New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-23
ENGINEERS VOTE TO
ACCEPT MEDIATION

AUGEPl NItDIAIIUN
Continued from first page.
would be given to all the railroads con-
ccrncd.
That meant that the strike would start
at one minute after u o'clock to-mor-
row morning, it was explained.
"There'l be the most surprised lot Of
railroad managers and presidents that
were ever seen" commented Mr.. Stone
They've been banking on the cOnserva-
tism Of the brotherhood and they've
been taking advantage of it. Now we'll
show them that they've gone too far
This was at about o'clock last night,
but when the final exchange Of letters
between the railroads and the engineers
became public Judge Knapp and Com
missioner Nell made one last effort TO
avert trouble.
Stones Threat Apparently Empty.
At . o'clock Chief Stone received the
following letter. which he Immediately
laid before his chairmen's association,
uo member Of which, it appeared later,
had left the city rs promptly as
Mr.. Stone had earlier announced they
would do;
New York, April o. 1912
Dear Sir: We understand that negotia-
tons between the Brotherhood OF Locomo-
tive Engineers and the managers commit
tee Of the Eastern railroads nave beei
definitely broken off and that the engineers
are likely to withdraw forthwith from the
service
dent that a grave situation has arisen,
which threatens most serious consequences
t. the public. In this emergency we arc
impelled by the sense OF duty to tender our
friendly offices to the contending parties. IN
the hope that some means may he found 10
adjust the matters in dispute without the
calamity of a general strike; ,.
We are sending an identical letter 10 }. g.
Stuart chairman of the committee OF rail-
road managers. Very sincerely yours
Presiding judge. United States Commerce
oo'' CHARLES p. NELL.
United States Commissioner Of Labor
The Chairmen's Association voted
unanimously 10 accept the offer Of me-
diation. and Mr.. Stuart acknowledged
the receipt Of the offer in a communica-
ton. i'm which he said his committee
would not meet again until this morn
/ ing. at which time it would be laid be-
| fore IT,
Some members Of the Brotherhood of
| Engineers professed to believe that the
railroads would not care to put them
selves I'm a bad light before the public
| iv refusing 10 accept the offer Of media
ton. Others contended that they would
accept the offer of mediation, but only
for the purpose OF delaying the strike,
which would give them more time to pre-
pare for It, while some Of Mr.. Stones
closest supporters asserted that the tone
of the letters already sent by the rail-
road managers to the chief Of the broth
erhood indicated that they would not
accept any Intervention.
Think Principle Strong with Roads.
In support Of the last position those
who advanced it referred to an informal
| talk between Chief Stone and A. w Sui
! Ivan, secretary Of the conference COM
mittee of managers, last Saturday night.
| At that time Sullivan is reported to have
| said TO Stone that the railroads were not
! I'm a position TO grant any. increases to
/ the engineers, that they therefore had
nothing to arbitrate and that IT was a
| question OF principle and not or expe-
! diency with the railroads.
stones only comment, when he was
asked to explain his surprising change Of
front, as between o'clock, when he de-
clared a strike inevitable, and o'clock,
when he announced the acceptance OF
mediation, was:
mo body Of organized labor is big
enough to stand out against an offer
r. arbitration coming from authorized
agents Of the United States government"
Judge Knapp went to Washington last
night, but will return at noon to-day.
| Commissioner Nell explained that &C
cording 70 the Erdman act neither he
nor Judge Knapp would act as arbi-
traitors. unless both sides agreed TO them.
Under that act, the Commissioner ex-
nlained, each body picked one arbitrator,
and those two picked third.
Judge Knapp and are only acting as
| ,oediators." said Commissioner Neill,
land il as mediators we obtain an ac-
centance Of the proposition OF arbitra-
ZION then it would be for the railroads
and the engineers TO select one arbitrator
och. those two to select a third"
The engineers appeared to be more
than pleased at the eleventh hour inter
yont,on OF Judge Knapp and Commits
s,oner NeilL They explained frankly that
90 the question was put up for arbitra-
,Ion as a result Of that intervention
tbev were bound TO get some concessions
ont Of II, and that, on the other hand,
- the railroads refused to accept the
ae,or If the two government officials,
a,ch action would place them In bad
Tabt before the public at the very be-
ling Of the strike that would surely
follow such refusal
Strike Would Affect 100000 Men,
y WAS explained that the view OF ths