The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-08-14
RAILROAD STRIKE
Continued from First Page.)

matters in dispute 10 arbitration in
any form.
The employees further stated 10 The
board that they would not arbltrate
their own demands even if the con-
: Iincent demands OF the railroads were
Withdrawn and also declined 10 suG'
! Cc.l any other plan or method Tor a
peaceful settlement Of the controversy
They were Informed that their
| decision would be al once made known
: To President Wilson and also that the
. President claimed the right TO a
personal interview with both parties
! before any drastic action was taken.
: This request was. OF course, granted
! and n large delegation OF employees
with a nun Der of railroad managers
will be in Washington Monday for a
; conference with the President.
early in the negotiations the rail.
roads had informed the board OF
mediation and Cancellation that they
would accept arbitration. The CHIEF
! objection Of the men TO arbitratlng
| ton" lay in their contention that the
/ proposal entailed the wiping out or
double compensation features which
! the men have gained during thirty
years of effort. The railroads have
contendcd that double compensation.
| together with the demands Of the
men, if granted. would increase the
wages of many Of their employees
/ more than 100 percent.
Responsibility on Men.
Elisha Lee, Chairman of the con.
! ference committee of railroad man
ayers, declined to discuss the crisis
| other than 10 say that the railroads
| had proposed first, mediation, and
/ then arbitration without SUCCESS. He
placed the responsibility for the utter
failure Of the mediators upon the
men.
4. B. Garretson, President of the
! Order of Railway Conductors official
spokesman for the men, on the other
hand. placed the blame for The break
| entirely upon the unbending attitude
of the railroads.
When the mediators realized that
| further parley was useless, they
| extended the Presidents invitation.
The men did not vote 10 accept the
call until nearly two hours after 1t
! had been received.
That the President may succeed in
| bringing the opposing factions TO an
| agreement as 10 the merits of arhitra-
ton. was indicated in MIR. Garrelson' s
! response 10 a question on that point.
/ Il have no comment 10 make on
what the President may succeed N
accomplishing" he said. Our deter
mination to reject arbitration was due
to the attitude OF the railroads. In.
difference always breeds resistance.
And the railroads have been inditfer.
ent to the demands of the men. They
have never made an honest effort TO
effect settlement. They have offer
ed 10 mediate our demands without Of
fering to mediate anything in return.
| Had they shown 4 disposition 10 meet
US half way the situation might now
be different
President Garretson declared the
brotherhoods We're prepared to be
! just as firm as the railroads.
Presidents Message.
Secretary Tumulty gave out tonight
| the following message from President
| Wilson 10 the chairman OF the confer
ence committee OF managers and Ia
| the heads Of the four railway brother
hoods:
Il have learned with surprise and
/ with keen disappointment that an
| agreement concerning the settlement
of matters in controversy between the
railroads and their. employees has prov
J ed fruitless.
"A general strike on the railroads
! would at any time have 4 most far
reaching and injurious effect on the
country. At this time the effect might
be disastrous. feel that have the
! right therefore, 10 request, and DO
| hereby request, as the head Of .hh
government, that before any final de-
cision is arrived al may have a per-
sonal conference with YOU here. l
shall hold myself ready 10 meet you
at anytime you may be able 10 reach
| Washington.
/ President Wilson told Mr.. TumultH
! eel all engagements TO discuss the
situation.
Mr.. Tumulty telephoncd TO ". l..
Chambers. commissions Of the medl-
alton board, and arranged 10 go back
: 10 Washington al midnight with the
| men who have been meeting here.
Mr.. Chambers told Mr.. Tumuliy he
had telegraphed details of the Stud
ton to Mr.. Wilson.
| MIR. TumulLy. Commissioner Chambers.
| thir.y-four representatives Of The
road managers left for Washington at
! midnight.
MIR. Tumulty said Inc President nnri-
| fed the mCdiators ir" days aga that
| they were authorized I" bring to the at
iI"ntion ri the executives Of tho brother
hnudS the fact that he WAS anxious for
! the two sides In agree. ami thar if they
! did not h. personally would take hand.
! This. Mr.. Tumully said, WAS after daily
cummunica lions from The mediatnrs had
! declared the acutncSs Of the situation.
| ". C. Lee. chief of tho Brnt h"rhond nf
| Railway Trainmcn made public uffiCa!
figures Of the strike vote poll"d June IL.
a total Of l?SS2 votes were cast Tor a