New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-16
Trainmen Talk Strike if Rail-
way Managers Insist on
Airing Grievances.
PAY SCALE DOWN POSSIBLE
Employees Would Have New
lands Act Brought to Bear
Only on Their Pres
ent Demands.

mittee OF managers OF the Eastern rail-
roads In insisting yesterday that 'ali the
differences between the railroads and
employees" should be arbitrated' threat
ened the plans made in Washington for
arbitration under tho Newlands act. The
representatives Of the conductors ana
trainmen were in secret conference for
good part Of the day, and there was con-
siderable talk that If the railroads IN
sisted upon airing their own grievances
Irrespective of the mems demands, before
an arbitration board. the possibility OF
strike had net yet been wholly elimi'
mated.
Elisha Lee. chairman of the conference
committee OF managers, made II clear
that there was no Joker" In the COM
mittee's letter. In which the members
announced their approval of arbitration
under the Newlands act and at the same
time insisted that all differences should
be arbltrated
"The language OF our letter is very
clear" he said I'VE meant and mean
Just what II saws We feel that we have
the right 10 ask for arbitration which
takes into consideration the grievances
OF the railr Dads as well as the grievances
OF the employees"
Mr.. Lee said further that the men had
always wanted arbitration up--never
down. The conference committee would
demand that the grievances Of both sides
be arbitrated from every angle-upward.
downward, sideways and backward-the
whole question gone into without reserve.
They would insist upon a real standard
ization Of wages. for which the men had
shown so much anxiety he said.
BombsheiI for Trainmsn.
The Lee statement threw CONSERVATION
into the trainmen's camp at the Broad
way Central Hotel. The leaders and mem
bers OF the committee OF one hundred un-
derstood IT'S significance clearly. For one
thing, Il meant that the railroads would
insist upon a new Interpretation OF the
book OF rules" governing the working
conditions Of the conductors and train
men. many Of which. the companies con-
tended. had been forced upon them I'M
fairly by the unions. The employees were
not pleased AT the possibility OF having TO
give up something they already had OBJ
tanned. They wanted arbitration merely
Of their present demands
Mr.. Lees reference 20 real standardized
ton OF wages was interpreted as meaning
that in the cases OF certain roads where
some OF the employees might be getting
even higher wages than an award pro-
viding for a general increase would cover
these wages would have 10 be brought
down TO the level OF the award. This stu
alton arose under the arbitration award
In the controversy between the fremen
and the Eastern roads. but no general
Standardization was insisted upon. and II
was specifically stated In the demands or
the men that no such wages should be
scaled down. Again the conductors ana
trainmen saw the possibility Of having TO
give up something they already had ac-
qured. II was plain from the talk OF the
comforting employees that the managers
attitude was complicatng matters.
A. +. Garretson. president OF the order
of Railway Conductors. and w G. Lee.
president OF the brotherhood OF Railroad
Tralnmen after comforting with the com
mittee at the Broadway Central Hotel.
held a two-hour confab in their rpoms al
the Herald Square Hotel They an
nounced they would not reply 10 the
Elisha Lee statement or comment upon
the attitude OF the conference committee
Of managers Until after the meeting OF
the employees committee Of one hundred
az the Broadway Central Hotel to-day.
Erie Still AIoof.
In the absence OF J. c. Stuart. vice
president and general manager OF the
Erie Railroad. who Is in Chicago. other
officials OF tho company said YESTERDAY
that the position Of the road had not
changed since Mr.. stuart wrote his let
ter TO Elisha Lee informing the man
ayers committee that the Erie withdrew
from all negotiations. because 1t could
not AFFORD 10 meet any raise in wages,
however slight If arbitration is accom-
plished and the Erie persists i'm standing
aloof from the other Eastern roads, the
conductors and trainmen will not be slow
i'm striking on that road IL was said.
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