Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-08-30
PRESIDENT MAY TURN TO
WORKERS THEMSELVES
Senate Gets Its Machinery Ready
For Legislative
Action.
DIVISION IN THE HOUSE.
Two Of Mr.. Wilson's PROPOSE
tions May Encounter Barriers
Preparations For Walk-out
On All Sides.

The entire weight of govern
ment authority was pitted today
against four brotherhood leaders
in an apparently futile endeavor
to have them call off or postpone
the strike called for Labor day,
next Monday.
The President and other admin
istration leaders were using all
the force of their persuasion and
authority to bring about either a
postponement or abandonment of
the strike.
There were intimations that
should the labor leaders continue
adamant, President Wilson even
might make public appeal to the
railway workers themselves tn
direct their leaders to postpone it.
The Senate, with the determine
ton that if the strike was not
postponed it must be stopped by
Legislative action, was preparing
its machinery toward this end.
The House, divided in opinion
as to the Presidents proposed
program of legislation, was wait
ing. Representative Adamson,
chairman of the commerce COM
mittee, is said to have warned
Senator Newlands that two of the
Presidents propositions cannot
be passed in the House.
Brotherhoods Are Firm.
LEGISLATION to provide for an eight
hour day and for a commission to investi-
gate along the lines recommended by
President Wilson can be enacted in all
probability by both houses, but nothing
is probably feasible beyond those two
propositions, Representative Adamson
told Senator Newlands.
Mr. Adamson made himself absolutely
clear as to what he favored at this time.
He said he did not believe the other
PROPOSITIONS recommended by the Presi-
dent, relating to compulsory arbitration
and consideration of increase in freight
rates. to meet the expenses Of an eight,
hour day, would pass either house. y
After a conference with Secretary Of
Labor Wilson and othef labor leaders the
heads of the four big brotherhoods de-
clared positively that nothing but sat
isfactory settlement of their demands
can now prevent the strike. 1t is un-
derstood that those holding power Of at
torney have taken vote deciding that
nothing but the railroads meeting the pro-
posal made by the President and accept
ed by the brotherhood committee Of $40
will have force to prevent the strike.
The fact that the strike will call out
not only the men who man the freight
trains but those who are employed in the
movement of passenger trains as well
was emphasized today.
Both sides are going forward with their
plans for the strike and to meet condi-
tions that will ensue.
Refuse to Accept Freight.
While government machinery was
humming today with strike plans,
there poured in from all sections of the
country kilograms that railroads were
declaring embargoes on perishable
stuff, refusing to accept freight with
guarantee of prompt delivery and
warning against passenger travel ex-
tending past am. Monday, the hour
set for the strike These reports gave
a hint of the rigor which might be
expected from a general strike.
President Wilson was making efforts
today to have the railroad brother
hoods call off or postpone the strike
order effective. September 4.
All the influences that could be
brought to bear were being utilized in
an effort to convince the leaders that
their action in calling strike while
the negotiations still were proceeding
should be rescinded.
Confident of Success.
Commissioner Chambers of the fed
eral mediation board seemed confident
that efforts along this line would be
successful Many of those close in
touch with the situation thought it
could be accomplished If Congress
promptly enacted the eight-hour day
feature of the Presidents legislative
program.
The first legal phase of the situation
with the temporary injunc-
ion issued by local court in Nebraska
restraining the conductors from calling
n enforcing strike on the Union Pa
life. This brought up for the first time
he effect of the much discussed Clay.
on anti-injunction act passed by Con.
,ress at the behest of labor. The
leaders unreservelly ex-