The chronicle=news., 1914-08-01
HISTORY OF PRESENT CONTROVERSY between
RAILROAD OPERATORS AND ENGINtERMEN

Chicago. H., Aug. 1.-Thc wage
dispute between the enginemen of
the western railroads and their em-
ploycrs reached a critical stage July
16. 1914 when. having failed to come
to an undertaking, the union chiefs
and the managers committee sus-
pended negotiations and the labor
leaders informed the managers that
notice OF n strike would be served
Immediately.
The mems original demands had
been presented October 10, 1913, and
negotiations had been going on about
three months. Two days later, how
ever. both sides agreed upon federal
arbitration although the enGinemen
previously had refused pcremptorily
to consider 1t on the ground that the
roads had refused to be governed by
former arbitration court decisions.
Matters with the men had proceeded
to the taking of n strike vote the re-
suit of which, announced July IA,
showed that the men were almost
unanimously in favor of backing
their demands by a general walk-out.
| Basing their demand on the in
creased cost of living, the men called
for increases in pay and overtime al
lowances. which. they said. would
Just about cover the advance in the
price of necessities in the past four
years.
In answer the roads declared the
increases asked for would amount to
$33, 100000 year or a fifty per cent
advance in wages and could not be
granted.
Ninety-eight railroads were affect
ed by the demands. They included
virtually every line in the United
States west of Chicago and also the
Illinois Central road. In Canada cv-
cry line west of Fort William, On
tario, was affected except the Grand
Trunk Pacific. One hundred and
forty thousand miles of roadway and
900 engineers. fircmen and 1ostl-
ers drawing $G7,750, 900 annual wag-
es were affected.
The mems committee was headed
by Warren S. Stone, grand chief of
the brotherhood of locomtive cngin-
ecrs, and w. S. Carter, president of
the brotherhood of locomotive fire
men and cnginemen. A. w. Trcn-
hblm, general manager of the Chica-
20. st. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha
Railway. was chairman of the man
ayers committee. -
The last general movement by the
enginemen for an increase in wages
was in 1910 at which time they oh
tafned an increase OF about 10 per
cent. Since then. they declare, the
roads have greatly increased their
revenues and facilities. Preparation
of the mems case Indicated their
close observation of the proceedings
of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. Every report of the roads to
the federal body apparently had been
scrutin'zcd and compared with for
mer reports and deductions favorable
to the mems demands drawn where
possible.
Objection by the enSincmen to fed
cral arbitration was asserted to rest |
on alleged refusal by the roads to
SoNeIn tutIns'lFeS py Inc TecOn1ulen-
dations of the board. They were
recommendations and not court man
dates, the men declared. and the
roads either disrcgarded them or
placed their own interpretations on
them In such a manner as to nullify |
them. The managers committee |
challenged Stone and Carter to name |
an instance in which such a thing |
had been done. When conferences
between Stone and Carter and the |
managers apparently had come to the |
point of n strike the managers were |
urgent that the federal Board of Me-
diation and Cancellation should be |
appealed to. The mems committee |
suddenly accedGd ot this, stating that |
sessions begin Immediately.
Accordingly William L. Chambers,
chairman of the federal mediation
board, assistant commissioner G. w.
w. Hanger and Federal Judge Mar |
tin A. Knapp left Washington at |
once prepared to begin sessions in |