Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-15

WASHINGTON. July 14.-That the
difficulties between the trainmen and
their employers will be settled by ar
bitration. regardless of what action
Congress takes with respect to the
Erdman act. is the opinion Of Presi-
dent Wilson. expressed on his return
here to- day
The President will confer this aft
ernoon with committee representing
the trainmen, and on the result of this
conference will depend the exact
status of the arbitration.
The President in speaking to the
stated that he did not consider that
the personnel Of the arbitration board
is a matter for either side to become
greatly exercised about.
Wilson Sees "Exaggerstion."
The Chief Executive is positive that
justice will be done to both sides, and
he does not believe the situation is as
serious as has been painted He
thinks both sides are exaggerating
somewhat to sway public opinion
The White House conference, which
will take place in President Wilson's
private office at o'clock to-day. will
be closed to the public, but a state
ment may be issued later.
In addition to the President, there
will be present Secretary of Labor
Wilson, Senator Newlands Of Ne
vada. Representative Clayton of Ala
bama and Representative Mann of
Illinois. Samuel Rea. president of the
Pennsylvania Railroad; Daniel Will
lard. president of the Baltimore and
Ohio; George w. Stevens, president of
the Chesapeake and Ohio, and Frank
Trumbull, chairman of the executive
board Of the same road; w. c. Brown,
president of the New York Central,
and President Wickersham, of the At
lanta and West Point Railroad.
Four Labor Leaders Present
Union leaders to be present are
Warren B. Stone, president of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi-
neers; w. c. Carter, president of the
Brotherhood of Firemen, A. B. Gar
retson, president of the Order of Rail
way Conductors and w. G. Lee, pres
ident of the Brotherhood of Railway
Ira inmen
The Eastern railroad strike situa-
ton threatens TO tie up AZ lines east
of Chicago and throw 100000 train
n
Although the committee of 1000
representing the employees of all the
involved railroads ratified the strike
vote of the men, the situation to-day
was cleared by advices from Wash
ington to the effect that the Newlands
amendment to the Erdman acts pro-
viding for arbitration of disputes af-
feCting common carriers, probably
viii be ratified This is what the men
seek, together with demands for a 20
per cent wage increase and readjust-
ment of working conditions,
Seth Low Lauds Wilson.
Seth Low. president of the National
Civic Federation and supporter of the
Newlands amendment, declared the
White House conference is the most
important peace event" since the first
conference at The Hague
1t is now in the power Of Presi-
dents Garretson and Lee TO call a
strike at their own discretion, this
power having been delegated to them
by the committee of 900 Noon to-
morrow has been fixed as the time
limit for peace overtures from the
railroads. Most OF the members of
the committee Of 1000 have left the
city.
The strike leaders declare that
walkout Of conductors, baggagemen,
brakemen and switchmen probably
would be followed by a strike of fire.
men. as the railway firemen are dis
satisfied with working conditions.