Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1916-08-03
U. S. TO MEDIATE
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However. until the trainmen's
strike vote IL counted expected
August 7-the president probably
VIII decide on no course OF action.
From an economic standpoint the
strike would assume cataclysmlc pro-
portions, In the belief OF officials here.
II would completely tie up freight
traiiic through the country, hating
grain shipments. food and supplies OF
all kinds 20 an extent and with re-
suits impossible TO forecast. The
smaller towns would suffer most. II
Is believed particularly those which
are not self-supportlng or within a
territory supplying food. Mining
towns. where supplies for only a few
days are kept. would be In danger OF
starvation or complete business col
lapse. as IT'S people left for other
points.
Losses, according TO government
officials. would mount into hundreds
Of millions OF dollars.
From political standpoint the
presidents position In attempting TO
bring about an adjustment OF the
difficulties is "full OF dynamite" ac-
cording TO his advisers.
The traInmen say they won't arbi-
trate and the railroads say they won't
yield. Should the president. by shirt
sleeve diplomacy. demand arbitration,
he would face resentment OF several
hundred thousand laboring men.
II he fails to bring about arbitra-
ton or settlement. he will find him
self faced by big paralyzed trans
portation system. resulting In tre-
mendous business confusion and vast
suffering,
Hence friends Of the president are
hoping and praying that when the
executive board OF the big Four"
brotherhoods and the general con-
ference committee OF the railroads
resume conferences In New York
August s. they may come to some
satisfactory agreement.
Administration officials, representa-
tives OF the railroads and labor. how
ever. are pessimistic over the possible
agreement OF that conference. The
president Is being keut informed OF
president Is being kept informed OF
every move In the threatened crisis.
When the vote OF the trainmen Ia
counted-and 1t is assumed 1t will
favor strike--the United States
board OF mediation and conciliation
will ut once offer Its service.
! In the event OF this board failing
to bring peace--and perhaps coin.
cident with the launching OF It's
etforts--the president may attempt Ia
prevent the strike.
Arbitration OF the impending rail.
way strike, whether the four brother.
hoods desire It or not. today was un.
der consideration Of the members OF
the senate interstate commerce COM
mittee. Senator Newlands, admin
istration leader on transportation
matters, announced his committee
had been asked by the national
chamber OF commerce for a hearing
at which q forced settlement of the
strike would be pressed II was as
sured the hearing would be granted.
Should this be the committee ac-
tion. however, a bitter floor fight ap-
pears certain. with the Anal result in
doubt. BY hundreds OF messages the
men In the brotherhoods have given
warning that any political body sid
ing with the railroads" will feel the
iull power or their ballots next Nov
ember.
As further evidence OF congression-
al nervousness over the situation,
Newlands today was pushing move
ment to have started at once his spe-
cial committee investigation of the
whole railroad problem, one of the
main features Of which will be a
query into wage conditions.
Railroads, rather than the men,
have urged the wage investigation.
Attorneys who have been for months
spreading the railroads side OF the
controversy before members, have In
sisted It will show the trainman gen.
erously paid In comparison with the
unorganized Office and right OF way
employees,
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