New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-18
It's President Asserts the Organ.
ization Is Entirely in Sym
pathy with Position of
Conductors and Other
Workmen.
BREACH OF FAITH CHARGED
Unjust. It Is Contended, to Interject
Eight Entirely New Issues When
Wage Dispute Is About to
Come Before Federal Board
for Settlement.

Unless the Eastern railroad man
ayers make an bout-face from their
position. every conductor and trainman
employed on the forty-three lines in
yolved in the present dispute will be
ordered to strike" said W. G. Lee,
president Of the Brotherhood Of RAN
road Trainmen, last night
Mr.. Lee and A. b. Garretson. presi-
dent OF the Order Of Railway Con-
dnctors. in statements more or less
official. yesterday charged the railroad
managers with bad faith in attempting
10 have the grievances Of the railroads
arbitrated along with those Of the
unions.
Lee and Garretson. in letter 10
Elisha Lee chairman Of the conference
committee Of railroad managers, went
into detail in aD attempt to prove their
charge
Copies of this letter were sent by
special delivery TO President Wilson,
to the Commissioner Of Labor and TO
every member Of the Senate and the
House Of Representatives and to the
presidents Of each of the forty-three
railroads interested.
Seth Lows Letter Emphatic.
Even more emphatic was the letter
sent by Seth Low. president OF the
American Civic Federation, to the
chairman Of the railroad managers
committee. which was delivered last
night to Elisha Lee at the Waldorf
Astoria. three hours before the receipt
Of the letter from Lee and Garretson.
After referring 10 the eight subjects
that the railroad managers in their
letter Of the previous night. said they
would submit for arbitration. Mr.. Low
wrote:
e. they (the employees would
deem the insistence upon such a con-
dition tantamount TO a breach Of faith.
They believe the railroads are
honorably bound to dispose Of the ques-
tons raised by them . before
they are asked TO consider new and far
reaching problems to which neither
they nor their brotherhoods have given
the slightest consideration.
81 am entirely in sympathy with
their view"
Mr. Low asked the railroad mana
gers TO give him an audience, in order
that he might discuss the subject OF
his letter at greater length. In reply,
the following telegram was sent to
him;
Seth Low, Bedford Hills, New York.
Your letter to-day just received.
The conference committee will be very
glad to discuss the contents Of same
with you at any time and place that
you may appoint ELISHA LEE"
Conference Here To-day.
Al his home at Bedford Hills Mr..
Low last night told a reporter for The
Tribune he would meet the railroad
managers at their headquarters at 8
o'clock this afternoon, and had so in
formed Elisha Lee.
Mr.. Lows letter follows:
July II, 1913.
Mr.. Elisha Lee. Chairman Conference
Committee Of Managers. Room
3.15l, No. 20 East 10th Street, New
York.
Dear Sir: Mcssrs. Garretson and
Lee have just informed me that If the
questions raised by the railroads in
your communication of yesterday are
presented as condition upon which
the proposed arbitration Of the Ques-
tions submitted by them shall 60 for
ward they would deem the insstence
upon such a condition tantamount to A
breach Of faith. They do not question
the right Of the railroads TO submit 10
them. in a proper way and at proper
time. questions which the railroads
wish arbitrated. To do so would be to
take position not only unreasona BILE
IN itself, but entirely out Of harmony
with the spirit in which they and the
brotherhoods which they represent
nave dealt with the railroads. from the
moment that the effort began, to Sc
cure satisfactory amendments Of the
Erdman law. They do believe. how
ever. that the railroads are honorably
bound TO dispose Of the questions raised
by them, on their own merits and apart
flom any other question. before they
are asked 10 consider new and far
reaching problems to which neither
they nor their brotherhoods have given
the slightest consideration.
Il am entirely in sympathy with this
view. II IT has been the intention OF
the railroads 10 submit these questions
as soon as the new law was passed
and az part OF the pending contro-
(onlinneh ON fanrih mage. afih column