Tele-Mediation

One day last week in Minneapolis a party of men boarded a train for Washington. Some of the party were officials of the Minneapolis-Moline Power Implement Co., others were C.I.O. union representatives. The Mediation Board wanted to see them. Minneapolis-Moline, which employs 4,100 men, had defense contracts for structural steel and iron for airplane hangars. Since last December, management and union had been arguing over wage increases and other employe demands and getting nowhere. The union had finally filed notice of its intent to strike, and Minnesota's required 30-day "cooling off" period was almost up.

The train rolled eastward. The disputants drifted into the drawing room of Company President Warren Courtland MacFarlane. They had a few drinks, a few words, played a little poker. Friendly game and words grew even friendlier as the train approached the Capital. By the time the train rolled into Union Station, management and union were so close to agreement that they decided to call the Mediation Board and ask to be left alone a few hours. The Board said "Fine." By next morning, the disputants had found a formula for a settlement. The union bought the drinks. President MacFarlane chartered a bus for a joy ride around the city, blew them all to dinner before they entrained again for Minneapolis.

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