Evening star., 1914-08-02
Considering Whether They Will
Accept Arbitration Plan
in Railway Crisis.
WILL INFORM PRESIDENT
OF DECISION TOMORROW
Executive Urges Both Sides to Yield
Something to Avert Threat
ened Strike.

eight railroads are considering over
Sunday whether they will accept the
plan of arbitration suggested by the
United States board of mediation and
Cancellation. or whether there shall be
a strike paralyzing the entire west, pre-
venting the movement of the bumper
crops, threatening the entire country
with starvation and causing Dig
financial depression. They are doing
this on the strong personal appeal Of
President Wilson, who worked nearly
all day to avert strike.
The railroad officials are to give their
answer to the President tomorrow. and
he is to report 1t to the representatives
of the engineers and f1remen. numbering
more than $1,000, with whom the roads
are in controversy.
That is how the matter stands today.
following two conferences at the
White House during which Preside.-t t
Wilson appealed first to the railroad
managers and then to the officials of
the employees labor organizations. He
urged that both sides yield something
toward peaceful settlement In order
that the country. threatened with com
mercial and financial stringency from
the European war, might be saved
home.
This was an unprecedented appeal.
and made with the most intense ear
nestness by the President The repre-
sentatives of both the railroads and
the employees, after leaving the White
House. said the President had not fail
ed to make them realize the serious
ness of the proposed strike, particu-
larly at this time. and of the RESPONSE
bility they would shoulder If it was
not averted.
Managers in Conference.
The managers held a lengthy confer
ence last night. but refused to admit
that they were preparing to grant some
concessions from their previous attitude.
The very fact that they had promised the
President carefully to consider the mat
ter until tomorrow. and that they were
in secret session until after midnight.
was taken as evidence that they are at
least preparing some proposition Tor the
amicable settlement of the disagreement
with their engineers and firemen.
IF the managers of the railroads
have not entered into arbitration con-
ferences before noon next Friday there
certainly will be the biggest railroa
said Warren s. Stone. grand chief Of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers. late last night. "All plans for
the strike have been carefully worked
out. Each man has his assignment, and
the officials in charge already are on
their way to their posts. There Is no
blum about this. We have agreed to ac-
cept the plan the United States media
tors proposed as just. We cannot in
Justice to ourselves grant any further
concessions. Either the managers must
come to those terms or be responsible
for the results of the strike"
Representatives Of both sides promised
the President to remain in Washington
until Monday. The railroad managers
said they would reach a decision by
then whether the plan would be accept
representatives he would communicate
the outcome to them.
Would Arbitrate Wages.
The plan of the mediators is to re-
store schedules in effct prior to October.
1913, with certain amendments and rul-
ings, and to submit to arbitration the
question of wages.
The President devoted his entire after
noon and evening to considering the
strike question. He saw the representa-
lives of the managers and Of the en-
ployes separately, and later held con-
ference with Judge Chambers and Mar
Tin A. Knapp of the federal mediation
hoard.
President Wilson made a brief speech.
pointing out to them that the situation
was abnormal because of the war IN Eu-
rope. and that no pains should be spared
ia st king to reach a settlement. He told
them he was making efforts to increase
the American merchant marine in order
TO take care of shipments of farm prod
ucts, and that these efforts would be
worthless il a strike on the western rail-
roads was declared.
Announce Decision Monday.
After listening to the President. the
railroad managers replied that they would
take what he had said under considera-
ton and let him know their decision
Monday morning. The managers told the
President in detail of their differences
with their engineers and firemen, de-
claring they already were under great
expense, and had been forced to refuse
the demands of the workmen.
The President took the position that no
matter what the differences or the jus
tice of the claims of either side. both
parties should give UP something and
come to an agreement in the interest OF
the country.
Later, when the President and W. s.
Stone and W. s. Carter of the engine
men and firemen, conferred. the Presi-
dent was told that the men believed that
IN accepting the pidu VI tuc Acuoi al
board of mediation and conciliatfon the
workmen have gone as far as they could
aad that they thought the decision OF
whether the strike will come or not
rested with the railroad managers.
Personnel Of Committee.
The conference committee Of managers
OF the railways. which was at the White
House. is composed of A. w. Trenholm,
general manager. Chicago. st. Paul, Min
neapolis and Omaha, chairman; j. w.
Higgins. general manager. Missouri Pa
cific: T. c. Batchelder. president. Balti-
more and Ohio Chicago terminal: p. H.
Mornssey, assistant to vice president.
Chicago. Burlington and Quincy: P. c.
Hart, general manager Chicago, MIL
waukee and st. Paul: D. w. Campbell
assistant general manager. Southern ra-
cific. Pacific system: Grant Hall. general
manager. Canadian Pacific. western lines;
]. IL. Keefe. assistant general manager.
Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe: w. S.
Rio Grande; w. ]. Tollerton. general me-
chanical superintendent, Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific; II. NJ. Curry. me-
chanical superintendent, Northern Pa
cific NJ. J. Buckley. general superintend-
ent Oregon Washington Railroad and
Navigation. They were accompanied by
J. III. Sheehan as counsel.
Those who conferred with the President
for the engineers and firemen are War
rem S. Stone, grand chief. Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers. and w. $
Locomotive Firemen and Engineers.