Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-18
MEDIATION WINS
IN RAIL DISPUTE
Enginemen Agree to Accept
Friendly Offices Offered
by the Government.
FARLEY TO BEGIN MONDAY
Members of the Federal Board on
Their Way From Washing
ton for Chicago.


and fremen involved in the wage con-
troversy with 50 western railroads yes
terday accepted the proffered services
OF the United States board of media
tion ard Cancellation.
Previously the employees had refused
to join the managers i'll request for
federal mediation. stating that such
action would place a moral obligation
upon item to accept arbitration as
provided for in the Newlands act.
Then William L. Chambers, chair
man of the board, wired the engineers
and f-emen from Washington as fol
lows:
Request from conference commit
tee of managers representing western
roads for mediation services in the con-
I, oversy between the roads represent
ed by that committee and the engi-
neers and firemen received today. AS,
Stunning that you will be glad to &C
cept our friendly offices, you are ad-
Used that the full board will be at the
Congress hotel, Chicago, Monday,
July 90"
Workers Accept Mediation.
A reply, signed by w. S. Carter.
president and W. 8. Stone, chief engi-
neer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers, follows:
1--WE have refused to join the man.
ayers committee in request for media
ton because we feared that 1t would
be an implied acceptance of arbitra-
ton. No one knows better than your
self and other members of the federal
board of mediation and cancellation the
manner in which railroads have repu-
dated arbitration awards. We recog-
nize, however, that we cannot afford
to refuse your courteous proffer of
your friendly offices, therefore we &C
cept same. We believe it unfair to
ask us to wait four days before media
ton begins in view of the present
strained relations"
Both Sides Await Mediators.
All negotiations will cease between
the employers and managers until the
arrival of the federal mediation board
on Monday The members of this
board are Chairman Chambers, Federal
Judge Martin A. Knapp and Assistant
Commissioner G. w. w. Hanger.
While the acceptance of federal me-
diation does not mean that the men
will agree to arbitration, and while in
reality the two parties are as far apart
as ever. A. w. Trenholm, chairman of
the western railway managers commit
tee, last night was more hopeful that
strike will be avoided than he has been
since Tuesday.
Mediators' Task Hard.
II the federal mediators prove able
to bring about an amicable settlement
next week they will have accomplished
one of the most difficult pieces of Ia
Dor mediation ever attempted. The
controversy dates back to Oct 10, 1913.
when the engineers and firemen began
increasing their demands, until now
their requests for more pay, shorter
hours and changed working conditions
would cost the roads involved S33, 000,-
600 a year, or so per cent of the yearly
wage now paid.
The men have refused absolutely to
postpone their requests, as suggested
by the railroads. in view of the rail-
roads present inability to meet this
added expense. and have refused to &C
cept any partial allownce of their de-
mands.
Roads Would Compromise.
The railway managers say they
would be glad to endeavor to meet the
employees half way and consider the
matter again in one years time, when
it is expected the roads shall have re-
covered from their present depression. !
The average wage of the 1886 engi- |
neers on the railroads of the United |
States last year was 1924 per day; for |
firemen it was S3.16.
Start for Chicago.
Washington. D. c., July 1S.-Mem-
bers of the United States board of me- |
diation left Washington last night for
where Monday morning they |
will start work in an effort to settle |
the difficulties between the railroad |
employees and the carriers west of Chi !
cago. The members who will go are
Martin A. Knapp. chairman, William
L. Chambers and G. w. w. Hanger.