New-York tribune., 1913-07-14
General Tie-Up in 18 States
Threatened by Trainmen and
Conductors Unless Roads
Agree to Arbitrate.
FOOD FAMINE POSSIBLE
Leaders, Off to See President,
to Delay Walk Out Order Till
After Conference-Engine
Drivers and Firemen
May Also Quit.

men and conductors on all railroads
east Of the Mississippi, and north Of
the Ohio River and the Chesapeake g.
Ohio Railroad may be called at mo-
ment's notice bv A. B. Garretson and
w G. Lee, presidents, respectively, OF
the order Of Pl,lway Conductors and
the Brotherhood Of Railroad Trainmen,
as the result of the unanimous vote )f
S62 members Of the general grievance
committee, who met in Webster Hall
yesterday. Formal notice of the strike
vote will be n the hands Of the man
ayers of the forty-two railroads in
volved this morning.
No date for the walkout was set, the
committeeman delegating the power TO
ixe the time. Such a strike might cause
food famine in New York City and
scores of other cities in the eighteen,
states affected, as we'll as a general
paralysis of business throughout the
entire region. In any event, the order
TO strike will not be issued until after
the result of the White House confer
! ence is known.
The leaders, who intimated that
strike might be followed by walkout
of the engine drivers and firemen. say
they hope they will not be forced To
call a strike. which they say can be
avcrted by the railroads agreeing TO
submit the demands of the employees
10 an arbitration committee.
Say Railroads Must Yield.
In answer 10 a question, Garretscn
said last night: I'VE will not make
another offer IF arbitration to the rail-
roads. We are through. II the rail-
roads. on being informed Of the present
situation. do not announce their will
mgness TO arbitrate, as provided In thc
Erdman act, there will be a strike
Both Lee and Garretson left last
night for Washington TO attend the
conference to-day at the White House.
which has been called by President
Wilson. The two leaders, who on sat
urdav announced that they would not
attend the lshington conference, eX-
plained that their change of plans hAd
been b~ought about thr h he urg-
/ ings of Seth Low. president of the Ma
/ tional Civic Federation, who left Tor
Washington on the Congressional Linn
/ ited a few hours before the labor lead
ers did. Mr.. Low was accompanied by
Ralph NJ. Easey and Marcus NJ. Marks
officers Of the National Civic Fedora
tion who also addressed Saturdays
session Of the members of the general
grievance committee. President Gar
retsor said - at he and his associate
would stand unqualitiedly for the New
lands bill.
Before leaving the following state
ment was issued by Garretson and Lee,
bearing their signatures
"The committees of the various ROADS,
acting independently Of each other'
unanimously ratified the strike vote OF
the membership on their respective
lines. and empowered the executive
officers of the organizations to nix the
date for retirement from the service
sbould the attitude Of the managers
committee remain unchanged, and after
taking such action returned TO their
homes.
HOBO Roads Will Reconsider.
with the purpose in view that no
reasonable means for effectins a
friendly settlement should be neglected
by MS. they authorized sufficient delay
in making the strike order effective To
permit the undersigned to attend the
conference arranged in washington
with President Wilson, called for the
consideration of the amendments to the
Erdman act as embodied in the New
lands bill. in the hope that II such
amendments were made Immediately
effective it might induce the companies
70 abandon the position heretofore
maintained by the conference commit
tee of managers, and lead To WIN
drawal of their former refusal OF our
proposition to arbitrate under the pro-
visions of the federal law"
"In the event that the railroads do
not offer to arbitrate, will you?" Presi-
dent Garretson was asked.
There will be no proposition made
Nv ma 70 mediate or arbitrate," he re-
piled.
when do you expect to call this
striker"
I'VE know. but we don't tell.'
How much time will you give the
railroads."
That's entirely optional with US. We
may strike on moments notice"
"WiI you make any provision for
carrying the United States mails?'
Were not employees of the govern
ment. That is no concern Of ours"
Indifferent to Food Supply.
What about the milk supply-you
know there are half a million babies IN
New York City alone" put in father
of one of the half million.
Were not engaged in the milk busi-
ness or in any other line OF business
replied President Garretson. I'VE make
no distinction-milk. mail or anything
else"
is there a likelihood of a sympa-