The Washington herald., 1916-12-31
WILSON DEMANDS
new WEAPON To
PREVENT STRIKE.
Notifies Newlands Speedy Ac-
ton Is Imperative on
Railway Issue.
LABOR WILL FIGHT MOVE
President Ignores Workers in Effort
to Block Walk-out of -Four
Brotherhoods.

FreSident "ilson yesterday demanded
that Congress fashion and place In his
hands q weapon to combat the threatened
tie-uD Of the commerce of the country
through a general railroad strike.
The President personally visited the
Capitol and notified Senator Newlands
that he must have speedy action in Con-
gress on his railroad program, including
the proposed measure for the compulsory
Investigation of interstate strikes
This measure would enable the Prcsi-
dent to halt at once any general railroad
strike, and to keep 1t suspended until a
complete Investigation Of the questions
at issue could be made. 1t would ef-
fectually block any sudden crippling of
the transportation facilities OF the
country.
NewIands Promises speed.
Senator Newlands promised the great
est possible speed in handling the Presi-
dents railroad legislation. He made the
significant statement that:
IN my judgment. action of Congress
VIII he very decisive. insofar as any at
tempt to tie up commerce Is concerned. {"
With Congress and the courts at work
upon solution of the railroad problem
Senator Newlands said. he did not be-
HeVe that there was any immediate dan
ger Of strike. He expressed the opinion
that the pressure for a strike came not
from the rank and file OF railroad men
but from ambitious rivals OF the broth
erhood leaders.
The President motored to the Capitol
in hurry and conferred for half an hour
with Senator Newlands, whose committee
will begin hearings on the railroad legis-
lation Tuesday.
Demands Immediate Action,
the President told Senator Newlands, was
imperative. Unless the railroad measures
are laid before the Senate at once the
President believes. there is grave danger
that they will be delayed by a fill
buster. Senator Newlands said he be-
icyed the program could be enacted into
i1w before March T.
Opposition to the Presidents program
centers about his strike preYention pro-
posaL Union leaders have dubbed the
measure the compulsory arbitration
bill ard have announced their determi-
nation TO fight it to the last ditch. The
tentative draft, to be taken up by the
Interstate Commerce Committee Tues
day. would make strikes or lockouts un-
lawful for a period Of four months after
strike call or lockout announcement,
during which time Investigation would be
made by a Presidential commission.
Ignores LabOr's stand.
Although the American Federation of
Labor has adopted a resolution condemn
ing the strike prevention proposal. the
President made it plain this afternoon
he has not changed his mind since ne
recomzleDded the measure to Congress
in his annual message.
Opposition to the railroad program will
be led by Senator Cummings, of Iowa,
member OF the Interstate Commerce Com
mittee. and one of the leading railroad
authorities in Congress. He will have
the active support of the entire Progress
sive-Republican clique in the Senate. it
is reported II they conduct a filibuster
against the measure, a blockade of the
whole legislative program of the session
will develope.