Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-08-21
URGED MANAGERS
To ASSIST HIM IN
AVOIDING DISASTER
Situation Would Be So Bad
As To Be Inconceivable
He Tells Them
WHOLE COUNTRY WOULD
BE UTTERLY PARALYZED
Railroad Magnates Far From
Harmonious, and Show
Signs Of Yielding
BY Robert j. Bender.
Omitted Press staff correspondent

Nohiteu fress SUIT correspondent
Washington, Aug. 2l.-1wo score rail
road presidents, representing the great,
est railroad systems in the world, were
in conference here late this afternoon
forming the final answer they will make
to the proposals advanced by President
Wilson in an effort to avert a strike
that would paralyze the nation.
The heads of the great systems went
into secret session after hearing an i'm.
FASHIONED appeal by the president Of the
United States to "keep the railroads
running, not only in the interests of
this country, but in order to meet the
demands of the entire world.'
81 am willing to allow the case to go
to the great American jury and let them
assess the responsibility said the
president to the railway presidents.
81 wish You to consider the conse-
quences of failure to agree as they
may affect the people of the great cities
and the countryside. The country can
not live if the means of keeping alive
its vitality are interfered with.
"The lives and fortunes of 100000.
900 men, women and little ones-some
of whom may die-depend on what may
be done in this room. l leave the mat
ter to you. 49, r.
"I appeal to You as one American
citizen to another to avoid this disas.
ter.''
The president made the railroad
presidents a 30 minute address during
the White House meeting. The heads
of the system whose properties repre-.
sent the arteries of the country through
which the life blood Of its business
flows walked or rode through blister.
ing heat from their hotels to the White
House to hear the chief executive 3
final appeal.
Millions Would Suffer.
The president outlined to them the
need ut the present for the railroads
cooperation in the interests of prepar.
edness as one point in the broader
ground he took.
1t had been learned earlier in the day
that reports to the treasury and agri.
cultural departments showed that a
strike would mean the loss of millions
of dollars in crops. But the president
went even beyond the domestic situa.
tion when he told tine railroad heads
that not only in this country but abroad
"where the people of all the belligerent
nations are looking to the United
States" the cooperation of the big
railroad systems is absolutely essential.
The country is in the midst of great
movement for national preparedness,
the president told his hearers. The rail
roads form one of the fundamental
stones in his foundation. But the presi.
dent added, it is not only for national
preparedness that we must keep our
house in order but we must prepare to
meet the gigantic business struggle into
which this country will inject itself as
an active competitor after the European
war is over.'
The president said he was trying to
keep his mind free from passion now,
but there is an ever recurring picture
in my mind these days" he added, "of
the hundreds and millions of people who
would suffer as a result of strike
catastrophe - picture Of mothers -
the picture of little ones, dying per-
haps, because they could not get food. y
He urged the railroad chiefs - "for
we are trustees in this matter, each of
us" to cooperate with hi min main
tanning business and national order al
this time.