Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1913-07-18
TRA|NMEN MAY QUIT
OVER $4,000 EMPLOYEES OF EAST.
ERIN RAILROADS ARE DlssAT-
IsFiED WITH THEIR PAY.
UP TO BOSSES ITO CONE THROUGH
They Have Refused to Arbitrate Diff
Acknowledgements Asked to
Amend Erdman Act-Presi-
dent Wilson Takes a Hand.

New York.-Whether a strike OF up
wards of $4,000 conductors and train
men on As eastern railroads shall be
declared this week depends upon
whether the railroads recede from
their present position and withdraw
from their refusal to arbitrate the
wage and other differences between
the companies and the lei
This declaration was made in state
ments by the mems representatives
after the grievance committees from
the various roads gathered here In o
ference had ratified the strike vote of
the men recently taken, and had au-
thorized A. B. Garretson, president of
the Brotherhood of Railway Cenduc-
tors, and w. G. Lee, president of the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen. to
issue the formal strike order to their
respective organizations.
Peace prospects center upon the at
titute of the roads, the men declared,
when amendments to the Erdman law,
under which previous disputes be-
tween the roads and their men have
been arbitrated, will be considered
with a view of pressing their speedy
passage upon congress.
The general committee of the two or
CARNATIONS authorized Messrs. Garrett
son and Lee to delay the strike order
long enough to permit them to attend
the Washington conference between
President Wilson, representatives Of
| tho railrnodC onH their oTnn1ounc ond
prominent public men.
The Issue.
Conductors and trainmen. employed
on railroads east of the Mississippi and
north of the Potomac demand 20 per
| cent increases in wages, which would
aggregate SIT, 100000 annually.
Referendum Vote.
Total number voting, $685.. affirm
alive, 72,473; negative, 4210.
Men Involved.
Conductors and trainmen, 100, 600;
| other employees who would be affected
by the strike, $4,000.
Railroads Involved.
F~orty-one trunk lines controlling
5000 miles of trackage, upon which
SO, 100000 persons depend for transpor-
tation facilities. !
Congress to Help.
Washington - Representatives OF
the $4,000 onductors and trainmen OF
eastern railways, who have voted tC
strike for higher wages, and managing
officers of the railroads agreed at the
White House to submit their differ
ences to arbitration under the provi
sions of the Newlands-C Clayton act
which President Wilson and congress
sional leaders promised to make Law
Immediately. In the meantime nc
strike will be declared, officials .of>the
employees brotherhoods agreeing to ar
armistice.
Railroads Have Grievances.
With the passage Tuesday by con
gress of the Newlands bill to provide
an arbitration medium for settling the
wage differences between the eastern
railroads and their $4,000 conductors
and trainmen a new phase of the con
troversy has developed through. an
~nouncement by the railroads that they
would ask the board which considers
the demands of the employees to take
up also the grievances of the roads
against the men. This view of the sit
uation overshadows for the moment a
least even the determined stand take1
by the Erie system that it will not sub
NIT IFS cause to arbitration in an,
event.