Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-11-14
GOVERNMENT TO
PREVENT STRIKE
OF RAILR0ADERS
President Hopes For AMIGA
bic Settlement; Systems
Must Not Suffer
NEW DEMANDS S109,000,000
Heads of Big Four" Brother
hoods to Confer With
Chief Executive
NEW DEMANDS S1O9,OOO,OOO

Washington, Nov. 14.-Aroused by
the plans of the railway mems
brotherhoods to demand wage in
creases, President Wilson has set the
machinery of the Federal govern
ment in motion to avert, if possible,
the threat of paralysis of the coun-
try's. transportation systems so vital
to the war.
At a conference with the heads
of the big four" brotherhoods At
the White House on November -,
President Wilson Will appeal to the
labor leaders to defer any struggle
until after the country has passed
through the period where its trans
portation systems are so vital to the
conduct of the war.
President to Act
With the announcement of this
conferences, II was disclosed that
President Wilson, while entertaining
every hope for complete agree
ment, does not intend to permit the
country's transportation systems to
be tied up by Il strike at this critical
time in the nations history, even il
it becomes necessary for the govern
ment to operate the roads.
1t was disclosed to-day that Judge
William l.. Chambers, head of the
Federal Board of Mediation and
Cancellation, already has ben hold
ing conferences with the heads Of
the big four brotherhoods. The
status of the proceedings so far
shows a disinclination of the brother
hood heads 10 commit themselves to
a plan OF arbitrating the differences,
and the hope of the governme
negotiators is for an agreement
which will postpone any disruption
OF the transportation systems until
after the war.
Expresses Views
The following letter from Presi-
dent Wilson to Judge Chambers CX-
presses the Presidents attitude to-
ward the situation:
My Dear Judge Chambers: May
l not express my very deep and
serious interest in Your efforts TO
bring the railroad executives and the
brotherhoods engaged in train op-
GRAFTON to an agreement that there
shall be no interruption in their re-
lations on either side until ample
opportunity shall have been afforded
the United States Board of Media
ton and Cancellation to bring about
if possible an amicable agreement
and that in the event of a failure to
bring about such an agreement any
controversy that may have arisen will
be submitted to arbitration in ac-
cordance with the provisions of the
Newlands law.
Essential to Nations Safety
Il take it for granted that your ef-
forts will succeed because it is in
conceivable to me that patriotic IIen
should now for a moment contem-
plate the interruption of the trans
portation which is so absolutely nee
essary to the safety of the nation
and to it's success in arms, as we'll
as to the whole industrial life; but
| wanted, nevertheless, to express my
deep personal interest in the mat
ter and to wish you Godspeed.
The last thing l should wish to
contemplate would be the possibility
of being obliged to take any unusual
measures to operate the railways
and l have so much confidence that
the men YOU are dealing with will
appreciate the patriotic motives un-
derlying your efforts that l shall look
forward with assurance to your sue
cess.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON"