The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-14
Big Four Leaders To Meet
President November %.
Mediator Already in COnsulta-
ton With BrOtherhOOdS.
RAISE S1O9, O,OOO A YEAR
Average Increase of ~ Per Cent
by Trainmen Considered.
President Hints at Federal Con-
troll of Railroads.

Washington, Nov. 14.-Aroused by
the plans of the railway mems bro
therhood to demand wage increases,
President Wilson has set the machin-
cry of the federal government in mo-
ton to avert if possible the threat of
a paralysis of the country's transport
ing systems.
At conference with the heads of
the Big Four brotherhoods at the
White House on November %, Presi-
dent Wilson will appeal to labor lead
ers to defer any struggle until after
the country has passed thru the per-
iod where it's portation systems
are so vital to the conduct of the war.
With the announcement of this
conference it was disclosed that Pres
ident Wilson while entertaining every
hope for a complete agreement does
not intend to permit the counery's
transportation system to be tied up
sary for the government to operate
the roads
1t was disclosed today that Judge
William L. Chambers, head of the fed
eral board of meditation and concilia-
ton, already has been holding con-
ferences with the heads of the Big
Four brotherhOods. The status of
/ the proceedings so far shows a disin-
clination of the brotherhood heads
/ to commit themselves to a plan of
arbitrating the differences and the
hope of the government negotiators
! is for an agreement which will post
pone any disruption of the transDor-
tation systems until after the war.
Wilson Writes Chambers.
The following letter from President
Wilson to Judge Chambers expresses
the presidents attitude toward the
situation:
My Dear Judge Chambers:
May / not express my very deep
and serious interest in your efforts to
| bring the railroad executives and the
brotherhoOds engaged in train opera
tion to an a agreement that there shall
either side until ample opportunity
shall have been afforded the United
States board of mediation and con-
citation to bring about, if possible, an
1 amicable agreement and that in the
event of failure to bring about such
/ an agreemeIt, any controversy that
may have arisen will be submitted to
arbitration in accordance with the
! provisions of the Newlands law
L take it for granted that your eff
| forts will succeed because it is incon-
ceivable to- me that patriotic men
should now for a moment contemplate
/ the interruption of the transportation
which is so absolutely necessary to
|
success in arms, as well as to it's whole
/ industrial life; but l wanted never
/ theless, to express my deep personal
interest in the matter and to wish you
/ GodSpeed.
THE last thing I should wish to
/ contemplate would be the possibility
! OF being obliged to take any unusual
( measures to operate the RAILWAYS and
have so much confidence that the
men you are dealing with will appre-
no trio
/ your efforts that shall look forward
with assurance to your success
Cordially and sincerely yours
WOODROW WILSON"
MediatOr's Statement
Judge Chambers issued this mem
+ orandum:
LAS a result of the efforts of the
! board of mediation to bring the rail-
/ road executives and the brotherhoods
engaged in train operation to an
! agreement that there shall be no in
! terrupuon in their relations on either
side until ample opportunity shall
/ have been afforded the United States
/ board of mediation and conciliat ton to
bring about if possible, an amicable
! agreement and that, in the event of a
/ failure to bring about such an agree
ment any controversy that may have
arisen will be submitted to arbitration
( in accordance with the provisions of
/ the Newlands law, Commissioner
, leading railroad officials and chief ex-
! ecutives of the brotherhoods
! AT conference in Cleveland on
/ Thursday last. between Judge Cham
bers and Warren S. Stone, grand chief
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers:
| w S. Carter, president Brotherhood
/ Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen:
| L. E. Sheppard, first vice president
! Order of Railway Conductors, and w
| G. Lee. president Brotherhood of Rail-
| road Trainmen, it is understood Ger
tain substantial agreements were
reached. Judge Chambers declined to
state what these results were, but the
rumor is that the executives of the
/ labor organizations agreed to the
mediation features of the proposal
and it is inferred that the conference
! with the president which is planned
for 2:3O p. m. Thursday, will have
: reference to the arbitration features
of the proposed agreements. It is
understood that these labor executives
are unwilling to commit their organ
ization unconditionally to arbitration
but at the White House conference on
the 22d, the executives will be ready
to discuss with the president some
/ plan by which it is hoped an adjust
ment will be reached which will at
! least for the duration of the war. pre-
vent any interruption of railroad
i transportation.
Situation Most Serious.
Judge Chambers did not feel
authorized to say what subjects would
I be discussed at the conference and de-
/ clined even to intimate what results
were anticipated. He regards the
/ conference as involving a most serious
situation as the transportation prob