The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-08
WILSON AWAITS
 WORD TO AID IN
 RAILROAD CRISIS
Federal Arbitration May Avoid Great Strike Through
 out Country.

New York. Aug. S-The indications late last night were that nation- wide strike on the Steam railways of thee ountry will be averted by arbitra- tion under Federal auspicts. United States Secretary of Labor James Will son was here yesterday The report persisted that he was seeking to per- suade the four great brotherhoods to consent to arbitration in case of . break today, when the men, backed by the strike vote of 350,000, renew their demand for an eight-hour day and time and a half overtime.
 The count of this vote was practi- cally completed last night, and the majority in favor of strike in case the demands are refused exceeded 96 per cent, it was said. The vote will be, officially announced this morning when the men and the managers will meet at the Engineering Societies. building.
 President May Intervene. It was announced last night at Washington that President Wilson is relying on the United States Board of Mediation and Consolidation to say whether or not he should intervene in the controversy between the 227 rail- road systems and their employees. This board has power to offer it's services before being asked, but Commissioner William l.. Chambers said last night at Washington he is disposed to wait until break occurs.
 President Wilson, it was learned at the White House, approved of the plan of Commissioner Chambers, and the President is likely. when the of fer Is made, to step forward himself. 1t was, said, and urge railroad owners and employees to accept mediation rather than force upon the country a strike that might disastrously inter- rupt traffic: and cause great loss and inconvenience to the public. |
 The chance for arbitration was i'm creased, both sides admitted, by the prompt action yesterday of the switchmen and railroad managers in . accepting the offer made by the Unit ed States Board of Mediation and Cancellation through c. W. w. Han ger. This step was taken after Sec retary> Wilson and Samuel Gompers had conferred. The switchmen be- long to. the American Federation of ] Labor, of which Gompers is the head.
 Business Interests Bring Pressure.
 Much pressure from business inter ests was brought to bear yesterday on the train brotherhoods', delegates here, to accept Federal mediation in stead of striking. The four grand chiefs. A. B. Garretson, w. s. Stone. w, c. Lee and w 8. Carter. discussed i the question: all day. but none would talk for publication on the outlook fof orsagainst a. strike. ss .l
 The railroad managers, headed by Elisha Lee of the Pennsylvania, talked all day behind closed doors, at the Grand Central Terminal. They would make no statement for publication. The question discussed was whether orznot they should modify their coun- 4 ter proposal Ito the men. It was this proposal for arbitration with string toi it"-that brought on the strike vote.
 R. T. Fraser of the valuation de- pertinent of the Nashville, Chatta- nooga and St. Louis Railway said last night at. the Martinique that he has 100000 signatures to a. petition from non-train railroad employees in, the West urging on the President and Congress "that some definite legisla- tive action be- taken whereby the vast majority of the people of the country shall be protected from a destructive interruption of interstate commerce due to wholly selfish action of a small group of mon. and that all differences which may arise between railway and enfployee shall be settled by proper arbitration"