Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-03-15
PRESIDENT
AMAZED Al
Rail CRISIS
Eastern Roads Refuse to Accept
Freidht Except at Own
ersN Risk, Expecting
Strike Saturday.
,UETiMlaTUM DUE THURSDAY

Secret Conference of Brother
hood Officials Opens in New
York Wilson May
Issue Appeal.
Chicago. March 15-Certain rail-
roads today norified shippers and west
ern lines of embargoes due to the
threat Of the strike of the brotherhoods
next Saturday. The Big Four notified
-other lines of such an embargo. The
New York Central and Baltimore &
Ohio were reported to have notified
shippers that freight would not be ac-
.epted after midnight tonight except
Ut owners risk.
New York, March 15-While the ma
Nonal chiefs Of the four railroad en-
ployes' brotherhoods were discussing
with the eastern brotherhood officials
here today the plans for the threat
ened nation wide strike, which may pc
gin Saturday, representatives OF Lne
railway managers made public what
they declared was a promise not TO
strike, made by the brotherhood heads
In secret meeting in Chicago, January
l3. They quoted from the text of the
statement a passage saying no "radlcai
action would be taken until the decls-
ion of the supreme court has been
handed down in connection with the
eight hour law
W. G.. Lee, president of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen, was
asked about this statement.
I'VE never said we were just gong
to sit still and do nothing indefinitely,
he replied. Our position has been TO
wait a reasonable time and who is to
be the judge what a reasonable time
is-we have already been very severely
criticised by our men for doing noun
Ing"
Washington, d. c., March 15-Presi,,
dent Wilson is amazed at the proposal
of a nation wide railway strike at TINS
juncture Of international affairs. II
was stated authoritatively today tnat
he expects the railroads and the men
at their conference in New York to-
morrow to consider the state of the
country's foreign relations and make
every possible effort to agree: It Is
possible that he may appeal 10 pOIil p
Z sides on that ground. Today me
president was being kept IN toucn WIZ, Mlli
the situation through Secretary Will
son, of the department of labor.
SECRET MEETINGS HELD.
New York, March district secrecy
was thrown about. the meetings mere
today between the national chle1s OF
the brotherhoods of railroad employees
and eastern brotherhood officials to
discuss plans for the strike, which may
be called Saturday if the chiefs at the
conference with the railroad managers
tomorrow fail to attain the desired re-
suits.
The brotherhood heads arrived mere
today from Washington and went te
a meeting hall, where were assembled
300 of the chairmen Of the brotherhood
of trainmen on lines entering New
York and chairmen of locals of the foul
organizations. Announcement wa
made that if any statement was made
as, to the action taken 1T Would pt
given out tonight.
Hands Tied Railmen Say.
Representatives of the railroad man
,eers said today that they were still
Without information as to the nature o1
the proposition which the brotherhoods
chiefs would submit to them and relter
ated their contention that their hands
were tied until the supreme court rem
dered a decision on the constltutlonal
+ ftv of the Adamson act.
The brotherhood chairmen, afte
hearing from the chiefs a statement O
the questions at issue with the mana
gers. were to be asked, 1T was under
stood, to ratify their proposition and tn
calling of strike in case the mana
IL.
afterwards to discuss the carrying ou
of detailed Instructions.
Strike Instructions Out.
General instructions, it was learned
were issued some time ago to the loca
e;lairmen as to their duties in case OF ;
strike They were informed they woul'
be expected jointly to supervise tn
prosecution of the strike in the terri
tory over which they have jurisdiction
keep in close touch with the situation
..use every honorable effort to furthe
the cause" and make daily reports t
their general chairmen as to cond
tions.
While the chairmen were holdin
their meeting, the national conferenc
committee Of the railroads was calle
together preparatory to the joint ses
sion with the chiefs tomorrow.
While protesting not to know wha
the brotherhood chiefs would demand
railroad representatives said just be
fore the national conference went int
session that they would not be sur
prised If they demanded that the pro
visions Of the ;Adamson law be put int
immediate operation, together with
provision for time and half for over
time, or. in substance, complete com
pliance with the original demand
ago.
The committee of eight railroa
presidents, headed by Hale Holder
president of the Chicago, Burlington
Quincy railroad, that conferred wit
President Wilson at the White Hous
when the Adamson act was passed b
congress. were in the city today keeI
ing in touch with the situation.
Bulletin Made Public.
A circular alleged to have been ser
to the 100000 members of the brother
hoods from the Cleveland headquartel
in the past week and signed by w.
Carter, president Of the Brotherhoo
of Locomotive Firemen and Engine
men, was made public today by II
railroad managers. 1t was heade
Z Compulsory Arbitration Bulletin N
e." and in part said:
'If there is a sincere public demar
that the railroad employees shall nj
strike for the eight-lour day, then |
the FEDERAL government operate Il
railways and assume responsibility Fl
the wages and working operations
the employees"
+, EXPLOSION KILLS SIX.
Olean, N. Y, March 14.-six m,