The Washington herald., 1913-07-14
LAST HOPE OF
AVOIDING STRIKE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
the presidents of the leading railway
involved are to take part In person IN
stead of leaving 1t 10 the COMMITTEES o
managers. VINO. up to this. have beei
In dealing with the union
men.
Brown Takes Hand.
w. Z. Brown. of the New York Central
looms up as the most commanding hgur'
in the situation now. 1t II known to b,
due to his infiuence that the union mel
are to have personal representatives n
the conference. Almost up to the CLOSING
hour Of the meeting at Webster Hal
the men remained nrm in their decision
to keep away from Washington. Th'
claim was made that the railroads
the committee Of managers, had
fatty refused the demands for more pa,
and consequently there Fas nothing Il
arbitrate..
President Brown Is said to have beer
the man who stepped into the breach
after ! O'Clock the doorman a
Webster Hall went into the room wher'
the strike resolution was peIng drawn
and notified one Of the most prominent
union leaders that he was wanted on tht
ong distance telephone. It was the presi-
dent of the New York Central at tn,
other end OF the line and the man at thi.
end was an Old conductor VINO ran g
tram out IN ONO wnen brown was strug.
cling along as dispatcher.
Federation to be Represented.
When the conversation had ended the
union officials had agreed to go back to
the men and urge them to have a rep
at Washington.
In addition to the railway officials and
the union men, the conference will be
attended by Seth Low, President Of the
National Civic Federation. Marcus NJ.
Marks. and Ralph Easley. Of the same
body.
Here is the substance Of the statement
issued by the union men at the close
,f their deliberations:
This is to certify that the general
grievance committee of the conductors
md trainmen. in secret conference today.
canvassed the result OF the
1ote of the members apA>fnds that more
han the necessary two-thirds have voted
n favor Of leaving the service, unless
, satisfactory settlement of pending
Iuestions could be otherwise secured.
I'VE have. heard a full and complete
from our general chairmen
II how our demands have been refused.
md how. In addition, the railroads have
'efused to submit the controversy to ar
,itration under the Federal law now in
fleet governing such matters.
I'VE hereby ratify the vote cast by
hose We represent in favor OF peaceful
'ithdrawal from the service of all MEM
ers Of our brotherhood employed in train
r yard service at a given time to be
esignated by the president OF the broth
rhood II his approval to such action 10
iven. and We hereby request him to give
is approval"
Up to Railroads.
President Lee. of the trainmen. said:
We will not make another offer Of ar
itration. We are through unless the
ailroads on being informed of the situa-
ion declare themselves willing to arbi-
rate. Beyond this nothing can prevent
strike
Lee and Garretson are In absolute con-
rol OF the traffic situation throughout the
.ast and Middle West, and will retain
nat power until the strike cloud has
lther broken or drifted away through the
venue of arbitration A ten-line message
sned Jointly by the two men and sent
ut to the unions could paralyze all train
ervice on fifty or more Of the greatest
ailroads in the world.
President Garretson said before leaving
Or Washington that he would probably
OF return until Wednesday. In a short
lterview he indicated that he had given
erious consideration to the possible re-
ult of such a strike as is contemplated.
IF you strike. what will happen to the
nited States mails?'' he was asked.
What have We to do with the mails:
We are not in the government service:
We do not recognize any class of trains,
vas the answer.
As to whether the engineers and firemen
rould join the trainmen in a sympathetic
trike. MIR. Garretson said:
THE engineers and iremen are not
ound to go out on a strike with us. On
he contrary, they must remain at their
osts until such time as they believe their
ves nd the lives of their passengers are
ndangered by having inexperienced men
n the train crews"
TI--Up Would Re Certain.
rs it possible for the railroads to I'LL
he places of 5000 men, or a sufficient
art of that number. to prevent a COM
lete tie-up?"
No: 1t is not possible. You might as
rell ask me IL an army OF trained SOL
iers can be replaced in week or a
lonth. even"
Mr.. Garretson laughed at the statement
'hich alleges that the Pennsylvania and
lew York Central were sending out
Offices to the men on their pension lists
Erecting them to report for duty in the
vent of a strike. He said:
THE Pennsylvania has the largestd list
pensioners of any railway system in
e United States and still there are not
ore than fifty members of the conduc-
RS order among them. The Pennsyl- /!
mia could not accomplish much with
'ty conductors. Trainmen are never
ippled and unable to do any sort of
rvice. The whole idea is absurd"
The strike order affects railroads oper- |
ing more than 5000 miles of track IN |
ghteen States, including New England, |
iddle Atlantic States. Michigan. ILL., |
lis. Kentucky. and Indiana.
The annual pay roll of the conductors |
the present basis of earnings is ap-
oximately 81. 600. The increase de-
anded amounts to $17,00.00o The num-
r of men among the conductors and |
alone involved Is 5000. Others |
no would be thrown out Of work by the |
'ect of a strike make an estimated |
tai of 10000.
The basis of the claims made for the |
crease in pay is the high cost of liv-
8 and the tremendous earnings of rail-
ad stocks during the last few years.
onference Takes Place
Al Whit unues NJ 2p M