The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-07-31
WILSON ALONE CAN
AVERT Big STRUGGLE
Will Meet Representatives Of
Ainety-Eight Companies and
Men Tomorrow

Chicago, July 31-The strike Of the
$4,000 firemen and engineers on the
is set for August z. according to official
announcement. 1t is declared the or
der will be put in effect unless the
railroads accept plan OF settlement
proposed 10y the federal board of med
iation.
President Wilson alone can prevent
a strike of the engineers and firemen
on all railroads west of Chicago.
Mediation of the dispute has thus far
failed and the president requested
the general managers committee and
the representatives of the men to con-
fer with him at the white house on
Saturday. His invitation was accept
ed by both sides and those who have
been carrying on negotiations here for
a settlement off and on since last Oc-
tobcr left today for Washington.
II the president cannot persuade the
employees to arbitrate - the railroads
appealed To the federal board-a strike
will be called Wednesday or Thurs
day. it is said. More than $4,000 fire.
men and engineers are involved direct
ly and. it is asserted, 100, 600 oilers and
wipers and other railway employees in
directly. About 81 per cent of the en-
sine crews voted To strike when the
lallnf fnEan Thpi, a
ers declare that 75 per cent OF them
would obey the order to strike and
that steam traffic west OF Chicago
would be paralyzed.
With the railroads facing the move
ment of the largest agricultural yield
In years, n strike at this time would be
unusually unfortunate, Mr.. Hanger as
serted, and the mediators asked the
president to intervene
Critical Stage Reached in July.
The wage dispute between the en-
ginemen of the western railroads and
their employers reached critical
stage July 16. 1914, when. having fail
ed to come to an understanding the
union chiefs and the managers com
mittee suspended negotiations and the
labor leaders informed the managers
That notice of strike would be serv-
ed Immediately.
The mems original demands had
been presented Oct. 10, 1913 and ncgo-
uations had been going on about three
months. Two days later. however
both sides agreed upon federal arbi.
uation although the enginemen pre-.
Viously had refused peremptorily I,
consider II on the ground that tn,
roads had refused to be governed bS
former arbitration court decisions
Matters with the men had proceeded
To the taking of n strike vote the re.
suit of which, announced July H. show
ed that the men were almost unani.
mously in favor of backing their de
mands by general walk-out.
Basing their demand on the increas
ed cost of living, the men called 70
increases in pay and overtime allow
ahces, which. they said. would jus
apout cover the advance i'm the pric,
oi necessities In the past four years
IN answer the roads declared the in
creases asked for would amount {,
SSS'oOO,OOO year or fifty per cen
advance In wages and could not b
granted.
Ninety-eight railroads were affecte,
Dy the demands. They included vir
tualiy every line in the United state
west OF Chicago and also the Illinoi
central road. In Canada. every lin
west OF Fort William. Ontario, wa
anected except the Grand Trunk Paci
nc, One hundred and forty thousan
miles OF roadway and $1,000 engineer.