Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-31
ROADS PREPARING
TO OPPOSE STRIKE
Seeing No Hope of Settlement,
Gather Their Forces for
Eventualities.
GIVE NOTICE OF EMBARGOES
E. P. Ripley's Summary of Stu
alton Intensihcs Pcssimism
Felt Over Outcome.
GIVE NOTICE OF EMBARGOES

dtlOn lntenSlhcS PcSSlmlSrn
Felt Over Outcome.
CHICAGO. August -rhroughou,
tho entire country to-day tho rail
roads. great and small. gathered their
Monday.
The urdcrcurrcut OF feeling reported
at Washington that the catastrophe
would yet he avcrt"d Was not reflected
here among railroad men. y summary
of tho situation made hy T. r. Riplev
president Of the Atchison. Topeka and
Santa Ec. who vas q member of the
committee which conferred with Presi-
dent Wilson. as spokesman for railroad
presidents who returned this afternoon
from the conferences mt the national
capital. intensified the pessinism felt
here.
Mr.. Ripley asserted that the rail-
roads can now sec no hope Of a set
tlement before Labor Day. and are
making every preparation for event
ualities.
Practically every important railroad
in the country gave notice OF cmbar-
goes. or was preparing to give them
They affect. pcrishable freight and live
stock. which at present constitute
about one-third the freight traffic on
Western roads. and passengers Agents
everywhere were instructed to warn
passengers of probable delays and not
TO accept any perishable freight which
could no: normally be delivered before
September {. In some cases the date
was set for Saturday. the I'd or sun
day.
RAILROAD OFFICIALS
BACK FItOM WASHINGTON
The party Of high railroad officials
who came back To Chicago to-day in
Guided Mr. Ripley, who was chosen
spokesman; w. +. Storey and Il: l..
Sewall. vice presidents of the Santa
Fc; y. j. Earling. president of the
Chicago. Milwaukee and St Paul. w.
j. Jackson. receiver for the Chicago
and Eastern Illinois; r. II. Ashton
president OF the Chicago and North
western III. r. Kurric, president of the
Monon: Louis w. Hill, president of the
Great Northern; George T. Slade vice.
president of the Northern Pacific, and
w. G. Bierd, president of the Chit{lgo
and Alton.
Mr.. Ripley gave out three state
mcnts. The first statement was issued
formally as the expression Of the party
which returned from Washington: the
second was addressed TO employees OF
the Santa F'e. and warned those who
might obey the strike order that they
would loso all rights Of seniority and
Of benefits from insurance and pcns,on
funds The third was MIR. Riplcy's
plan for meeting the strike and an
t,-..
controversy.
There was some difference of opin-
ion. he said. among the officials when
they first arrived at Washington as
to what course to pursue but they
became absolutely unanimous when
requested TO abandon arbitration.
He said that attempts would be made
TO keep at least one passenger train
on each sun. and that preference would
next ne given per,shablc freight.
PUBLIC WILL NE SURPRISED
At NUMBER Of Loyal. MEN
He expressed the opinion that the
public would he surprised at the num-
ber of men who would remain loyal to
their employers
Legislation proposed by President
Wilson, lie said, seems not only obvi-
ouSiE rcaSonablc. nut OBVIOUSLY neceS-
sary."
The managers Of the railroads." he
stated, will proceed upon the assump-
ton that the strike will come on
Labor Day. and will prepare To act
accordingly.
TO this end the presidents will meet
At the Chicago Club to lay their plans.
Said Mr.. Ripley:
as to how serious the strike actually
will prove TO he and as to how long
it will last 1t would he futile to
make any predictions regarding these
matters now. The public may rest
assured, however, that the manage
ments will make the most strenuous
cndeavors to maintain enough service
to prevent actual suffering. and hope
and believe we will be able to do this
Our efforts will be directed primarily
to keeping passenger, mail and express
trains moving. We shall try To run
at least enc such train Il day. Prefer
ence next Will be given to trains car
rying perisha bics. and all kinds Of SER
vice will be increased as rapidly as
practicable. we will know a great
deal better next Monday night than
We do now how serious the strike will
be. and will bc able to estimate much
better than now how long IL will last
Only when the matter is put To the
actual test Will we know how many
of our train employees Will remain
loyal. We believe the number VINO
VIII refuse To go out will be far
larger than leaders Of the brothc rhoods
anticipate. The men generally were
given to understand when the strike
vote was taken that it would be used
merely threat. and when they
find they have been mislcd many Of
them probably will refuse To Quit
work"
EVERY LINE or INDUSTRY
SHOCKED Al PROSPECT
Associated Press dispatches from all
PARTS OF the country to-day reflected
the shock felt by every limo of indus
try ut the prospect of the strike. In
tcrurban lines. il was said. would use
every available ear, but the greatest
extension OF their facilities. il was
realized, would go but II littlo ways
-, nr1 nlf Ntprr ttNn fotN