The Topeka state journal., 1916-08-14

| I
members SO that each of the railroad
brotherhoodS could be represented
The president 1t was indicated very
clearly would appeal to both en-
ployers and men on the highest pa
triotic grounds to meet and settle their
difficulties without resort to a strike.
Mr.. Wilson cancelled a long list of en-
gagements in order to give all his time
to the situation.
Both Sides in Washington.
Washington, Aug. 14.-Representa
tives of the four brotherhoods and a
Washington early today prepared to
confer with President Wilson in dn ef-
fort to avert a general strike On vir-
tually all the great railroads of the
country.
Secretary TumuIty who yesterday
carried a message from the president
to the conferees in New York asking a
voice in the threatened crisis, arrived
at the same time. After a conference
with the president, he said all engage
ments at the White House had been
cancelled for the day and the presi-
dent would give his undivided attea-
ton to the claims of the conflicting in
terests.
Before meeting the men the presi-
dent planned to hear from Judge
Chambers of the federal board OF
mediation and conciliation. a full re-
mort of the hearings in New York,
which resulted in the railroad en-
ployes refusing mediation or arbitra-
ton, or as Judge Knapp OF the boaro
said ANY other plan or method Tor
peaceful settlement of the contro-
versy.'
Still Hopeful for Peace
In snite of the apparent absolute
deadlock in the negotiations, there
was a strong belief among admins
.ration officials that the president
would be able to work out solution
of the problem
Judge Chambers said:
1'The president is vested with great
er powers than We He mas sources
of direct appeal which only ne can
use with full effect. I am hopeful ana
confident that when he talks with
the men interested in this dispute he
will bring about a satisfactory settle
ment / believe he will
AS to the relative merits of the con-
troyersy, Judge Chambers would not
commit himself.
The other members of the federal
hoard did not come to Washington
but remained in New York subject to
call.
Representatives of the brotherhoods
declined to discuss the possibility or
the presidents appeal in any way.
They asserted the blame for the pres
ent deadlock lies in the determination
of the railway managers to drag into
the argument contentious unrelated to
their demands They also declared
the railroads were indifferent in
their atti ude and not inclined to
meet the employees half way
| Representatives of the railways
were equally non-committaI over the
prospect of peace They declared they
had offered to mediate or arbitrate
without success
| Unorganized Men Act.
| Secretary Tumulty announced that
| the representatives of the two sides to
the controversy would see the pres
ident separately In order that ne
might get a clearer idea of their re-
| spective positions Judge Chambers
/ prepared a detailed account of the
negotiations in New York for the
president and this morning told Sec
retary Tumulty of the difficulties of
the situation.
Representatives of unorganized rail-
road employees outside of the four big
brotherhoeds involved in the strike ne
gotiations called at the White House
early this morning ana left word for
| the president that they stood behind
| him in his efforts to avert a nation
wide railroad strike.
| P. K. Walden, representing the IN
organized workmen on roads running
out of Chicago, presented petition
signed by $4,000 men opposing a
strike.
President Has Police Powers.
New York, Aug 14.-If President
Wilson fails to persuade the railroad
men and their employers to settle their
differences and q general strike is
called, it will be directed from head
quarters in this city. This announce
ment was made today as the leaders
| of the four big railway brotherhoods
and the railroad managers reached
| Washington for a conference with the
head of the nation. Authorities here
/
laws gave the president no right to in
terfere officially the broad police pow
ers vested in him gave him authority
to put soldiers on the trains and even
to declare martial law if he believed
the peril of the situation called for
such drastic measures.
Attention was called to the last ma
tional railroad strike in 1894 when
President Cleveland used the regular
army to guard locomotives and cars.
At brotherhood headquarters it was
said all preparation had been made
for putting into effect strike that
would stop every train, passenger and
freight, on the 225 railroad systems of
| tho United States
Business World Anxious.
The critical state of affairs was in
dicated by the anxiety displayed in
every big industry which would be
crippled by the failure of transporta-
tions. The tension in business circles
toudy showed reallzatlon Oh Ine
acute danger of a national calamity.
An aggregate of financial losses run
ming, perhaps, into hundreds of mil
lions, labor idleness and food priva-
= ton were some of the possibilities
which strike presented. 1t was to BIZ
remembered, business men said, thai
8 there is scarcely a factory of any i'm
e portance which does not depend On q
: railroad for it's products. OF more
9 immediate seriousness. however, would
j be the question of food supply.
e The large communities which re.
e cefve the bulk of their food from lone
4 distances would be forced to rely or
n products brought in by wagon. auto
!, mobile, trolley vessel. The suspen,
Z q