The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-02-12
TRIBUNAL MAY NOW
ARBITRATE STRIKE
Firemen Who Voted to Strike Place
Situation In Hands OF Gov
eminent Officials.

NEW YORK. Feb. 1.-THE threat
ened strike action OF "a. 900 firemen on
the fifty-four railroads east of the
Mississippi and north OF the Ohio was
placed In the hands OF government
officials tonight, for them TO avert IL
by mediation II possible. Acting un-
der the provisions OF the Erdman act,
President W. s. Carter. OF the Broth
erhood OF Locomotive Ffremen and
Enginemen- t~elegraphed Judge Mar
TIN A. Knapp, OF the commerce court,
and q. W; Hanger. acting commits
questing them to mediate in the crisis
which was arisen between the fremen
and the railroads.
Elisha Lee. chairman OF the con-
ference committee of railroad mana
gers, announced that the railroads
would accept the services OF Messrs-
Knapp and Hanger as m~ediators.
Mr.. Carriers telegram came after
the close OF a stormy meeting be
tween b managers and the firemen.
At this meeting Mr.. Carter advised
the managers that he had been
men out of every 1000 in the organi-
cation. TO call a strike should the
railroads decline to grant the demands
for increased pay q additional fire.
Heu on Z,OOO large
Want Arbitration.
These demands Mr.. Carter offered
10 arbitrate under the Erdman act
before a board OF three men. The
managers agreed that the firemen
were entitled 10 an increase in pay
not as much as they demanded. but
Something-and also offered TO arbl-
trate. But the managers wanted to
arbitrate before a commission of seven
menrriaiming IT unfair 10 leave tAe
decision OF so f~ar-reaching n matter
10 the odd man in the board OF three
asked by the firemen.
With both sides willing to arbitrate
the merits OF the controversy became
secondary TO the method Of arbitra-
ton. The hangers declared TO a man
Tor the board Of seveQ The firemen
asserted they would eve arbitrate
except under the Erdman act. Thus
deadlocked. they adjourned sine die.
each side notifying the other that upnn
II would rest the blame for a strike.
Forced Into Strike.
The public will believe you forced
US into "A strike TO accomplish one. "
not three purposes" was President
Carter's parting shot at the manager.
according 10 the stenographic report
OF the meeting Enumerating these
purposes. be continued:
FIRST. 10 teach the American peo-
pie that the time has come when rail
roads must have a. increased freight
rate n IL requires n strike 10 get
II. second. the railroads have set out
with the determination OF securing a
compulsory arbitration under the
guise OF wage commission under the
federal law. which will nave the right
to arise wages ten cents and raise the
rates twenty cents. a la our last coal
strike commission: or II Is the purpose
Of the people who own the railroad 90
put the lear % God In Woodrow VIII
sons heart. TO celebrate his inaugu-
ration with the biggest strike this
country has ever had"
Lee Talks.
There is absolutely no ground for
that. other than your statement" re-
piled Chairman Lee Of the Managers.
We have said that the hremen are
entitled g. a certain advance IN
wages. We differ on the amount: We
are prepared 20 put our differences
before any fair and impartial board.
properly constituted and able 70
handle This controversy. Wa .are
prepared 20 stand before the bar OF
public opinion on tie stand hat We
have taken