Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-08-17

TURNED DOWN
BY TRA|NMEN
First Proposals Rejected ano
Definite Reply viii Be Made
to New Offer Early
Sunday.
100000 ARE FACING STRIKE
President Asks For Conference
With Railway and Union
Heads Before Finai Ao-
ton is Ordered.
ARE FACING STRIKE

Washington, Aug. 1.-THE president
was III communication by telephone
with the federal mediators and asked
that he be informed If Il strike be-
cume Imminent. Up to / O'clock he had
not received word that the situation
was hopeless.
The president informed the media
tors thai IA strike must be averted and
that if a deadlock were reached he
would like an opportunity to talk TO
the 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 balance
today, after the United States board
of mediation and Cancellation %anncunc-
Ing that mediation had failed. made an
effort to induce the railroad brother
hoods 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
iourned without reaching a decision.
They announced that an answer would
be given tomorrow ,nccning at another
meeting OF the chiefs, and delegates OF
the brotherhooda.
y. b. Garretson, head of the conduc-
tors brotherhood, said after the meet
ing that after proposing arbitration,
WV iiSiliDN VI thS
had not informed the men whether the
railroad managers had any specific
| question to arbitrate and that they
would propose that the medlators OBJ
tain from the managers q more definite
proposition. He Indicated that the ar
bltrat.on proposal WAS a general one
and that the mon were withholding
final decision to learn II the railroads
cared to be specific.
Meet Sunday Morning.
we arrived at no decision today"
said Mr.. Garretson. The men will meet
tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock with
the mediators and, unless we find that
the mediators are in q position to state
definitely what the railroads will agree
to urh'trate, there can be no further
progress IN the matter"
Mr.. GarrNtsoE described as "prema-
ture' n ststen.ent made by a delegate,
who left the meeting before 1t adj
tourned. 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-
t%ration, u position which they nave ia
ken on the ground that previous arbi-
tration awards had been unfavorable
to the men when applied in actual prac-
tice.
The fact, however, that the men de-
laycd their decision In the matter gave
rise 10 hope that they might finally
recede from their attitude. The rail-
road managers reiterated today their
determination to fight for the arbitra-
tor principle, which, they said. if they
gave up, would mean that they were
forever afterward al the mercy of their
employees.
Will Not Givs Terms.
IT was reported this afternoon that
there WAS little prospec Of the railroad
managers informing the mediators up
on what terms they are ready to ar
bitlnte, as demanded by the railroad
hrothcrhoods, and 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-
road managers.
JpUn the decision of the employees as
to whether this form Of arbitration will
ne accepted depends the question of
calling n nationwide railroad strike.
IF tho proposal Il 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 diSDutantS together.
Knapp Offers New Plan.
Announcement of the failure of medl-
alton vas made by Martin A. Knapp, a
member of the mediation board, after O.
conference Of the mediator; with the
brotherhood chiefs and delegates which
tasted more than an hour. The precise
terins of the new arbitration proposal
were not made public but the proposal
Is understood to involve an enlargement
OF the arbitration board provided for
uruer the Newland's act to IL members.
This scheme is understood to be agree
uhle TO the railroad managers.
we anne to the men" said Mr..
Knapp, with our belief that after sew
era! days of discussion there was no
prospect Of arriving at a settlement by
meGiatie:. We therefore put to the men
q proposal of arbitration"