Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-08-11
WILL CALL ON
PRESIDENT #
MEDIATION FAILS
Wilson Will Be Asked To Take
Hand Unless Deadlock
Is Broken
NO DATE SET
FOR BOARD MEETING
Members of Federal Board Will
Not Discuss Serious
Il Situation

President Wilson will be called up
on to take a hand in the settlement
OF the differences between the four
railroad brotherhoods and their en-
ployers, unless an apparent deadlock
in the negotiations which developed
today can be broken, it was indicated
here tonight by representatives Of
both factions.
After it had heard the contention Of
the workers and later those of the
railroad managers the United States
board of mediation and conciliation
was undecided tonight as to when it
would again meet with representa-
tives of either side.
Martin A. Knapp, one of the federal
mediators when asked if the situa-
tion had changed since the board be-
gan it's work, said: There is a
deadlock on the face of it. Whether
we can change it lies in the bosom
of the future"
When asked if conditions already
had come to the point where an ap-
peal would be made to the president" "
Mr.. Knapp said he could not discuss
the matter. He added that the board
would continue it's efforts to adjust
the differences. sr
The following report of the confer
ence proceedings ~as received yester-
day by w. A. Mcdonald, station agent
of the. Northern Pacific railroad at
Bismarck. # ,ar s,rag,,a.
Following is the report. of the con-
troversy between the railway commit
tee and trainmens committee at New
York yesterday regarding the wage
dispute. The service Of the United
States board of mediation and concil-
iation for the purpose Of bringing
about an amicable settlement of the
wage controversy, was invoked by
the national committee of railways to-
day after officers of the four brother
hoods had refused to join the roads
in making the request. Members of
the board, w. I. Chambers, Martin A.
Knapp and G. w. Whanger already
are in the CITY, At the opening of the
conference, Chairman Lee of the con-
ference committee presented letter
to the brotherhoods proposing that
they join in application to the board.
When each of the brotherhood officers
had declined, Mr.. Lee said the roads
would make application themselves.
The board would not confer with both
sides. Later, the brQtherhoods &C.
cepted mediation as offered by the
federal board of mediation and concil.
iation. Members of the board will at
once begin conference with the two
parties, in an effort to bring about a
settlement. This letter of the confer
ence is as follows:
"The national conference commit
tee Of railways again have given most
careful consideration to matters in
controversy between US and to all
that has been said in our various con.
ferences which began June /, we have
also carefully considered the serious
situation presented as the result of the
strike vote of employees and the
grave responsibility and means to
avoid public injury, which must newt
ably result should you decide to exer.
else the power which a strike vote
has placed in our hands. After such
consideration, it is our judgment that
proposals which the men have sup.
ported by their vote, involve such ex.
traordinary changes in operating
methods and such radical revisions in
established basis of compensation as
to make it apparent that there is lit
tie probability of our being. able to
harmonize our differences of opinion
unless this result can be brought
about through the federal board ol
mediation and conciliation, which wa.
created to assist the parties in such
circumstances as now confront us
The national conference committee o1
railways is as sincerely anxious Al
your committee can be to reach some
amicable adjustment of the matters
involved in the present controversy
but we are convinced that in the end
we shall have to invoke the friendly
Offices of the federal board of media
tion. The unbroken experience of the
past ten years sustain US in this view
During that period in practically nc
large concerted movement has a con
ference committee of managers and
CONTINUED Oh Page TVol