The log cabin Democrat., 1916-08-14
RAILWAY STRIKE IS UP 10 PRESIDENT ARBITRATION REJECTED Both Sides, However, Agree to Confer
 With Wilson, Final Hope
 in Controversy.

New York, Aug. 13.-A general strike on virtually all the railroads of the nation, paralyzing commerce and throwing approximately 2,000,000 men out of employment, can be averted on- ly through the good offices of Presi- deit Wilson, as a result of today's de- velopments in the dispute over the men's demands for an eight hour day and time and a half for overtime The controversy was laid before the presi- dent, at his invitation, after the work CTS had flatly rejected any form or arbitration. They refused mediation yesterday.
 Soon after accepting the president s summons, extended through the fed eral board of mediation and concilia- tion, the men announced that the lead CTS Of the four railroad brotherhoods would leave for Washington at mid night, accompanied by 30 of 60 dele gates assembled here.
 An hour later 19 railroad managers said they would leave for the capital at the same time.
 Both parties will reach Washington tomorrow in time for an early confer ence with the president The hour for he meeting will be arranged by Sec retary Tumulty, who started for this city from Washington late today as Mir. Wilson's representative, arriving here at o'clock tonight.
 Mir. Humility brought with him a communication from President Wilson addressed to the brotherhoods and the railroad managers, pointing out that such paralysis of business as would follow a general strike would be a catastrophe at any time, but would be nothing short Of disaster under present conditions. On this ground the president based his request for a conference with representatives of both factions before strike order is issued by the leaders of the men.
 Negotiations had not been broken off when Mir. Tumulty left Washing ton, but when he reached Philadelphia he received a telegram from W. l.. Chambers, one of the mediators, in forming him the men had declined to arbitrate. Mr. Tumulty called Presi- dent Wilson on long-distance to de- eide upon the hour for the conference at the white house tomorrow.
 The final break came today after the men had been in secret session ,,a lrr ot to the reason for the failure of the nego- tiations, in view of the cheerful out look of last night The mon asserted they refused to arbitrate because the railroads insisted on arbitrating their contingent proposition
 The board of mediators, in a state meut issued tonight, dec1ared that the men rejected their proposition, con- tending that they would not arbtrate even if the railroads waived the con- tingent proposition. The statement of the mediators, issued by Judge Martin A. Knapp, chairman or the board, just before their departure for Wash ing, follows:
 After repeated efforts to bring about an arbitration of the pending controversy between the railroads and their employees in train and yard serv- ice, the United States board of media tion and conciliation was today advis- ed by the representatives of the en- ployes that they would not submit the matters in dispute to arbitration in any form. The employees further stat ed to the board that they would not atbitrate their own demands, even if the contingent demands of the rail roads were withdrawn and also de- cfined to suggest any other plan or method of peaceful settlement of the controversy.
 Early in the negotiations the rail roads informed the board of media ton and conciliation that they would accept arbitration
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