Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-30
Uneasy Feeling Over Stub
born Attitude of Both
Sides in Struggle.
WILSON STILL HOPING
Dreful Results of Tieup Are
Realized as Roads Issue
Freight Embargoes.

sides making I8st-hOur prepara-
tjons for a great railway strike
next Monday morning. President
Wilson today turned all the intlu-
ence of his administration toward
persuading the brotherhood lead
ers TO postpone or reScind their
order until congress had had OPP
pOrtunity to act
There we're intimatiOns that
should the labor leaders continue
adamant. President Wilson even
might make public appeal to the
railway workers themselves to di-
rect their leaders to postpone it.
Despite denials Of the labor leaders
that President Wilson or anyone else
had asked them to postpone the strike,
there were abundant evidences that
such was the case, and somehow there
was a feeling in congress, in admin
istration circles and in other places
that a way would be found to avert
the walkout No one knew what 1t
was, but the feeling prevailed.
After a conference with Secretary
Wilson at the department of labor, the
brotherhood leaders reiterated that no
power on earth except a satisfactory
settlement would avert the strike and
that they had no power to rescind the
order.
Nevertheless, efforts were continued
to bring about a postponement.
First Injunction Step.
The first legal phase of the situa-
ton developed with the temporary in
junction issued by a local court in
Nebraska restraining the conductors
from calling or enforcing a strike on
the Union Pacific. This brought up
for the first time the effect Of the
much-discussed Clayton anti-injunc-
ton act passed by congress at the be-
hest Of labor. The brOtherhOods' lead
ers unreservedly expressed the opln-
ion that the injunction was in contra
vention Of the law and could not
stand. There were intimatiOns that
similar injunctions might be issued in
different parts Of the country where
the sentiment of the men is known to
De against the strike.
With notices Of freight embargoes
and prospective delays TO passenger
traffic pouring in from all parts Of the
country. Chairman Howard Elliott Of
the New York, New Haven & Hartford
railroad issued a statement on behalf
OF the railway executives pointing out
mat passenger train service as well as
freight would be tied up.
While every effort was being made
10 prevent the strike, both sides con-
unued 10 make preparations to meet it.
The senate interstate commerce
committee also considered a law pass
ed by congress in 1862 authorizing the
president TO take possession Of rail-
ROAD and telegraph lines, when, in his
judgment, public safety might require
u Senators remarked il was an in
teresting statute in the face Of the eX-
listing emergency. The statute passed
IN the early part OF the Civil war was
designed to be in force only as long
as necessary TO meet war conditions.
GOmpers Has Not Acted.
Besides comforting with Secretary
Wilson today. the brotherhoods' heads
talked with several members of con-
gress al the capitol. Brotherhood Of
nclals expected 10 confer today with
samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation Of Labor. II was
SAID that Mr.. Gompers had made no
attempt 70 induce the brotherhoods
10 postpone the strike. and it was not
thought that he would
In general. brotherhood leaders in
tended 10 fight the legislative pro-
gram and railway arrangements ex-
pected 10 support it, but both sides
isld plans for the strike quite as If
us coming were beyond all doubt
, President Wilson still hoped the
brotherhood leaders now in Washing
ton would find means Of resembling
the strike order which they maintain
mas gone beyond their Jurisdiction.
mere was no unanimity of opinion
among them as TO whether the sug-
gested measure TO forbid a strike
pending investigation by a public
commission, if passed and made effec-
i've before next Monday could apply
Faldly 10 the present situation Rail
way executives believed, however,
mat the legislation advocated would
force a suspension OF action possibly
only by the pressure Of public opin-
ion
Roads Place Embargo.
While government machinery was