs and extra pay
when held up at termiaaIa. with Ger
tain technical demands relating "a
] work on certain lines.
J The railroads refuse the demands
because they allcge. they are earning
fConfinuad III p4oh rh~As