Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-07-29

Washington, July 29.-Worry is be-
coming manifest over the possibility OF
serious railway difficulties in the nea,
future resulting from the dispute of
the railroads with their 100000 en-
ployes over wage scales.
Washington has been made aware
that the interruption of railway traffic
for as ingle day would totally demon
alize for the time being all business in
the country and might be of grave en-
barrassment to the government.
Inability to move troop trains in
case of grave emergency is only one OF
the possible results. The economic
paralysis to all lines of business is suf-
juring an additional Mexican war bogy
Aware Of Dangers Ahead.
The government is aware of the dan
gers ahead, but is unable to do any
thing about it. The attitude of the
employees, for reasons with which no
one here seems to find fault, has not
been conducive to proffers of concilia :
ton. .
Only short time ago they an
nounced they could not talk about
mediation. and again put before the
employers the demands. asking i'm
mediate action. Favorable action was
again denied and the managers Of the
brotherhoods went before the mem
bership. The present vote seems GER
tain to sustain the managers atti-
tude by q great vote.
The ballots are to be counted, be-
ginning Aug. l. and the count should
be completed Aug. 5. 1t can be as
sumed the vote will by a great major
ity. now estimated at around to 1,
approve a strike in the event the en-
ployers still refuse the wage demands.
When U. S. May Act.
This ultmatuU will be presented tc
the employers. If it. too is denied, the
situation reaches q point where the
government can for the first tii:.a make
its legal appearance.
The board OF mediation and concilia-
t!on created three years ago. independ
ent Of the labor department and all
other departments. has to do with dis
putes involving the railroad operating
employees. Shipments disputes come
before the department Of labor, but the
law specifically gives the mediation
board powers In disputes lIke the pres
ent one. aDd gives those powers to no
one else
The board nay proffer its services
lin any, case where an interruption OF
traffic, is imminent and fraught with
sec!cvs detrimcnt to the public inter-
So
Af;e. the !mpasse has been reached
procedure requires that tlie board wait
Until each side has an opportunity TO
request the, boards assistance as q
mediator. II no such request comes
the board Is authorized to proffer it's
services. The first step is with med!-
alton and conciliation II this fails TIE
employers and employees are asked to
submit their differences to arbitration.
Board Has Beer Successful.
There Is no compulsion vested IN
the board. 1t happens that this power
never has been necessary. and the
board reports singulariy successful
term. There have been sixty disputes
in the three years. and in all but three
of these there has been a settlement
before a strike was called. In these
three cases the conciliator was unable
to reach the spot on time, but effected
a settlement shortly afterward.
The latest OF these was the Chicago
Belt railway strike early last winter
This lasted three days, as did similar
ly hasty strike Of Southern Pacific en-
ployes two years ago. The largest Of
the strikes was the Delaware and Had
son strike affecting 5000 men, which
was called at 6 a. m, eight hours be-
fore the arrival Of G. w. w. Hanger.
assistant commissioner. He brought
about settlement however, and trains
were running again at 9 p. m. It was
Mr.. Hanger, incidentally. who effected
settlement in the recent threatening
trouble of telegra piers on the New
York Central and Nickel Plate roads.
Quick Settlement Necessity.
It is obvious that the forthcoming
difficulty will be settled eventually.
The vital need Is that it be settled
without even so much delay as in the
case of the Delaware & Hudson. This
the board is hopeful Of doing, altho
unable to attempt any forecast. The
principal anxiety is due to individual
expressions of opinion, in which there
has been definite demand for strike
as a sure means Of winning the fight.
regardless of public opinion.
Confirms Big Majority.
Chicago, July 29-Alex F. Whitney,
vice president Of the Brotherhood OF
Railway Trainmen, one of the four
unions which has just COM
pleted the vote on giving their leaders
the power to call strike, confirmed