The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-11-23
POSSIBILITY 4:
Continued From Page ous.)

cable adjustment Of any wage contro.'
vcrSicS during the war was made today
at Il conference between President VIII
son, the four brotherhood heads and
members Of the federal mediation board.
AS result of the conference the
hrOthcrhoods are left free TO formally
present and urge their new demands up
OH the carriers under virtual agree
mcnt with the president, TO avoid strike
or other cause Of {; transportation tie
up until, full discussion and copsidera.
. ton. L
\ definite issue in the wage negotia-%
tions. it was assured. could not be reach
cd before the first Of the Year, as the
demands will not be presented un I'll q
December t. Future developments will
depend first. upon the carriers dispost- .
ton of the new demands. and. second,
in event of q deadlock, upon further .
negotiations agreed TO at today'S meet
ing at the White House.
Crytic statements were issued by
President Wilson and brotherhood chiefs
after the two hour conference in which
the president announced that the broth
erhood herds agree. lin case oF any :
critical situation Of controversy -
TO consider any proposed solution in q
spirit OF accommodation and patriotic
-
was in similar vein declaring willing
ness to discuss and consider any solu-
ton . if u situation should ariseI
which threatens the interruption OF
transportation" 800
What attitude tho railroads would as-s
sumo rs q result Of today's conference
was not made known. Several days ago,
through the railroads war board they
agreed in the event OF crisis 10 place
their interests in the hands of the pres. !.
ident :or such disposition as he should
deem best in the public interest. The
board was In session much Of the day.
but adjourned before the result of the
White House conference became known. =
1t was believed. generally that there
would be no further move in the pres
cnt controversy until after the brother
hoods present their demands for wage
increases affecting 100000 operatives :;
and involving increased expense Of the \
roads aGgrcgatins about $lOa,o00,0oo
annually. Should the representatives OF
the roads and the brothcrhoods be UNI
able to agree, the situation then would :
be placed in the hands OF the govern
mcnt under today's agreement and tho :
roads decision To leave their interests
To the presidents disposition. -
Attending the conference were: W. c.
Les, president Of the Brotherhood OF
Railway Trainmen: Warren S. Stone,
grand chief OF the brotherhood OF 10.
connective Engineers: \. B. Garretson,
president Of the Order OF Railway Con- $
ductors: ". S. Carter. president OF the
brotherhood OF Locomotive Fireman and
Engincmen. and Judges William Z.
ChamLrrs and Martin S. Knapp. - the.
United states board Of mediation and
Cancellation.
Satisfaction with the outcome Of thSA
conference was expressed BY both the
bro thcrhoodS and Federal board mem
bcrs, who declined. however TO add any
thing TO the formal statements.
Necessity for avoiding transportation
paralysis. both from war and domestic
considerations was emphasized by Pres 2
idrat Wilson. -
He also was said TO have laid stress ,
on patriotic considerations. picturlng--
the dire consequences in the war from
serious transportation difficulties. While ::
expressing sympathy with conditions fa-;s
cling the railroad operatives. with the :
rising cost OF living largely resultant
from the war. the President was UNDER :
stood to have urged as 4 patriotic duty \
that every possible step be taken in nr,$scS.
emergency to avoid transported dit
iiculticS. -
Mr.. Garretson. for the brothernoods.
was said 10 have assured the President
nj the patriotic desires Of the brother =
hoods members, but as means OF ef- r
ficiemt railroad operation, strongly pre-
scented the necessity for higher wage
standards. both as n relief to the work $
men and their families and lnSuring en- 4.
ploymeut of experienced. Competent
train operatives. He pointed out that
many mon had left railroad employment =
because Of more attractive wages else :
where. and that the recruiting Of rail- 4
WAY men for France and the draft law
also had REDUCED the force OF trained
men in America
To prevent transportation paralysis =
III event rf 4 crisis with their employ,
rr$. the brrtnrrhchds wGr: rcprcsente'k
rs willing Ia exhaust all reasonable So
!uti"uS through discussion and consid-
Grafton Discrimination to submit their
demands t" arbitration through the Fed
cr:il board was said to have been frank
~ ana positively expressed By Che broth .
r.hUUdS representatives. The brother
hoods were said I" oppose intervention
by thu existing Federal board and aIiy
i!nmir;;;atr interference with the usual
and ordinary course Of their private ne
gutiat .rrS with The railroads.
President Wilson II MAS said. was
agreeable 10 the plan ri having the
demands presented 10 the carriers FOR
negotiation direct with the 5rothcrhoods =
before government aS"@"'r" should in-' j
trrf"rr. under the agreement: that be- /
f"rc transportation suspension should /
occur there :'liali he further ncEotiit1A
lions. In such event II was cNpcclcF
iiat ih' ili:al solution might rest Witty
Tia. president. especially III Wow OF the
r!.lrGnd;' previous offer ~ place their
interest IN his hands. =
Further action by :he president until >
after negotiations between the brother p
hoods and roads, other than TO advise
the latter OF the result nf tnday's con- *
irrcncc. is not believed probable. Tho >
conference AGREEMENT however. is re-
yardcd as leaving TIA" president free 10 :.
ac, in any future emergency either by
initiating mediation, proposing lcEiSia-
ton 10 congress or acting through the
federal board or other agency he might ;
deem advisable.