Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1914-08-07
RAIL MEN TO STRIKE
FiFTY-FIVE THOUSAND WILL
QUIT UNLESS ROADS WELD
TO DEMANDS.
LAST EFFORT BY PRESIDENT
Wilson VIII Endeavor TO Persuade the
Western Railways to Accept Federal
Mediation Boards Plan Of Settle
ment.

Chicago. Aug "A strike OF $4,000
engineers and firemen on 81 western
railroads has been called for Friday.
August 7, it was announced here by
union officials. unless the railroads
accept plan Of settlement proposed by
the federal board Of mediation.
Washington. Aug. 3.-President VIII
son will today make one final effort to
bring about a peaceful settlement OF
the wage controversy between locomo'
tive engineers and firemen and SO rail-
roads west of Chicago. The efforts
of the United States board OF medi-
alton and Cancellation have failed.
For ten days the members have la
bored to bring employers and en-
ployes to an agreement to arbitrate
their differences. and for the first
time in the history OF the board their
efforts have come to naught
On Wednesday the federal media
tors. abandoning further hope. tele-
graphed to the president informing
him of the seriousness of the situa-
ton. The president wired back In
viting representatives of both sides 10
meet him today at the White House
when a last attempt will be made TO
bring about an agreement to arbitrate
II the attempt fails union officials
declare that a strike will be called
which will mean the walkout Of 55,'
900 engineers and iiremen. affecting
100000 railroad employees, and paraly-
sis of central and western transpor'
tation in the United States and Can
ada.
William l.. Chambers, commissioner
OF mediation, and Judge Martin A.
Knapp. chairman of the board, LETT
Chicago for Washington, and will lay
before the president Of the develop
ments and facts of the meetings. O.
w. w Hanger, the other member OF
the federal board. remains in Chicago
to keep in touch with the situation at
that end
The representatives OF employers
and employees are on the way for
the capital. A. w. Trenholm. general
manager of the Chicago, st. Paul.
Minneapolis & Omaha railroad, and
chairman Of the conference managers
committee, heads the railroads repre-
sentatiyes Warren S Stone, grand
chief engineers of the brotherhood OF
Locomotive Engineers. and w. S, Car
ter, president OF the brotherhood OF
Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen,
go TO rpresent the men.
Ninety eight railroads are involved,
including practically every line in the
country west OF the Illinois Central
north and south line, and lines in Can
ada west OF Fort William.
Paris, Aug. 3-The International
Socialist congress. representing 49,
900, 900 workers, may call an interna-
tional strike OF the mining and trans
portation industries on account Of the
European war. according TO a state
ment made here.
The congress, which is bitterly op-
posed TO war. feels that such a threat
may cool the ardor OF those who want
war, as a strike Of this kind would tie
up practically every railroad system
on the continent and would force the
closing OF every industrial plant in
short time because of the lack OF coal
and steel.
Further than this, the tying up OF
the railroad systems would mean star
walton for millions living inland Sho
depend upon railroads 10 bring TO
them he largest portions Of their food
supplies.