Evening journal., 1914-08-03
RAILROAD HEADS
AGREE TO ARBITRATE
Accept President Wilson's
Patriotic Appeal TO Staye
Off Calamity
WAGE QUESTION
THE ONLY QUESTION
BY The United Press.
IVA

! - AAp GhiAtu EItSHs
WASHINGTON, Aug. o. Manager,
Of os western railroads today apreed a
accept the mediation board 10 nrbitrat,
the threatened strike. The plan Il /,
nrbitrate solely on the question Of IN,
mems demands for Increased wares
leaving all working rules which the men
demanded should be reinstated in effect
me managers answer today followed
letter sent Co them last night b,
President Wilson appealing To tbeil
patriotism 70 avoid strike n mi.
international crisis which would resuli
y tying up not only grain shipments for
EUROPE, ont also the transportation OF
ioou LOT the people OF this country.
10 the Presidents letter Chairman
trenholm replied;
our committee has been fayorabIy
impressed with the grave consldera-
tion that you so strongly urged.
Under any ordinary circumstances
we should feel that our plain dutv
70 the interests committee to our
charge would not merely Justify bat
would require us to insist upon a nlan
Of arbitration that would recognize
our right TO be heard upon claims
regularly presented on our behalf
but we also appreciate keenly. as Won
nave pointed out, that an UNPARALLELED
condition has arisen which hardly
permits full consideration of tie
merits OF our case and which con
strains you 70 ask us to waive any
discussion Of merits and accept the
plan Of arbitration proposed by the
mediators which you feel convinced
oners under the existing circum-
stances the only possible way Of
aVertlng a disastrous strike upon All
inc railroads OF the western half Of
the United States.
In view, therefore, Of the situation
as you have presented ii and of vour
appeal to our patriotism and to our re-
gard 10 the public welfare. we beg 10
express to you herewith our acceptanee
Of the plan Of arbitration proposed.i
The Presidents letter 10 the man.
ayers said; Il am sure that YOU an
preciate the extreme gravity Of the At
nation into which the country and vonr
roads would be plunged II the strike
now threatened should unhappily occur.
IN view of Worldwide conditions nm
paralleled IN recent history. which have
arisen within the last few days. Il il
Obvious TINT the suspension OF business
on roads serving more than half the
territory Of the United States would
be calamity OF incalculahie magni-
tude. The situation has reached crisis
which hardly permits a full considern-
tion Of the merits Of the controversy,
and feel that in tine circumstances /
can appeal with confidence 20 your pat
riotism and 70 your regard for the pub
lic welfare to make whatever sacrifice
- necessary to avert a national dis
aster. The medintors under the New
lands law were impellcd 20 propose a
certain plan Of arbitration because they
were fully convinced, rs | am con
WINGED that under existing conditions
no other peaceful solution Of the dis
pute is possible For these reasons.
very earnestly urge your acceptance Of
that plan, even though you may regard
it as in some respects unfair to the
interests you represent; and ! am cer-
tain that il so doing you win perform
an invaluable public service which will
be everywhere applaudcd and deeply