The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-12
MEDIATION BOARD
FAILS TO PACIFY
STRIKE SITUATION
Suggests Arbitration in PrOpos-
al to BrOtherhOOds.
Unions Reserve Final Judg-
ment For Another Day.
PRESIDENT SENDS PLEA
Urges Not to Call Strike Until
They See Him.
Managers Last Word Is For Ar
bitratiOn or Strike.

Washington. Aug 12.-President
Wilson has sent word to representa-
+ives of the railroads and of the four
brotberhoods who threaten to strike
stating that before they take any flnal
action that would result in paralyzlns
+re fiji. he wishes to talk with them.
New York. Aug. 12.-Settlement OF
the controversy between 4OO'Ooo ran
way employees and the railway man
ageers of the country this AFTERNOON
anpeared impossible without an appear
to President Wilson or a strike tlelns
up 225 railways of the country Mem
hers of the federal board of medlatloh
and conciliation have not apanuoIie"
none. They We're epoeavorlnS TO per
shade the employees to consent to ar
b:tration this afternoon So far TINS
has been rejected.
Ofediatton has failed. The railway
,,,snaaers insist they are ready to face
ILL, if the men refuse to arbitrate.
Trhe enpIoves Just as firmly relterale
+ba+ arbitration has failed before, ana
conseouentIy they cannot consent to
it now
NEadistors Meet 800 Delegates.
while continuing their work, the
r1ediators are dubious of success AIeer
n session with six hundred represeL ls. "a
tiVes of the trainmen when lasleu sev-
oral hours. it was admitted no progress
ta5 haa1 made toward bringing apout
~T,i+ra+ion One of the brotherhood
officers leaving Webster Hall. stated
that arbitration had been rejected;
President Garetsnn OF the Goilu4I
tors union cleared this up when ne
.eTnerged however, by declaring that
while thebrotherhoods still maintained
the nosition announced at the opening
of the negotiations against aroille - a
tfons. further meetings with the me-
dfarors would be held tomorrow
- have nothing to report, said Gar
,-s+son ssother than the efforts or ne
Inediators to reach some settleilsne Iislle
we're 1navailing. The next step lneh
is arbitration. The mediation Doard Is
nov spdeayorfng to induce the en-
Tloves to consent to this The repre-
sentatives of the trainmen wlH meet hleet
with the mediators again tomorrow
for further discussion
InvitabIe Break Near.
The situation moved rapidly toward
what seemed to be an inevitable preah
today The mediation board hao
agred to make a report to the en-
ployes at 10 o'clock. Their report was
that mediation had failed. They sug-
eested arbitration md lmmedlately
went into conference with the brother
hood representatives The heads CT
the brotherhoods and the railway
managers were further apart TINS
afternoon than when negotiations
openend In earlier statements the
railways had indicated they would
ask for arbitration but at no time did
they show the insistance upon this to-
day.
left no choice between arbitration and
a strike. The brotherhood representa-
tives countered with statements that
they would never agree to arbitration
and il was with this situation con-
fronting them that the medlators
struggled with the problem this after
noon An appeal or conference with
President Wilson before direct action
is taken by the men, is probable
The boards failure was formally
announced today by Judge Martin
Knapp of the United States Board of
Mediation and Cancellation, in com
nlunicatiOn to the trainment
Board Urges Arbitration.
Knapp's communication reads
"In our judgment after two days of
consideration of the difficulties be-
tween the railraod managers and the
employees there is no prospect of set
tIement by mediation and, therefore,
we suggest arbitration as the means of
reaching a settlement"
Immediately they were handed
Judge Knapp's communication, the
executive board of the brotherhoods
which has been empowered by & "a
per cent vote to call strike, If in
their opinion such action is essential
to success of their fight for an eight
hour day and time a half for ever
time. went into executive session to
consider the suggestion.
Arbitration or Nothing,
New York. Aug. 12.-Prior to the
conference of the strike mediators at
the assembly hall of the railroad
brotherhoods today. a statement was
made in behalf of the railroad mana
gers that they were irrevocably firm
on the principles of arbitration. The
reason given was that If they gave up
the principle the power of the rail
roads to deal with their employees
would be forever broken" and that
hereafter they would be at the mercy
of the four brotherhoods.
THE situation has reached a stage
where the question of hours and wages
is secondary" said the railroads
spokesman.
We demand arbitration and we will
fight for this principle to a finish
Rather than give it up. I will put ali
my rolling stock into my freight yards
and close up my road
President Wilson IostDones Trim
Washington, Aug. 12-In view OF
the threatened railroad strike. Presi-
dent Wilson remained at his desk to.
day and did not take his custonar,
weekend jaunt away from Washing
ton.