Connecticut western news., 1917-03-15
WILSON READY
 TO AVERT STRIKE
Will Use Full Power to Rdlt
 Threatened Rail War.
DEPENDS ON CONFERENCE,

Meeting Between Labor and Railroad
 Chiefs In New York May Result In
 Compromise, but Brotherhoods Are
 Perfectine Plans For Nation Wide
 Walkout if 1t FaiIs-Pedge Loyalty
 to Country if War Should Come
 While Strike Is On.
 President Wilson will act promptly and decisively to prevent any general tie-up of the commerce of the country through a great railroad strike while the nation is confronted with the dire possibilities of the present international situation.
 Convinced that both the railroads and their employees will put aside their own differences to join i'll the de- fenSe of the country, the president is prepared to once more step into the railroad controversy if the strike threat once more becomes acute.
 Although confined to his room, the president Is ill close touch with the railroad situation. He conferred with Secretary of Labor Wilson, who has been watching the developments in the railroad controversy closely, and re- ceived a detailed report of the present situation. He will be kept advised as to the progress of discussions between the four big brotherhood chiefs and the conference committee of railroad man. agers in New York.
 Under his direction the federal board of mediation and conciliation will be prepared to act at once and to exert all of the influence of the federal govern ment to prevent clash between the railroads and their employees. The board met and reviewed the situation, but no announcement was forthcoming.
 Trainmen Finish Plans. -e In secret meeting W. S. Stone of the engineers, W. S. Carter of the firemen. L. W. Sheppard of the conductors and W. G. Lee of the trainmen went over with the brotherhood chairmen from the southeastern lines the proposal which will be submitted to the railroad managers.
 It was stated in railroad circles, how ever, that the new proposal will dem Onstrate the sincere desire of the broth erhoods to avert a strike in the present crisis. The Southern, Norfolk and Western and the Chesapeake and Ohio local organizations were represented.
 The announcement of the brother hood chiefs carried the assurance that in the event of a declaration of war the railroad employees would support the country" It pointed out that for more than year the railroad men had sought to settle the eight hour day question. The statement was issued by W. G. Lee, president of the trainmen, and was signed by himself, l.. E. Sheppard. acting president of the conductors; w. $. Stone. president of the engineers. and w., $. Carter, president of the fire men.
 All members of the general committees representing a number of railroads in the southeastern territory conferred here and gave thorough consideration to the applI- cation of the basic eight hour day as au- thorized by the chief executives, which was presented to and refused by the na- ways last December.
 Will Stand by Country.
 It was then hoped by the brotherhoods that an application of the so called Adam son law could be agreed upon that would give train, engine and yard employees at once the benefits intended by the president when proposing the eight hour law.
 The proposition submitted by the chief executives was unanimously approved by the various general committees, thus au- thorizing the chief executives to again re- new their attempt to effect peaceful set clement with the conference committee at the meeting to be held in New York
 All insinuations to the effect that trans portation employees are not loyal citizens because of their attempt at this time to secure from their employers the benefits contemplated by the law Is absurd and assurances of our willingness and inten- tion to support our country should war be declared has been given to the president of the United States.
 Surely the public must recognize that for more than year we have made every effort to secure a shorter workday, and our membership realizes that this ques- tion should be disposed of and industrial peace restored before our country be- comes involved in war, which now seems probable.
 Seemingly 1t has been the purpose of the railroad companies to postpone final settlement of this question until either a panic or war should defeat our demands.
 Shifts to New York.
 The scene of action of the threatened strike has been transferred to New York city.
 It is apparent that neither employer or employee were confident that the strike would be avoided. Spokesmen of the 100000 employees of the railroads are going ahead with plans to attempt a tie-up of service if the conference fails. ...
 Elisha Lee, chairman of the railroads conference committee, said that the at titude of the roads had not been chang ed by the new threat of the unions to strike. He said he would have no fur ther announcement to make until after a conference with the railroad brother hood leaders.
 A general strike said John l. Dillon