Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-07-18

ROADS DEMANDS
WILL NOT AGREE THAT "ALl
QUESTIONS" BE INCORPOR-
ATID IN ARBITR ALTON.
WILL CALL A STRIKE FIRST
l,lcss the Railroads Back Down
Gigantic Industrial War seems
Almost Certain.


GOO trainmon and conductors VINO
threaten a strike against the eastern
railroads, will not aEree under any
circumstances to have the ROADS
grievances erbitrated at the same
time as th4 mems demands Tor pet-
ter wages under the Hew!anoN
smendment TO the Erdman Act, &C
cCrding TO u statement issued tonight
b,s W. G. Leo and A. r. Garretson'
presidents respectively OF the IRAN
men and Conductor brotherhoods
Mr.. Lee In II verbal statement sup,
plementing the formal one declared
tnat II the railroads persist In their
pI esent stand 10 have their own
llieyances arbitrated, 1t is absolutely
CO rtain that strike Will follow
The formal statement OF the train
men was cent as letter to Elisha
Lee. chairman OF the conference
committee e managers. IT was pre-
pared ae a result Of a meeting OF the
tralnmen committee OF one hundred
held today to consider the announce
mcnt of the roads last night that
II ey intend TO have "all questions
Incorporated In the agreement to ar
hitrate.
Hear Seth Low Today.
The employees position as announc-
cd tonight brings about deadlock
T'he roads. however while insisting
that their demand Is an EQUITABLE
one. have agreed to meet Seth Low,
president OF the National Civic Fed
Grafton. who has interested himself
iu the mems behalf and hear his pc
ti,,on OF reasons why the railroad
representatives should yield the
point. Mr.. Low will be heard by the
conference committee tomorrow
afternoon.
The trainmen declare, In their let
ter, that tae railroads In insisting
upon arbitration Of their own Rriev-
ances at this time. could have select
&c no surer way Of driving the men
from the service.
The sincerity Of the roads is ques-
toned by the employees. who point
out that, prior to the mediation con-
ference with the president last Mon
day no intimation was given by the
roads that thty purposed to air their
demands before the federal arhitra-
ton body The present attitude OF
tht roads Is characterized In the let
ter as a "flaRrant violation OF faith"
Mail Letter to Wilson.
Copies of the letter that the train
men submitted to the roads tonight
y ere mailed to President Wilson,
every member of the senate and the
house and to all the Conferes at the
meeting attended by the president.
After giving resume of the con-
troversy, the letter emphasizs that
VI hen the railroads consented to Join
the white house conference, the only
matter of dispute was the wage de-
insnd In this connection. the letter
points out that In practically all ex-
itting agreements between roads and
men there is a provision that if
either side desires an amendment or
q regulation. thirty days notice to the
other side Is required. In asking ar
hitration affecting several agree
ments now In force the railroads did
not give such notice, the trainmen
set forth.
The employees said tonight that
they will wait only for the senate's
confirmation OF the presidents ap-
pointments before insisting upon n
conference forthwith at which they
will present their wage demands. II
the roads then submit their griev-
ahces to the federal board, the men.
30 they declared. will decline to sign
the arbitration stipulation and will
atrike instead.
Mr. Lee and Garretson expressed
satisfaction at the personnel OF the
ccnc!litstion board the president has
sc,ected. No better appointments
could have been made. they said.
The committee representing the
trainmen and coAductors on the Erie
rad. which road withdrew from par
ticipation In the arbitration ncrotia-
TONS after announcing u could not
afford to grant better wages, will
meet here tomorrow. The question
of calling strike on this system
probably will be deferred until the
outcome OF the present deadlock Is
Known.