Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1916-08-17
HALTS RAIL STRIKE
PRESIDENT REQUESTS HEADS OF
BOTH SIDES TO CONFER
WITH HIM.
MEN Reject ARBITRATION
A.. 8. Garretson, Head Of Labor Forces,
Says, "Unless the President Can
Find a Solution Ii Means
Strike"

New York, Aug. 15.--The defiant
conference committee of the railways
and the defiant labor leaders of the
Big Four Railway brootherhoods left
New York on Sunday night for Wash
ingtOn on a summons to the White
House from President Wilson, after the
representatives. of the 100000 workers
had told the United States board of
mediation and Cancellation fatty that
they would arbitrate nothing and were
about to order national railroad
strike, stopping every train, passen-
ger and freight, on the 225 rail trans
portatiOn systems of the United States.
A. b. Garretson, head of the labor
forces, said:
Unless the president can find
solution it means a strike"
The breaking off of negotiations
Joseph Z. Tumulty, secretary to the
president; Judge w. l.. Chambers of
the federal board of mediation and con-
Citation, Elisha Lee, chairman of the
committee of railroad managers A. b.
GarretSOn of the conductors, w. S.
Stone of the engineers, w. S. Carter of
the firemen, w. &. Lee of the trainmen,
and thirty railroad delegates, left
New York over the Pennsylvania rail-
road for Washington.
Secretary Tumulty arrived in New
York at nine o'clock Sunday evening
bearing formal letter from President
Wilson requesting a personal confer
ence with the spokesman for both sides
before a formal strike was called.
The presidents letter which was adj
dressed to Elisha Lee and Messrs.
GarretsOn, Stone, Carter and w. G.
Lee, follows:
''rhe White House, Washington,
Aug. 81 have learned with surprise
and keen disappointment that an
agreement concerning the settlement
of the matters in controversy between
the railways and their employees has
proved impossible.
"A general strike on the railroads
would at any time have a most far
reaching and injurious effect upon the
country. AT this time, the effect might
be disastrous. | feel that l have the
right, therefore, to request, and / do
hereby request, as the head of the
government, that before any final de-
cision is arrived at, | may have per-
sonal conference with you here.
Il shall hold myself ready to meet
you at any time you may be able to
reach Washington.
'WOODROW WILSON"
This action was taken by the presi-
dent after he had communicated with
the mediators who still seemed to
doubt that the labor leaders were
In earnest in their determination not
to submit to any modification of their
demand for an eight-hour day.
Following the final word of the
brotherhoods, the discouraged media
tors, who had hoped against hope
until the last, issued this statement
after repeated efforts to bring
about an arbitration of the pending
controversy between the railways and
their employees in train and yard serv-
ice, the United States board of me-
diation and Cancellation was today
advised by representatives of the EN-
ployees that they would not submit the
matters in dispute to arbitration in
any form.
'The employees further state to the
board that they would not arbitrate
their own demands, even if the con
tingent demands of the railroads We're
withdrawn, and also declined to sug
gest plan or method for a peaceful set
Element of the controversy.
"They were informed that their
decision would at once be made
known to President Wilson, and also
that the president claimed the right
to personal interview with both
parties before any drastic action was
taken. This request was, of course.
granted, and a large delegation of
employees, with number of railroad
managers, will be in Washington to-
day for a conference with the presi-
dent. Early in the negotiations the
railroads had informed the board of
mediation and Cancellation that they
would accept arbitration
Elisha Lee, chairman of the com
mittee Of railroad managers, says
that the mediators' statement con
tanned all that was to be said.
For the railroads A. +. Garretson,
head Of the conductors union, said:
After invoking mediation, the ma
tional conference committee of the
railways had not In any way consent
cd to mediation, but expected all the
mediation TO be done on the side that
had not invited it,"