The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-02-12
THREATENED STRIKE
UP TO GOVT. OFFICIALS
Following Stormy Meeting Between Rep
resentatives of the Firemea and
Railroad Managers.

New York, Feb. 12.-The threatened
strike action of $4,000 firemen on the 81
railroads east of the Mississippi anC
north of the Ohio was placed in tn,
hands of government officials last night
for them to avert it by mediation il
possible. Acting under the provisions oi
the Erdman act, President Carter of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and
Enginemen telegraphed Judge Martin A,
| Knapp of the commerce court and q. w
w. Hanger, acting commissioner OF labor,
at Washington requesting them to medi-
ate in the crisis which has arisen be-
tween the firemen and the railroads.
| Elisha Lee, chairman of the confer
ence committee of railroad managers, am
nounced that the railroads would accept
the services of Messrs. Knapp and Han
ger as mediators.
Mr.. Carter's telegram came after the
close OF a stormy meeting between the
managers and the iiremen. AT this meet
ing Mr.. Carter advised the managers
that he had been authorized by the
votes OF 965 firemen out OF every thous-
and in the organization to cali strike
should the railroads decline to grant the
demands OF increased pay and additional
firemen Oh 1000 large locomotives.
These demands Mr. Carter Offered to
arbitrate under the Erdman act, before
board OF three men. The managers
agreed that the firemen were entitled to
an increase in pay, not as much as they
demanded. but something. and also Of
fered to arbitrate. But the railroad
managers wanted to arbitrate before a
commission of seven men, claiming it un-
fair TO leave the decision of so far.reach.
ing matter to the odd men in the board
of three asked by the fremen.
With both sides willing to arbitrate,
the merits of the controversy became
secondary to the methods of arbitration.
The managers declared to a man for the
board OF seven; the firemen asserted
they would never arbtrate except under
the Erdman act. Thus deadlocked, they
adjourned sine die, each side notifying
the other that upon it would rest the |
blame Tor strike,
THE public will believe you forced us |
into strike to accomplish one, If not I
three purposes" was President Carter's /
parting shot at the managers, according |
to the stenographic report of the meet
ng. Enumerating these purposes, he
continued:
First, to teach the American people
hat the time has come when the rail-
'oads must have an increased freight
ate and it requires strike to get it, /
econd. the railroads have set out with
he determination Of securing a compul-
ory arbitration under the guise of
wage commission under the federal law
which win have the right to raise wages
0 cents and raise the rates 20 cents,
a our last coal strike commission; or
is the purpose of the people who own
he railroads to put the fear of God in
Woodrow Wilson's heart, to celebrate his
with the biggest strike this
ountry has ever had"
There is absolutely no ground for
hat, other than your statement" replied
hartman Lee of the managers. I'VE
ave said that the firemen are entitled
0 certain advance in wages. We differ
n the amount; we are prepared to put
ur differences before any. fair and i'm =
artial board, properly constituted and
BILE TO handle this controversy. We are
repaired TO stand before the bar of pub
c opinion on the stand that we have I
lken." q