Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-08
United States Board of Me-
diati0n In Touch With
Railway Interests.
TO CONFER WITH
MEN AND MANAGERS
Unless All Other Efforts at Mediation
FaiI-Vote Nearly Canvassed and
Shows Employees Of Roads Are Al.
most Unanimous in Favor of Strike
Traffic Being Resumed in New York.

New York, Aug. S.--A decision as to
whether 100000 employees Of 235 rail-
road systems in the United States
shall go on strike to enforce their de-
mapds for an eight hour day and pay
at the rate Of time and one-half for
overtime is expected to result from a
conference Of the national conference
committee on railroads with the heads
of the great railroad brotherhoods,
which was resumed here today.
In a series Of conferences r.
earlier in the summer the raj
managers rejected most of the
mands Of the men and proposed
arbitrate their differences in accord
ance with the Newlands act.
Since then the men have taken a
vote on the strike question. While
the result Of this vote has not been Of
ficially announced it has been stated
that the great majority of men voted
to strike if necessary. AS was ex-
pected. the result of the railroad man
ayers conference showed that the en-
ployes were overwhelmingly in favor
Of authorizing a strike.
Managers Represent Roads.
More than twenty railroad managers
are members of the committee repre-
sentng the roads, while the men are
represented by w. S. Stone, grand
chief Of the Brotherhood Of Locomo-
tive Engineers; w. G. Lee, head Of the
trainmen's organization; w. G. Gar
rettson. head of the Order of Railroad
Conductors, and w. S. Carter. head Of
the Brotherhood of Firemen and
Enginemen.
1t was reported that the managers
would ask delay Of several days to
consider the proposals of the men
later In the week. when the final
anwer will be given.
The possibility Of strike is re-
garded by the business interests Of
the country as grave, and much pres
sure has been brought to bear on both
the roads and the men to effect some
settlement of the difficulties.
Vote Almost Unanimous.
Soon after the figures were made
public the conference adjourned until
tomorrow. Each union head presented
his figures in different form. w. S.
Stone, for the engineers. reported 9S17
per cent in favor of strike in the
southeastern district; 90.35 in the west
ern, and 94.64 per cent in the eastern.
W. s. Carter. for the firemen and
enginemen. reported that out Of total
of 1868 votes cast, including nom
uion men and employees of roads not
represented in the conference, 9S.04 per
cent were in favor of a strike.
W. G. Lee. for the trainmen, reported
that of total vote of 129,10S, 124.S32
favored a strike, with 1,4OO votes still
to be heard from.
A. B. Garrettson, Of the conductors,
reported s4.03 per cent affirmativ in
the western district, S4.OS in the east
ern, and 93.04 in the southern district,
with 34,S46 votes cast
Washington. Aug. S.-Judge William
L. Chambers and G. w. Hanger, mem
bers of the United States board of me-
diation and conciliation, arranged to-
day to go to New York tonight to get
in touch with the threatened railroad
strike situation. They will be Joined
there by Judge Martin J. Knapp, chair
man of the board. The board has not
yet received an invitation from either
side to mediate In the controversy and
under the law can not offer it's services
until tie-up In traffic is imminent.
But the members believe their services
will be required and want to discuss
the situation with the representatives
of the railroads and their employees.
Secretary Wilson, of the department
of labor. has made several reports to
the president. The president will take
no action personally unless all other
agencies fail to avert a break.