The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1916-08-17
PRESIDENT ACTS
TO HALT STRIKE
COMMITTEES TO CONFER WITH
49,. WILSON At CAPITAL
THE MEN REJECT ARBITRATION
Alb. Garretson Head of Labor Forces
Says, "unIess the President Can
Find a Solution it Means
Strike" TumuIty on Way.

conference committee of the railways
and the defiant labor leaders of the
Big -Four Railway brotherhoods left
New York last night for Washington
on summons to the White House
from President Wilson, after the repre-
sentatives of the 100000 workers had
told the United States board Of me-
diation and Cancellation fatty that
they would arbitrate nothing and were
about to order q national railroad
strike, stopping every train, passen-
ger and freight, on the 225, rail trans
portation systems of the, United States.
A. B. Garretson, head, of the labor
forces, said: Hf' =
ra's'Unless the president can find a
s8Intionit means a strike" y" f'F
~, ~, :" Wilson sends Appeal.
The breaking off of negotiations
3 came suddenly at four O'clock yester-
III day AFTERNOON, while Joseph p. Tu-
omuftyq secretary TO the president, WINS
sleaving Washington with "a personal
appeal from the president to both sides
to avert What threatens to be the
greatest Industrial battle In the his
tory of the nation.
This action was taken by the presi-
dent after he had communicated with
the mediators who still seemed to
doubt that the labor leaders were
In earnest In their determination not
to submit to any modification of their
demand for an eight-hour day.
-" conferees Issue Statement
Following the, final word of the
brotherhoods the discouraged media
tors, who had hoped against hope
~ tihtil1the last issued this statement: d
hif3"After' repeated efforts to bring
about an arbitration or the pending
~ Z controversy between the railways and
a. their emploSees in train. and yard serv7,
9riee, rthe, United States board of me-'
q diationi and Cancellation was to-day
lgaiviseth Ibg, representatives of the en-
7opl6yeesl that they would not submit the
ioniattefs iii ndlsptite TO arbitration In
SSSfT FORM ists~-f7"1t esq" 1To" 7i2t"
,Io "Tbe employees further state to the.
board that they would not arbitrates
their own demands, even If the cons
tingent demands Of the, railroads were,
withdrawn, and also declined to sug+
Sgest plan or method for a peaceful set
Element, Of the controversy. '' H.,
W. They were informed that their
decision would at once be made
known to President Wilson, and also
that the president claimed the right
to a personal interview with both
parties before any drastic action was
~
granted, and a large delegation of
employees, with a number of railroad
managers, will be In Washington to-
day for conference with the presi-
dent. Early in the negotiations the
railroads had informed the board of
mediation and Cancellation that they
would accept arbitration"
81 Elisha Lee, chairman of the. com
y ,mittee Of RAILROAD =, managers, n, says
q That the. mediators M statament 5con-
y,tained all that was to be said tue@
iik Horfi the railroads A. B. Garretson,
head of the conductors union said:
AFTER, invoking mediation the ma
tionaI conference committee of the
railways had not in any way consent
y ed to, mediation, but expected all, the
media ton to be done on the side that
had not invited it." .."apss s,,
The presidents letter, which was adj
dressed to Elisha Lee and Messrs.
Garretson, Stone, Carter and w. G.
Lee, follows:
"The White House, Washington,
Aug. ID have learned with surprise
and keen disappointment that an
agreement concerning the settlement
of the matters in controversy between
the railways and their employees has
proved impossible. ...
"a general strike on the railroads
would at any time have most far
reaching and injurious effect upon the
country. At this time, the effect might
be disastrous, feel that have the
right, therefore, to request, and l do
hereby request, as the head of the
government, that before any final de-
cision is arrived at, may have per-
sonal conference with yourhere.
II shall hold myself ready to meet
you at any time you may be able to
reach Washington. .-
"Yours sincerely,
'W0ODROW WILSON,"
Copies of the letter were delivered
to Judge Chambers, who presented
them to both factions.
Il. Wilson's Message Secret.
Washington, Aug. 14.-President
Wilson rushed Secretary Tumulty to
New York with messages to the prin-
cipals In the threatened railroad
strike dispute and to the federal
board of mediation and Cancellation
which he hopes may bring about ar
bitration.
This is the first definite personal
move by the president to prevent a
strike that will tie up the railroads of
the country and paralyze Interstate
commerce, What messages Tumulty
carried from the president was not
nnHouncedbfromat the White House.
pIf the messages carried By TaIaulty
h