Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-08-04
WORK TO AVERT
RAILROAD STRIKE
Interested Agencies of Gov
ernment Hope to
Succeed
WILSON MAY APPEAL
Senate Committee Will Decide Today
Whether Hearings Will be Held in
The Matter

New York, Aug. 4-Demands o1
approximately 10000 members of the
Switchmen's Union Of America fol
increased wages and shorter hours
smade in Chicago in March, are being
discussed in this city by representa-,
tives of the union and the railroads
affected, it was learned last night
The conference, which has been ir
progress more than a week, is pri-
vate.
Nineteen railroads are represented
at the conference, including the New
York Central, the Baltimore and Ohio
and the Rock Island.
New York, Aug. .4-Seventy-fve
per cent of the ballots cast by more
than 100000 railroad employees oil
the United States in the vote on the
general strike mas been counted by
the special board of tellers in this
city yesterday afternoon. Timothy
Shea, assistant president of the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Firemen and
Enginemen, in charge of the work
declared that Of these 100000, almost
all, favored strike.
The count probably will not be COM
pleted until next Monday.
A. B. Garretson, president of the
Order of Railway Conductors, and
w. H. Lee, of the trainmen's organi.
zation, arrived here yesterday, and
it is expected that conferences SINH
lar to those of the National Railway
Committee will be held to determine
a course of action for the joint meet,
ing Tuesday.
Washington, Aug. 4-.While the
strike vote of 100000 railroad en-
ployes was being counted in Nv
York, every agency of the Federal
Government affected by the situa-
tion was preparing yesterday t. do
all possible to avert a final break be.
tween the railroads and the work
men.
William L. Chambers, commisSi' n
cr of the Board of Mediation and
Cancellation, was in communication
with President Wilson during the day
though board officials pointed out that
ro;h hing of a formal character could
l.e done until the railroad managers
and Representatives of the emn.oyes
resumed negotiations next week.
A call was issued for a meeting to-
,Gay of the Senate Commerce Com
n1ittee to decide whether hearings
will be held on Chairman Newland'S
resolution proposing an investigation
by the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion of hours of labor on railroads
and urging the employers and em!rloy
es to postpone settlement Of their
differences until report can he made
The question of hours of labor ccn'
stitItes one of the chief causes OF
the threatened strike.
The Chamber of Commerce of TIT
United States, which appealed t.
President Wilson for Federal inter
vention to prevent strike, is urg
ing action on. the resolution, The
Chamber is considering calling a con
ference of representatives of corr
mercial organizations to impress OF
Congress the necessity of taking some
immediate steps,
The President late yesterday dc
sipnated w. W. Hanger. asslstar
commissioner of the Board Of Media
tion and Cancellation, as membe
of the Board. The law stipulatcs tha
there shall be three members, bu
Judge Martin a.. Knapp, chairman
and William L. Chambers, commits
| sioners. have served alone becaus
an official of the Department of La
hor designated as the third membe