The Topeka state journal., 1916-08-14

tContiuuen from Paee one,l
e,resident received them in the Green
Room.
Garretson is Spokesman
a B. Garretson outlined the con-
fentions of the employees at the pres
fdent's request. He spoke for nearly
thirty minutes. After concluding the
president talked with the men IN an
ef6ort to narrow down their claims to
a, concise system that would give him
come tangible material on which to
work when he conferred with the rail-
road managers.
<~The president arranged to see each
SIDE alone first, getting the different
pStnts of view and giving his own.
After this, both parties were expected
to hold secret conferences, later prob
ably meeting with the president to-
gether At this final meeting it prob
ably will be determined whether the
president's efforts have succeeded OF
failed 1t is believed the conferences
Wi]l last thruout the day
IRA man close to Elisha Lee, chair
man of the railroad managers, spoke
pessimistically of the outlook, despite
the presidents Intervention.
1--WE are aske to call at the White
House and that you know, is equiv
aient to an order" he said. We have
go reason now to change our attitude.
and the failure to get together is a
result of this refusal"
Railroads Ready for Strike
Y-''Are you all ready for strike?" he
WAS asked.
I've are ready" he answered. but
M two railroad managers agree as to
what course to pursue some of us fa-
vor putting white lead on the engines
and storing them away 1t is a ques-
flSn whether we are sufficiently ready
10 prevent a paralysis of business"
Asked directly if the situation ap-
.peared pessimistic. the speaker re-
pIed
"Well, the men are talking strike
bfetty strongly today"
THE speaker said the managers are
willing 10 submit to outside adjudica-
Ion. though he did not appear hope
ful that the president would offer any
ftiting to avert trouble.
uThe first development of the day
-Nas a declaration by A. B. Garretson
fsDeaking for the brotherhoods, that
the men were through with the propo-
4sition of arbitrating under the New
Hands act, previous arbitration under
that law, he reiterated, had demon
Strated that the neutral arbitrator
held the balance of power. He de-
1cfared that any special arbitration into
(which the men might agree TO entel
would have to make provision for al
leEtension of those arbitrators to giV'
the men what they consider a fail
chance.
Why Employees Object.
The chief objection to the existin;
form of arbitration on the part of tn
5brotherhoods." said Garretson today
"centers on the difficulty that ha
been experienced in selecting neutra
! arbitratorS who could do Justice to tn
icause of the men. In the past ther
ihave been neutral arbitrators of higl
standing and intelligence such as Johl
III. Finley of New York, and Seth Low
former mayor No matter how homes
their Intentions they could not brini
to bear on the questions at issue tn
( disinterestedneSS necessary. Finley
future relies entirely on the direction
sof corporate influences while Low
4altho honest, was surely influenced b,
the fact that he Is a large owner o
stocks and bonds.
''The appointments of neutral arbi
TRAITORS in the past under the provi
sions of the Newlands act hav,