New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-03
He Is Told Intervention
Alone Can Prevent TrOu-
bic on Railways.
NEITHER SIDE NOW
WILLING TO YIELD
National Chamber of Commerce
Official Says Action Must
Be Taken Soon.
linn IN. T-ihiirc Rurcan I


Washington, Aug. 2.-Urging on
President Wilson the necessity for
prompt action il the threatened gem
eral railroad strike is TO be prevented,
Harry A. Wheeler, of Chicago, chair
man Of the Committee on the Railroad
Situation of the National Chamber OF
Commerce, presented an appeal from
business men to-day asking Federal
Intervention.
Mr.. Wheeler told the President that
the railroads and the trainmen had
reached a point where neither would
give in, and that unless some strong
measure of intervention was intro
duced a break would be inevitable.
Copies of the appeal TO the Presi-
dent have been sent to representatives
of the railroads, the four brotherhoods
T of railway men, Chairman Newlands OF
the Senate Committee on Interstate
Commerce and Chairman AdamSon or
the House Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce. A special message
has been addressed TO all urging that
steps be taken to insure Intervention
as assured in the resolution recently
/ introduced by Senator Newlands ana
ratified by an almost unanimous vote OF
the commercial organizations affiliated
with the National Chamber of Com
merce.
/ Chairman Wheeler declares it may
be- IMPERATIVE 10 call soon a confer
ence in Washington. where the inter-
ests of the shipper and the general
public can be so shown as to impress
+ Congress with the necessity of imme-
+ date action.
( Urges Administration Inquiry.
/ az feel constrained to bring to your
attention a matter in connection with
the controversy between the railroads
and the trainmen's brotherhoods,'
/ Chairman Wheeler declares in letter
TO the President, ain the hope that you
will see IT TO start an inquiry On
behalf of the Administration as to the
near approach of an actual crisis IN the
matter and to verify the statement
! which herewith submit.
"As chairman Of the National Cham
her Committee on the Railroad Situa-
ton. I met in New York with the rail-
way executive advisory committee
/ Frank p. Trumbull, chairman, and the
national conference committee OF rail-
roads. Elisha Lee, chairman, to request
from them definite statement as to
tho nosition of the roads when the
conference reconvenes 10 hear the re-
cult of the strike vote, which was com
peted last week ~.
"There seems 10 be a prevailing
oninion in Washington. and ! think
rather generally held throughout the
country. that no interruption Of freight
TRANSFORMATION will result and that
some means will be found TO ADJUST
the differences.
"As result. Of the meeting my CON
viction is decpened that an amlcap,e
settlement is remote, and that WINE
other orderly steps are yet to be taken
before a final break Is reached, yet
such break is inevitable unless
strong measures Of Intervention are
speedily introduced
Neither Ready to Yield.
"On August 3. the joint conference
will convene again. the men VIII an
nounce the result Of their strike vote,
and the roads will reiterate their pro-
nosals. which the brotherhood chiefs
have once declined. | am assured that
there will be no modification OF the
attitude of the roads. Neither IS "
expected that the representatives o.
rho men. with The new power OF the
strike vote in their hands, Will recede
from the position which they have
heretofore taken.
"The United States Board Of Media
ton and Cancellation may come INTO
the matter at this point, but without
effect. in nv judgment, IN bringing
these contendng factions together
Finally, arbitration may be discussed
and the break will come when tn
roads absolutely refuse TO arbitrate
only the demands OF the men and tne
men refuse with equal force to admit
into the arbitration the contingent pro-
posals of the roads.
THUS. unless there is intervention
as proposed in Senate JOINT Resolution
l45, ratified by an almost unanlmous
vote of the commercial bodies aihiIatei
with the Chamber Of Commerce of the
United States. or other governmental
intervention on behalf of the public,
nothing will be left but for the men
indefinitely to defer action or exercise
the authority conferred upon them by
an overwhelming vote 20 call strike
ain the meeting the roads definitely
EXPRESSED a determination not TO re
cede from thir present position no mat
ter from what source an appeal IS
made. and while | am usually optlmiss-
tic about finding way out or az
situation. after talking most earnestly
with both parties 20 the controversy,
I see no ray Of light nor any possibil.
ity Of ayerting a serious catastrophe"
MCCLURE FREE IN LONDON