The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-14
Recalls '94 When Cleveland
Used Soldiers on Trains.
OTHER RAILROAD WORKERS ACT
Send Representatives to Presi-
dent to Avert Strike.
Business World AnxiOuss
Would Affect All Lines.
THE R. R. STRIKE IN DETAIL.


Brotherhoods of Conductors, Engineers.
Firemen and Trainmen ask for basic eight
hour day and time and half for overtime.
Number of men directly involved In
strike demand 100000.
Number of railroad systems involved.
225
Mileage involved, 100000
Number of railroad that would
be stopped if strike is called, 2,507.e77
Hallway managers have made no defi-
mite proposition to employees. First pro-
posed mediation
Employees declined to join in request for
mediation, but accepted invitation from
government board of mediation and con-
ciiation to submit proposition to them.
Mediation failed.
Mediators proposed arbitration which
was almost unanimously rejected by en-
ployes.
Representatives of both sides accepted
President Wilson's invitation to confer
with him before final decision is reached.
More than "a per cent of the 100000
employees directly involved have voted to
strike II original demands are not granted
Washington, Aug 14-Prospects
for averting a nation wide railway
strike or at least for the formulation
of some tentative program which wifi
be the ground work for further nego-
tiation. frightened up today after
President Wilson had conferred with
thirty-five chiefs of the great brother
hoods.
After the conference the brother-
hood men declared the presidents
grasp of the situation and the position
of the men might result in an under
standing being reached and others in
touch with the conference said the
representatives of the men showed a
disposition to cooperate to avoid b
strike.
After hearing the leaders of the
men two hours, the president sent for
the railroad managers for a confer
ence at o'clock this afternoon. How
far whatever progress made at this
conference with the men can go to-
ward averting a break cannot be de-
termined until after the president con-
fers with the managers committee.
THE negotiations are entirely IN the
presidents hands" said A. B. Garrett
son, spokesman for the employees. He
refused to discuss the situation beyond
that.
Delegates Optimistic.
Warren S. Stone, representative OF
the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers, said:
"I am optimistic"
w. p. Lee, of the Order of Railway
Trainmen, added:
"It looks very good.
report that preceded the conclusion of
the morning conference was to the ef-
feet that the employees would agree to
arbitration OF the case, provided tho
railroads agreed to withdraw their
counter proposals, and that the rail-
road managers had so agreed. Fol-
lowing the conference, none of the
employees representatives would con-
firm this report.
The counter proposals were that any
wage, readjustment of rules and regu-
lations on which present wages are
based. The railroad managers con-
tend it is essential that the whole mat
ter be taken up, since 1t obviously
would be unfair to have the old rules
and regulations govern the proposed
new wage basis.
Several of the representatives, as
they left the executive mansion,
waved their hats to the newspaper
men, fifty of them, waiting outside.
There was no indication that the men
felt discouraged as a result of their
conference. Garretson's face was
flushed and he mopped it with his
handkerchief, but he was smiling.
Immediately after the men left, Judge
Chambers returned to the White
House for another conference.
First Conference at 10 O'clock
President Wilson met the represen-
tatiyes of the railway workers BROTH
erhoods in the first conferences short
ly after 10 o'clock this morning. The
workers went to the White House
with their minds apparently resolltc
against any arbitration proposal.
| A B. Garretson, spokesman, said it
made no difference from whom the
suggestion of arbitration came. they
were against it. Asked IL this meant
they would refuse arbitration even IL
| the president were the arbitrator
Ia n fn n nc T1rf-
report had spread that the trainmer's
/ officials were willing to take arbitra-
| ton on one condition-that the presi-
dent himself should have the deciding
vote
Judge Chambers of the mediation
/ board carried the invitation to the
brotherhood officials at the National
Hotel The twenty-eight brotherhood
representatives rode in the street cars
/ to the White House. where Chambers