The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-31
Firemen and Engineers Have
Issued an Ultimatum.
Railroads Must Agree to Plan
of Mediation Board.
FRIDAY, AUG. I, IS TINE FIXED
Presidents of the Unions Issue
Signed Statements
Setting Forth Principal Causes
of the Strike.

OF the SIf1A6e
Chicago, July s1.-A strike of 5000
ating west Of Chicago has been set for
n.'unced today.
William Stone. grand chief engineer
of the Brotherhood OF Locomotive En-
gineers, and w. s. Carter, president OF
the Brotherhood Of Locomotive Fire
men and Enginemen. declared the oc-
der would be put into effect. unless the
general managers committee accepted
the plan of settlement proposed by the
federal board Of mediation.
Statement Is Issued.
In a signed statement Presidents
Stone and Carter reported that after
the managers committee had invoked
the services Of the federal board OF
mediation and cOnciliation, the mana
gers committee have refused to ac-
cept the plan Of settlement proposed
by the federal mediators and thus the
burden of responsibility of the strike
The three principal causes OF the
strike, according to the s1tatement OF
Messrs. Stone and Carter are:
The manner in which railroads have
arbitration agreements. the
manner in which the managers COM
mittee has excited the anger OF the en-
ginemen in the service by their arbi-
trary attitude, and because the rail-
roads seem determined to force the
employees to abandon the mileage ba-
sis Of pay without being willing to
adopt hourly basis Of bay; the mama
,ployees an entirely new basis of pay
which they afe pleased to term the
service period.
w s, Carter and W. g. Stone, repre-
senting the locomotive engineers ana
fremen and A. W. Trenholm, chairman
Of the general n1anagers committee OF
the railroads left for Washington to-
day to place the situation before Presi-
dent Wilson. G. w. Hanger. of the
federal board Of mediation and concilia-
ton, planned to leave for washington
tonight.
Tho BSediatsfs flaq.
The plan Of settlement as proposed
by the federal tnediators and winch
was rejected by the general managers
COMMITTEES, according to Messrs. Stone
and Carter, is as follows:
q THE schedules in effect prior to
October 10, 1918, with the amend
ments thereto and accepted rulings
until changed by arbitration.
The demands of the two organiza-
tions, as set forth in their communica-
ton of that date to the conference
committee OF managers. and no other
question or questions to be submitted
to arbitration, under and in accord
ance with the act OF congress OF July
15. 1919. commonly known as the
Newlands law.
"All subsequent demands Of the or
ganization and all the counter de-
mands of thc managers to be with
drawn without prejudice"
After the federal mediators had de-
clared their mission failure, Prest-
dent Wilson appealed to the general
managers and the union officials to
come to Washington and discuss the
situation. Regarding their proposal.
the statement of the engineers con-
tinues: 1.-THE enginemen's committee
feel that having adopted the plan pro-
posed by the official representatives of
the federal government they have
them. While the committee has left
Chicago for their respective homes
and positions of duty, and while the
strike will CO amence on August Z. the
| enginemen's committee has instructed
! Messrs Stone and Carter to go to
/; that If the railway will accept the
! plan proposed by the federal board OF
mediation in time to prevent the
strike. no strike will occur"
! President Wilson's Plans
| Washington, July 31.-President Will
son plans to appeal to the patriotism Of
the managers and employees of the
Western railways to avoid a strike in
the face of a threatened general Euro
pean war. and the consequent paralysis
of crop moving. Chairman Chambers
of the Federal Mediation Board, with
! Commissioner Knapp arranged at tbs
White House today for tomOrrow's con-
ference between the board and repre-
sentatives of the men of the railroads
at which the president will seek te
settle the difference.