Evening star., 1917-03-16
Unions and Railroads May Be
Marking Time Pending
White House Action. ,
CONTESTANTS WILLING :
TO MEET OVERTURES
Walkout Order Admonishes Men to
Run Passenger Trains Five
Days Additional. ;
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press,
NEW YORK. March 1S.-Both sides In
the threatened railroad strike contro-
versy expressed willingness today to
hold further Joint conferences, although
tho situation this morning was devoid
OF any suggestion that a compromise
would be reached which would avert u
nationwide transportation tIe-up.
Indications were unon1cially that both
the railroad managers and the brother
hood chiefs were marking time pending
any possible action by President Wilson
and, with each group prepared to re-
spond to overtures from the other side.
Representatives Of the four railroad
brotherhoods announced at 6:15 O'Clock
last evening. after rejecting a counter.
proposition made by the railroads, that
a general railroad strike would begin
at 6 o'clock Saturday night The broth
erhoods presented to the conference of
railroad managers a demand that the
provisions of the Adamson law be puc
into effect at once. The railroads de-
clined and submitted a counter propo-
sition. The counter proposal was that
the entire controversy be submitted to
the Goethals eight-hour commission.
Western Men Reported Unwilling.
Reports from Kansas City and other
points In the west that some of the en-
ployes were unwilling to obey a strike
call were met by statement by W, G.
Lee. president Of the Brotherhood Of
Railroad Trainmen, that the leaders ex-
pected at least one in twelve to refuse
to strike.
Don't forget history says our Savior
found one Judas among the twelve He
selected" Mr.. Lee said. I'VE therefore
do not hope to better His record. and
we look for at least one in twelve. The
only way to determine whether our
men are in earnest is to count noses
Sunday and thereafter.
Don't forget that we left the entire
matter to President Wilson last August
and agreed to abide by his proposal then.
The railroads refused to settle the ques-
sissasis--ainaes1.ablicly proposed to
leave the entire controversy to Presi-
dent Wilson to say personally whether
we should have the eight-hour day in
freight and yard service without reduc-
tion of the present daily rates.
1.-THE railroads seemingly prefer a strike
rather than abide by President Wilson's
suggested method of settlement. Who is
disloyad to the government"
The 100 general chairmen Of the BROTH
erhoods of the eastern lines met here to-
day to arrange details for the strike.
COpY OIL FOTHal NOL1ce,
A copy Of the formal notification that
a strike had been authorized secretly
sent out by the four brotherhood chiefs
to general and local committeeman
from Cleveland March 10. was obtained
here today 1t calls for the peaceful
withdrawal" at given time later to be
designated, but urges passenger train
employees and those on trains handling
milk and mails exclusively to continue
on duty for five days after the strike
actually commences.
"A refusal of the passenger men to
observe these Instructions the order
says, will not only violate the laws or
their respective organizations. but will
produce complications which Will
greatly injure the cause"
The order explains that this action
affecting men on passenger ana exclu-
sively milk and mail trains was taken
latter many days of careful consldera-
ton" for the reasons:
First that the public may be fncon-
venienced as little as possible: that ex-
elusive milk and mail trains, In add
tion to passenger trains, may be run,
thereby preventing suffering to chill
dren or serious Inconvenience in bust-
ness.
second, our membership will be
coming in contact with the public to ex-
plain our position. and at the same time
they will be in a position to keep us in
touch with what is going on for at least
five days.
Best to Hit Freight First.
Third, st is n well known fact that
it is much easier TO get men to scab
when positions on passenger trains or
engines are vacant than it would be if
they knew they had to tackle heavy
drags or yard work.
Fourth. the history OF all strikes
which lasted any length Of time is that
the passenger trains were run to great
er or less degree.
Fifth. While we are prepared for
the worst, the die has been cast: thero
Is no turning back, but we hope and be-
lieve a strike can be won without the
passenger men leaving the service"
The order expressed the sincere hope
that none of our membership will be
required to withdraw from the service
and concludes:
'Tt was decided not to call 4 nation
wide strike if il can be avoided and
to the President OF the United States
and to many of our friends in the Sen
ate and House of Representatives. II
it becomes necessary, however, to leave
not hesitate to call upon as many lines
as necessary to make this movement a
success. and while II was necessary for
some system or group Of lines to mako
the Issue tlrst, our confidence in the
on all the lines is the same,
should it be necessary to call upon
them"
Effect to Be Nation Wide.
The country today faces the pros
pect Of strike~f conductors. engin-
eers, firemen and trainmen that will
tie up railroad transportation from
Maine to California. At o'clock Sat-
arday night. unless President Wilson
uccessfully intervenes or the railroad
and their men make an un-
expected compromise, the strike will
beRin with the freight and yard en-
nloyes Of the New York Central. the
Nickel Plate and Baltimore and Ohio
lines and the switching yards at Chi
cago and ST. Louis.
Strike orders call at first for a ces-
sation Of work only on freight trains
rhe employees expect that their nrst
display Of strength will bring the roads
10 terms. II It fails to do this the
strike will be extended on successive