Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-26
RAILROADS AVERT
STRIKE; DEMANDS
ARE WITHDRAWN
Federal Board Concession Re-
moves Last Obstacle in
Way of Arbitration.
MOVE is TO PROTECT
PUBLIC, SAY COMPANIES
Statement of Road Managers
Argues That Men Would
Countenance Calamity.

NEW YORK, July 26.-The eastern
railroads today withdrew their de-
mand that their grievances against
the employees should be considered by
the federal board, appointed to arbi-
trate the demand for better wages
and working conditions, made by
conductors and trainmen.
This concession apparently removed
the only remaining obstacle to arbi-
tration and averted a strike. With
this issue disposed of, the railroad
managers and the labor leaders ex-
pected, to reach a speedy arrange
ment Upon the text of the questions
to be laid before the board of arbi-
tration. In a statement explaining
their position the managers said they
have made this concession because
they felt it was their duty to protect
the travelling public.
After a brief conference with the
labor leaders the mediators announced
that the articles of arbitration would
present the sixteen original demands
of the employees without change The
only point won by the railroads was
an agreement that the decision of the
arbitrators should become effective
October l, instead of being retroactive
Another Crisis Avoided.
The managers decision was an
nounced after they had spent the
morning in consultation by telephane
and telegraph with the presidents of
their roads. 1t was announced i'm the
form of letter addressed to the
Board of Mediation and Cancellation.
The letter said:
ITO preclude the possibility of an
other crisis such as this arising when
the railroads should desire to have
considered important questions rela-
tive to the pay and working condi-
tions of conductors and trainmen,
the conference committee of managers
on July 16, announced that in the
interest of the public as a whole
these niatters-which We're given in
detail-should be passed upon by the
board which would arbitrate the de-
mands of the conductors and train
men for increases in pay.
Never Refused to Arbitrate.
1.-The managers committee has
aever refused to arbitrate the de-
mands of the men under the provision
of the Newlands act but they thought
that in all fairness matters which the
railroads desired passed upon should
be considered at the same time. They
presented a question of inequity and
excessive wages that the railroads felt
should be corrected.
THE right to include these in the
agreement to arbitrate was denied by
the men, they also declined to let the
United States Board of Mediation and
Cancellation decide whether these
matters should be arbitrated; they
then refused the suggestion of the
railroads to arbitrate the question of
the introduction of these matters and
announced that unless the railroads
withdrew their requests, a strike
would be called.
Say Men Would Cause Calamity.
"It is evident that the conductors
and trainmen's organizations would
go to the full extent of subjecting the
country to the calamity that is
strike on the Eastern railroads would
cause, rather than have all matters
pertaining to the questions at issue
submitted to fair and comprehensive
arbitration.
"The railroads must protect the
public. Therefore they waive their
right to include their requests in the
articles of the agreement to arbi-
trate at this time, without prejudice
to any other rights of the railroads"