Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-08-16
First Proposals Rejected and
Definite Reply Will Be Made
to New Offer Early
Sunday.
100000 ARE FACING STRIKE
President Asks For Conference
With Railway and Union
Heads Before Final Ac-
ton is Ordered.

Washington. Aug. 14.-The president
was in communication by telephone
that he be informed if a strike be-
came imminent. Up to l o'clock he had
not received word that the situation
was hopeless.
The president informed the media
tors that a strike must be averted and
that if a deadlock were reached he
would Xix an opportunity to talk to
he representatives of the railroad
managers and employees.
New York, Aug. 12.-Whether a ma
ton wide railroad strike is to be called
Or prevented. still hung in the balls nee
ioday. after the United States board
of mediation and Cancellation aniluunc-
'ng that mediation had failed, made an
effort to induce the railroad brother
moods to arbitrate Their differences
With the railroad managers.
The brotherhoods, after discussing an
arbitration proposal made to them by
the board under the Newlands act, adj
lourned without reaching a decision.
They that az answer would
be given tomorrow morning at another
meeting of the chiefs, and delegates of
the brOtherhOOdS.
A. r. Garretson, cad of the adj
tors brotherhood. said after the meet
ing that after proposing arbitration.
the members of the mediation board
'NA ~ NV SlIS lllS1l NV
railroad managers had any specific
question to arbitrate and that they
would ropos that the mediators OBJ
tain from the managers a more definite
proposition. He indicated that the ar
bitration proposal was a general one
and that the men were Withholding
final decision to learn if the railroads
cared to be specific.
Meet Sunday Morning.
w arrived at no decision today"
said Mr.. Garretson. 1.-The men will meet
tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock With
the mediators and, unless we find that
the mediators are in a position to state
definitely what the railroads will agree
to a%rbitrate, there can be no further
progress in the matter"
Mr.. Garretson described as "prema-
ture" a statement made by a delegate.
who left the meeting before 1t adj
journed, that the men had rejected the
arbitration proposal and voted to lay
the situation before President Wilson.
He said, however, that the sentiment
of the men was still opposed to arbi-
tration, a position which they have ta-
ken on the ground that previous arbi-
tration awards a been unfavorable
to the men when applied in actual prac-
tice.
The fact, however, that the men de-
layed their decision in the matter gave
rise to hope that they might finally
recede from their attitude. The rail-
road reiterated today their
determination to fight for the arbitra-
ton principle, which, they said, if they
gave UP. would mean that they We're
forever aftarward at the mercy of their
employees.
Will Not Give Terms.
1t was reported this afternoon that
there was little prospect of the railroad
managers informing the mediators up
on what terms they are ready to ar
bitrate, as demanded by the railroad
brotherhoods, II the belief prevailed
that only the offices of President Will
son could prevent a strike.
The mediators went into a second
conference this afternoon with the rail-
Dad managers.
Upon the decision of the employees as
10 whether this form Of arbitration will
be accepted depends the question of
calling a nationwide railroad strike.
Il the proposal is refused the only
chance of preventing a strike lies in an
appeal to President Wilson to use his
good offices in a last effort to bring
the d%isputants together.
Knapp Offers New Plan.
Announcement of the failure of medi-
alton was made by Martin A. Knapp, a
emit of the mediation board, after a
conference of the mediators with the
brotherhood chiefs and delegates which
lasted more than an hour The precise
.loIlIlS Ol ne new aIOlCIdllOA PIOPOSdl
were not made public but the proposal
is understood to involve an enlargement
of the arbitration board provided for
under the Newland's act to ~ members.
This scheme is understood to be agree
able to the railroad
w came to- the men," said Mr..
Knapp, with our belief that after sew
eral days of discussion there was no
prospect Of arriving at a settlement by
mediation. We therefore put to the men
a proposal of arbitration"