The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-28
R. R. UNION DEMAND
TO WORK TWO WAYS
Managers TO Meet Employees
With a Counter Request
for Concessions.
THURSDAY THE DATE SET

When representatives Of the great rail-
WY Unions present their demands upon
the general managers Of all the roads OF
the country on Thursday they arc likely
TO receive a set of demands bv the rail-
soads upon their employees. IL no such
action Is taken at that particular time
II will come later. although no railroad
man yesterday would admit rs much.
The action TO bc followed will he u
sequel to that taken by the Association
Of Western Railways during the nego-
tiations with their men between July 20
and August ), 1914. Al that time the
demands of the employees were met by
a propose to arbitratc the entire situa-
tion, and us one of their grievances the
railroad men asserted that under present
rules. in some circumstances. engineers
n fremen were paid twice for one
piece OF WORK.
They insisted that in runs of less than
100 m Ter additional service might be
required If performed within ten hours.
They askAl for dinsrcntials in rates and
rules for branch service. the right to usc
yard engines out on the line within
reasonable limits and a number OF other
things.
The reply of the mon IN this ease was
q prompt refusal to discuss ANYTHING or
TO arbitratc anything except their own
demands. \ strike which would have
tied up half the railroads in the Countrv
was imminent when on July =? President
Wilson tclegraphcd to the United states
Board of Mediation. then in Chicago.
asking for q conference with the officials
or bot, sides OF the controversy
This was accepted by both sides and
the conference was held August / in
Washington At that meeting the rail
road men asked only that the entire
sit,utia, r. aVb,, ,,s ,I utJ chat IN oricr
60 do this they insisted that they must he
permitted to present their own eriev-
ences.
President Wilson wrote to \. W.
Trenholm. chairman OF the conference"
committee of managers. on August 2 in
part a. follows:
II am sure that you appreciate the
extreme gravity 81 the situation into
which the country and your roads would
b. plunged If the strike now threatened
should u%nhappily occur. In view o;
worldwide conditions. unparalleled in re-
cent history, which have arisen within
she last Jew days. II is obvious that the
kuspensioi. of business on roads serving
moro than one-half the colutry would he
a calamity Of incalculable mnenitud'.
The situation has reached a crisis which
hardly permit. a ful- consideration o.
tho merits of the controversy, II ] feel
that In tho circumstances I can appeal
with confidence TO YOU patriotism and
10 you, regard ior the public welfare to
make whatever sacrifice ts necessary t.
avert public disaster.
'"rhe rlediatorS under tho Newlduds
law were impcl'cd to propose "A certain
plan OF arbitration because they We're
fully convinced. as ! An convinced, that
under existing conditions no other peace
full solution az the dispute is possible.
For these reasons | earnestly urge yoIr
acceptance of the plan. even though you
may regard ~ as I'm some respects unfair
TO the interest you represent, and ! am
certain in go doing you will perform an
invaluable public service, which viii he
everywhere appreciated and deeply ap'
plauded'
The aiswcr "a ne the follow ing day,
August =. when the committee of man.
ayers. through Mr.. Trenholm. acrc pted
the plan Of arbitration proposed. which
lcfj Their grievance out Of IL, because OF
\ situation which cOu~trains YOU 10 a>'
us to waive any discussion Of merits and
accept the plan Of arbitration proposed
BY the MEDIATOR
AS If believing that the crisis Of 1871
has passed. the heads OF the brotherhood
Of Locomotive Engineers, of the order
OF Railway Conductors. the brotherhood
OF Locomotive tfrc'nrn and Engi1ene'
and the Brotherhood Of Railway Train,
men haN, Instructed the local heads q.
all organizations mat I'm presenting 'heii
demands they must be firm on one point
The letter says:
ut is to be distinctly understood tina
no other question will he presented ol
handle AZ this time
The form letter IN witch the demand,
are to be embodied contains this clause
EN- submitting thi. proposition wc Ne
sire that II Toe understood that all rates
rules and conditions ia our agreement
not specifically affected by these pro