The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-11
BrOtherhOOds Serve Notice on
Board Today.
After Days Deliberation, No
Progress Is Apparent.
WILL PRESIDENT WILSON ACT?
Question Whether Anything
Further Can Be Done.
Washington Gets Tip That No
Strike Will Be Called.

New York. Aug. 1.-THE federal
board of mediation and conciliation
has only until tomorrow to present it's
final proposition intended to avert a
strike of 100000 railroad men on :25
railroads of the United States The
big four brotherhoods served this no.
tice on the board this afternoon.
New York, Aug. 11.-After deliber-
ating the greater part of the night the
United States board of mediation and
conciliation was today no nearer a So
luton of the deadlock in the dispute
between the four railroad brother
hoods of the country and their en-
ployes.
The efforts of the mediators to avert
a strike was virtually at halt. due to
the fact, it was reported, that the rail-
roads refuse to grant any concession
than arbitration while the men persist
in their stand for the unequivocal
granting of their demands for an
eight-hour day and time and half for
overtime. A formal request for
twenty-four hour delay in the nego-
tiations was made by the board to the
union men today when they assembled
to receive the mediators, and 1t was
reported that the board, unless there
uation in that time, would suggest to
President Wilson that he intervene.
Like Stick of Dynamite.
Commissioner Hanger said the
board expected to continue delibera-
tions today and might reach a deci-
sion by evening as to the time of the
next meeting with one or the other
side
I'VE do not otintend,'' said w. E. Stone
chief of the Brotherhood of Engineers,
ito wait very long on the mediators
The temperament of the men Is such
that they would not have waited a
minute If we had not persuaded them
to give the mediators a chance. Per-
sonally L do not care to carry the
strike vote around in my pocket for
any extended period. 1t is like stick
of dynamite.
thru an act of congress and up to-
September 20. 1915, the board has sat
on forty-Seven controversies between
railroads and their employees. In ev-
cry instance the board has succeeded
in securing an ultimate adjustment of
the differences, thirty-nine cases hav-
ing been settled by mediation alone
and eight by arbitration"
When asked whether he thought an
attempt would be made to arbitrate
the difficulties, Stone shook his head
and said:
"The members of the United States
Board of Mediation and Cancellation
are the personal representatives of
President Wilson and that fact car
ries with it considerable weight; just
how much remains to be seen. If this
board is unable to reach some settle
ment, it is doubtful whether any other
board or commission can do so.''
G. w. w. Hangar, one of the mem
bers of the federal board, presented
nIzrar o.,4r.
to the employees today. He returned
later to a meeting of the mediators.
When asked what the program was
now he replied he did not know.
I'VE are now making our plans
hopeful but 1 can't predict what is go
ing to happen. 1 can't say anything
more"
While the mediators were meeting
during the morning the employees held
another secret session.
Arbitration Next Step.
washington, Aug. lin admins
tration circles here the greatest con-
fidence was expressed that there will
be no national strike of railroad eEl-
pIoyes and that If mediation fails, the
mittee of railroad managers will agree
to arbitration
President Wilson is being kept fully
informed by Commissioner w. L.
CHAMBERS, OF the federal poard OF me-
diation and conciliation, of all devel-
opments in the situation and is ready
to act personally if the situation
should warrant executive Intervention
to prevent a strike.
An appeal to prevent a strike will be
presented to the president tomorrow
by Robert T. Frazier, an employe of
the Nashville, Chattanooga & st. Louis
railway, who claims to represent so
per cent of the railroad employees of
tie United States and who, he says,
are not affiliated with the four broth
erhoods and are opposed to a strike
Mr.. Frazier brought with him to
ing legislative action to prevent the
threatened strike.
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