Evening star., 1914-08-01
''WALK-OUT MORE SERIOUS
THAN EUROPEAN WAR"
Shipments Of Grain and Other Crop
Movements Now Are
.... Menaced.
5000 MEN ALSO INVOLVED
President Asking That All Parties
Let Patriotism Guide Their
Every Action in Pres
ent Trouble.

ent Trouble.
In two conferences at the White House
this afternoon President Wilson is en-
deavoring to avert the threatened strike
of ninety-eight western railroads, involv-
ing 5000 employees directly. which Of
ficials stated previous to the conference
would "be more serious for this country
than the European war" This strike
would prevent the shipment of grain and
movement of the heavy crops of the
country.
When, five days ago. after seven days
investigation from Chicago, the United
States board of mediation and concilia-
tion. acting under the Erdman act, pro-
posed plan of arbitration satisfactory
to the engineers and firemen. but reject
ed oy the railroad managers. Judges Will
liam A. Chambers and Martin A. Knapp
of the mediation board appealed directly
to the President. The President request
ed the presence in Washington of the
representatives of both sides to the con-
troversy. and arranged for two meetings
today. The one with the conference
committee of twelve high officials or gen.
eral managers of railroads started at
o'clock. Representatives of the labor or
ganizations of engineers and firemen are
to discuss their side of the question with
the President at o'clock.
Would Deplore Strike.
Both sides say they would deplore a
strike and trust that their disagreements
may be settled without recourse to such
violent methods. which would paralyze
the entire western section of the country
and seriously affect the east.
The President is appealing to both sides.
but more particularly to the railroad
managers, to let patriotism guide their
action. He is telling them that because
OF the European situation and the neces-
sty of moving the crops of the west a
strike now would be disastrous to the
country. More than 81 ,UU,OOO people live
along the railroads affected by the threat
ened strike, and thousands of men in
other lines of business would be thrown
out of employment II the strike goes into
effect next Friday, as has been ordered
by the engineers and iremen. More than
40 carloads of perishable foodstuffs are
sent out OF California each day over the
railroads that would be tied up by the
strike.
Previous to the White House confer
ence the committee of managers refused
10 discuss the report that they are pre-
pared to make concessions. The repre-
sentatives of the employees said they were
prepared to do all in their power to pre-
ent the strike.
Backs Mediation Board.
is the belief of prominent officials
the President will let the railroads
that he supports the recommenda-
of the board of mediation and con-
-lation. which was appointed by him
and is directly responsible to no other
department or official. 1t is thought that
he will base this support on the fact
that since July Is last year this bureau
has amicably settled twenty-six contro-
versies between railroads and their en-
ployes. and most of them through media
ton. The bureaus province is to con-
ciliate and mediate all difficulties between
railroads and their employees which have
to do with the operation of trains Brief
ly, their business is to keep the trains OF
the country running that the public NAV
not be inconvenienced.
The question OF moment today is
whether the railroads will arbitrate the
controversy on the plan recommended by
Judge Chambers and Judge Knapp, act
ing as federal mediators the request
of the railroads and the engineers and
firemen. These mediators made a seven
day investigation in Chicago. and then
proposed a plan of arbitration that was
accepted by the employees but rejected
by the managers.
Wilson Asks Conference.
After they had succeeded in getting
both sides to withdraw certain objection
able features Of their demands the board
came to the conclusion that the only pos
sible way Of precenting serious strike
would be arbitration under the provisions
Of the Newlands law on the remaining
demands OF the employees. They so noti-
fled the President. and he requested the
spoksmen of both sides to confer with
him.
Arrangements for the conference with
the President today were made last
night. when the President talked with
Judges Chambers and Knapp.
The conference committee of managers
of the railways is composed Of A. w
Trenholm. general manager. Chicago
ST Paul Minneapolis and Omaha, chair.
man J. w. Higgins. general manager
Missouri Pacific; F. c. Batchelder. presi.
dent. Baltimore and Ohio Chicago ter
Tninal: p III. Morrissey assistant to vice
cS; p. g. Hart. general manager, Chica.
go. Milwaukee and st. Paul; D. w
Campbell. assistant general manager
Southern Pacific. Pacific system: Gran,
Hall, general manager. Canadian Pacific
western lines: j. II. Keefe. assistant gen
eral manager. Gulf. Colorado and Santa
Fe; ". S. Martin. general manager Den
yer and Rio Grande; w. j. Tolllerton
general mechanical superintendent, Chi
caSo. Hoct Island and Pacific: H. NJ
Curry. mechanical superintendent, North
ern Pacific: NJ. j. Buckley, general su
perintendent. Oregon Washington Rail
road and Navigation.
Those who are TO confer with the Presi
dent for the engineers and fremen ar
Warren S. Stone. grand chief, Brother
hood Of Locomotive Engineers. and w. S
Carter. president. Brotherhood Of Loco
motive Firemen and Engineers.
Railroads Concerned.
The railroads concerned in the contro
versy are the Atchison, Topeka and San