New-York tribune., 1913-07-20
Conductors and Trainmen, In
CenSed at Railroads, Plan to
Give Them Only Twelve
Hours Notice.
MEDlATORS HERE TO-DAY
Employees Deluge Union Officials
with Demands for a Walk
Out Unless Roads Withdraw
Request for Arbitration
Of Their Grievances.

J hundred thousand tTdlllIutu anu N'H-
( ductors on the Eastern railroads is al
most inevitable the leaders Of the men
here are preparing to issue orders that
will mean a general paralysis on every
line north Of the Ohio River and east
Of the Mississippi in twelve hours after
/ the word goes forth.
\ high official Of the mems orsaniza-
ton said that the railroads in the
event Of a strike. would get twenty
| four hours notice Al the most
1t is more likely that they Will get
only twelve hours" he said The men
/ in all sections Of the Eastern territory
4 are inccnsed at the attitude Of the rail-
roads in asking that their grievances
/ be- arbitratrd along with those Of the
men. Letters are being received at
/ headquarters in this city in every mail
/ from the general committeeman saying
/ the men in their respective locals want
to strike and are only waiting the
word The tone Of many of thos" let
ters show the impaucncc OF the men"
This leader declared that h. would
/ not Doe surprised If the order 10 strike
4 was issued on Wednesday night
Men Will Stand Firm.
This man based his declaration on
/ the belief that the railroads would not
consent to withdraw their demand that
their eight grievances. as outiired IN
their letter Of last Wednesday night
/ bc arhitrdtcd.
THE unions viii never agree 20 haF-
ing any demands other than those
raised by themselves aruitrat'd.' said
/ this leader. who was merely re-echoing
the oft-repcatcd statement of ". o..
/ Lee. head Of the trainmeu. and \. l..
+ Garrctson. leader of the conductors.
Even the news from Washington of
/ the confirmation by the Senate Of th'
appointment Of Judge William Lee
. Chambers as Commissioner az Media
tion under the N,Wlauds act. and that
Of his assistant. G.. ". ". Hanger. did
not change the belief that q strike was
not far Off
Commissioner chambers and As
sistant Commissioner Iaug'r VIII ar
rive in this city this noon. accompanied
by Judge Knapp. and viii stop AT the
Manhattan Hotel Both Lee and Gar
rctson said last night that they would
hold themselves in readiness during th"
day. believing that the m,diators might
want 10 hold an Informal conference
with them before beginning actual
work on the adjustment of the wage
dispute. which is scheduled for to-
morrow.
The senate's confirmation pleased he
men. who had heard from Washington
earlier D tho day that the confirmation
would not be made before Tuesday.
Leaders Of The men believe that the
federal arbitrators unless the rail-
roads withdraw their dcmands--wiI see
the futilitv Of bringing about d peace
ful settlement before they are at work
here forty-cight hours. and Will so re-
port to Washington.
RoacS Pldn 10 fIgnt.
In that event strike would immedi-
atcly follow.
one Of 'hc leaders Of the men told a
reporter The Tribune last night
that he understood that the railroads
were preparing for a iossible strike
and had opened negotiations with
strike breaking agencies in this city
Baltimore, Philadelphia and elsewhere.
This, however. could not be con-
frmed. The head = one strike break
ing agency, who has contract with
two roads, said last night that he had
not been called upon 20 be ready to
supply any strike breakers.
j. G. Stewart, vice president OF the
Erie Railroad, returned TO this city
from Chicago yesterday. lie expressed
amazcment y I there should be talk uf
the men on his road striking because
the Erie had withdrawn from the man
ayers conference committee.
"Our men know" he said. that any
grievance they may ha-c should be
presented TO the proper officials of the
road. ! have not received any re-
quests for increase in wages or changes
in working conditions from any Of the
trainmen or conductors oA our road
When do they VIII be given the care
ful a. J friendly consideration that We
have always given complaints from our
men"
Mr. Stewart added that he did not
believe it possible that any employees
Of the Erie would take such drastic ac-
tion as TO strike without first coming
TO him to talk over their grievances.
Washington, July l9.-When the new
federal board Of mediation met to-day TO
organize and begin adjustment of the
wage dispute between the Eastern rail-
roads and their trainmen It was confront
cd bv the discovery that one Of its mem
bers-Assistant Secretary Post OF the De
partment Of IAbor-was legally barred
from serving.
The Newands law provides that i'm ad-
dltion To the federal commissioner the
members shall be officials OF the govern
ment who have been appointed to their
Continued on second page. third column.