The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-13
mediation Fails and Reply viii
Be Given This Morning AS
to Arbitration Proposal
PRESIDENT MAKES
MOVE TO INTERVENE
Invitation to Both Sides Will Be
Ere ented to Communicate
|. " ith v hite House if Arbi-
tration Is Declined

New York, Aug. I2.-~Mediation of
ehe demands OF the big Four broth
erhoods failed today The Federal
Board of Mediation and Cancellation
then proceeded TO the next step under
the Newlands act and asked the
brotherhoods 10 consider arbitration.
The unions will make their reply
tomorrow
In view OF the attitude of the rail-
roads, their counter proposals will
/ probably be d refusal. Prcsidtlt Will
son Will then have the matter under
Hdyisement ON the matter OF
whether he can persuade the unions
40 accept arbitration depends ma
ton wide strike. He sent word today
that he wanted to talk with both sides
before they come to a break Mean
while the railroads age not. lhiring
strike breakers 70 any great extent or
TO any great extent planning to run
their trains.
In the event of a strike they will
! lay up the trains. protect their prop
ersy. and trust popular opinion and
the national authorities to relieve the
situation Al 10 O'Clock tomorrow
| morning the mediation board viii give
fhr reply Of the railway managers TO
suggestions for meeting the brother
hoods demands and receive the word
OF tho Biz Four leaders AS TO their
positions
No Hope for Concession.
There seemed no hope tonight for
concessions by either side The unions
might srbitrate II arbitration were
lsted TO their present demands-the
| asaht- hour day and the pay OF time
ard half fer overtime. But the
railroads INSIST that the whole stu
atifn must he taken up; that arhi-
|tTation must include the extra com
| TeEsat!on under the ten hour basis
The unions declined TO consider ar
iitration of what they already have.
The railroads say that there arc many
things granted a, various times by the
railroads under the hour day that
would he unfair TO them under the
cight-hour day,
This leaves only wha, President
Wilson 'can do 10 save the countrs
from a gigantic strike. Both sides
will give him a chance. The rail
way managers are eager TO enlist his
good offices, the union leaders say
they consider courtesy requires thai
they hear what he has to say. But
kshey say the interests of the 400, 600
mem bers of the brotherhood are para
9nount with them TO the president
desire.
There will not Re much effort in
case of a strike. Ia keep trains going
with rike-breakers. Men who could
take the brotherhood mem hers' places
rarnot he found When the confer
rrrca between The railroad managers
and tho hrotherhoods broke up in
June ard tho Big Four chiefs called
for n strike vote, some of the rail-
roads started ITO organize their nom
union employees, with the idea OF put
ring them in the places of the men
who were expected 10 strike. The
pcnnsvivania In the East, was con-
#rpicuous in this effort but the prob
lem was too great The unions
charged that the roads sought out
FACED pen acd employees in old
mems homes and such places and
sought 10 enroll them for strike SER
vice
Both sides hope that prospect OF
prolonged tie-up will force public
opinion and the authorities 10 do
something to end the threatened
strike
would Anect All Railroad Men.
II the 100000 brotherhood men
vent out. IL would affect in all 1900
eco employees in all classes. Passen-
rer trains would be affected as well
q freight, because. while the demands
concern the freight service. the pas
senger engineers. firemen, conductors
and trainmen are affiliated and would
toin the strike. The only train em-
pioves who would be left would be
about I, 900 switchmen. organized out
ride OF the brotherhood. who have
recently accepted mediation OF SINH
lar demands by the Federal board.