Evening star., 1916-08-14

Of the government eno tno NsgSISSe
dent has stated positively that there
,must not be . strike and that he is
ready 20 exert all hfs authority to
prevent II.
Prom sources cioss to the railroad
ofhcials iaformation comes and has
been heard by the government OF
acials now l2borinG to avert the
.-crfsis that II the men insist on .
strike the railroads will make no AZ.
tempt to move any trains. but will
saemit TO complete cessation OF
'-trafhc.
That the government will in such
a contingency md 4 way 70 Keep
tation Of mails and such necessary
food suppnee as milk was stated by
; a high official in close touch with all
details of the impending calamity.
Arguments Of President.
When the time comes for the Presi-
dent to make known his own views he
win not hesitate TO do 50, It Is said.
He will tell both the employers and
-employes that the country generally
has a profound intarest in not seeing
a tie-up of business and travel and will
not sanction such disaster without
exacting toll from whichever side may
be held responsible for this culmina-
tion.
In the memorable Pennsylvania coal
strike Of 1902 President Roosevelt sat
in the temporary executive ofhces on
Lafayette sauare-the present execu-
tive ofices being then in course of con.
struction. and openly threatened to use
the BIG stick on the coal mine owners
II they permitted the strike to reAch
b.. the point Of causing suffering to ths
tried all Kinds OF moral suasion. out
without success, and was finally com.
peeled to use the big stick.
Az President Wilson's efforts are now
IN the initiatory stages it was impos-
sible today to get q line on the tactics
he will try to use to bring about set
=. tlen1ent but that he does not propose 70
fail in his EFFORTS was said to be the
temper Of his mind. The President will
know more Of what maneuvers will be
. necessary for him after the conference
with the railroad officials this after.
noon.
The President will give up every
other public duty until he finishes his
efforts in this particular case. He VIII
work single-minded on this one thing.
and is said to be confident Of satisfac-
tory results. He has been told by the
officiAi nediators that things look blue,
/. but he has no thought of giving UP. and
" will persevere 30 long as there is the
slightest hope of success
Conference Opens at 1o:15 O'Clock.
men began in the green room OF the
e. White House promptly at io:15 am.
( The men were represented BY W. S.
d. stone. grand chief OF the Brotherhood
OF Locomotive Engineers: W. 8. Carter,
; president Of the Brotherhood Of Loco
30 motive Firemen and Enginemen; w. q.
Lee, president of the Brotherhood OF
Railroad Trainhlen. and A. b. Garrett
son. president Of the Order of Railway
. Conductors. They were accompanied
!. by six delegates from each OF the re-
spective organization.
After being with the President 10:
nearly two hours tbs representatives. OF
a the men lett the Waite House. Mr..
Garretson said tho. expeeeed to see the
! he had conferred with the managers.
''As long as The matter is IN Presi-
. dent Wilson's hands we VIII nave no
. statement to make" said Mr.. Garrett
son.
brotherhood men declared the Presi-
dents grasp Of the situation and the
position OF the men might result In an
!. undsrstsndihs being reg seaened; ann;-.nno ano
said the representatives OF the men
showed a disposition to Cooperate to
. avoid q strike. -'-z
Managers Are Notified.
: The PresiGent imr. ediately sent for
the railroad managers to lay before
them the position of the workmen.
II was arranged that the managers
2 should see the President at o'clock
/. this afternoon and that meanwhile the
> President would Keep one or two other
Important engagements, including one
with Mr.. Chambers OF the federal
board.
. President Wilson cancsied long List
OF engagements in order. to give all his
time to the situation.
At the white House It was said no I'M
dication could be given Of the progress
Of the negotiations until after the Pres
ident saw the manaGers-
The Presidents conference with the
men was opened with Q statement BY
A. B. Garretson OF the conductors as
spokesman. He outlined the demands
half for overtime. He insisted that
the demands were fair. President WILL
son then addressed the men, pointing
- out what disaster would follow a gen.
eral strike and insisting that an agree
. nnent must be reached.
; Asks for Specific Demands.
The President then asked TO know the
Z specific things on which the employees
were prepared to insist. Mr.. Garretsoh
did most Of the talking for the men.
anu ne ana the ffeSioent discussed the
situation thoroughly.
= Mr.. Wilson promised to take the de-
mands up with the managers in an ef-
fort to fnd II common ground on which
: the two sides cOulu meet. He said he
b. was anxious TO settle the difficulty 40
= quickly as possible. and was prepared
" TO remain Ia continuous conference all
day. IL necessary.
Large crowds " Lou-Irts gathered on
the lawn In fiOI.I Of the White House
TO hear news Of the proceedings.
80 Firm Against Arbitration.
The brotherhood men went into the
csnferencs H-m iii their determination
= not 70 accept an arbitration under the
o. SsSiandS act, whicn. they contend. has
always furnished 2rbitrators before
whom the men did not have an un-
=. prejudicsd opportunity.
There were some indications that the
b. President. recognising that view, might
propose o special arbitration before 4
hoard OF twelve members on which the
FOUR grsat bfotherhoods could be rep
resented.
The Presidents plan was TO appeal to
managers ana men on the highest pa
triotic grounds TO fnd q way to com.
/. pose their differences without a STRIFE.
O@dslly. Mr.. 01rfetDon said today, the
broshesAoods had no knowledge Of Eecrs-
.ary ferYuity's 6$ing trip 70 New York
=. last night. nor of tho n,essAes be carried
from dAs Pfs6eAent