Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-17
MEDIATION OFFER
REFUSED BY men
Railroad Brotherhoods Put the
Next Move in Negotiations
Up to the Railroads.

Chicago. Ill, July 1.-THE engi-
neers and f1remen of the 30 western
railroads now involved in a wage con-
troversy, last night refused to accept
federal arbitration, as suggested by
the committee of railway managers.
Rejection of the mediation propos-
al was contained in a letter written
by w. S. Carter and w. s. Stone, ex-
ecutives of the two railroad employees
brotherhoods, to A w. Trenholm,
chairman of the conference committee
of managers.
The letter, timed at p. m, is as
follows:
Chicago. ILL.,, July 16, 1914-Dear
Sir: This will acknowledge receipt
of your letter of even date wherein you
say:
I'VE hereby request you 10 join with
us in an application 20 the United
States board of mediation and concili-
alton and invoke its services for the
purpose of bringing about an amica-
BILE adjustment of tia controversy"
Your request has been referred to
the joint committee representing the
engineers. firemen and hostlers in the
western territory, and has been de-
clined for the reason that should they
tcfn- with you in the request to. tina
United States board of mediation and
Cancellation it would place a moral
obligation upon them to accept arbi-
tration as provided for in the New
lands act. AS we have stated to you
on several occasions. they will not
accept arbitration, because in our past
arbitrations the railroads have refused
to place the awards in effect.
Yours truly,
w. S. STONE,
Grand Chief Engineer Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers.
w. S. CARTER,
President Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Engineers.
Mr.. Trenholm refused to comment
upon this letter until after it Should
have been read and discussed before
the conference committee of western
i
morning. What the next step will be
is matter of conjecture. the employees
having refused to give out detailed
copy of their strike vote by railroads
as requested by the managers, and
having refused absolutely to retract
from their original demands of May
IS.
Both employers and employees have
stated it will be useless TO continue
conferences and the exchange of let
ters in the hope of effecting any set
tlement, and the rejection of arbitra-
tion by the engineers is expected to
force the roads to appeal to Washing
ton direct for mediation. In that case
tie federal board would take up the
matter directly with the employees.
At late hour last evening the most
optimistic railway officials regarded
the situation as extremely critical. IL
is expected the brotherhoods of engi-
neers and firemen will serve notice on
the railway managers some time to-
morrow that a strike will begin at
some certain hour. probably within
two days of the date of the strike no.
tice
Mediation or arbitration cannot be
forced upon the employees, and there
is no way TO avoid a strike if the men
decide in favor of a walkout. it is said.
The strike would affect 14S,O0O miles
of railroad, including all lines west of
Lake Michigan and the Illinois Cen
trail All lines west of Fort William,
Canada, excepting the Grand Trunk
Pacific, would also be affected. Com
ing when record crops are just ready
to begin movement, such a strike
would be nothing less than a national
calamity. Approximately $4,000 engi-
neers and firemen are involved, and
more than 100000 hostlers, oilers and
wipers.