Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-17
MAKES SOLEMN PROTEST
AGAINST TRAFFIC TIE-UP
Council of National Defense
Sends Committee to New York
to Undertake Mediation.
DRASTIC STEPS MAY FOLLOW
Law Officers Of Government Busy,
Seeking to What Extent Execu-
tive Can Use Authority.

49, Acaoc'rtcd Press1
WASHINGTON. March 16.-President
Wilson to-day called upon the railroad
managers and chiefs OF the employees
brotherhoods as patriotic men to re-
open the questions at issue between
them and prevent a general interrup-
! ton OF railway traffic ''in this time of
national peril"
The Presidents message. an appeal
for adjustment of differences and a
solemn protest against Il strike, was
| sent after he and the Cabinet had ap-
proved proposal of the Council OF
National Defense that 1t send :. COM
| mittee TO New York to undertake
mediation between the railroads and
their employees At the sam. time.
three Of the committee. Secretaries
Lane and Wilson. and Daniel Willard,
president of the Baltimore and Ohio,
started for New York to seek imme-
date conference with representatives
OF both sides
Samuel Gompers. president OF the
American Federation OF Labc- is the
fourth member. Until tonight It was
understood at the White House that
he had gone to New York with tho
committee. but It developed that he
mad been out OF the city for two days,
and that Secretary Lane. entrusted
tees trip. probably had not been able
to reach him. Officials at the fedora
tons headquarters would not say
where Mr.. Gompcrs was, but explained
that he had been keeping in touch
with the brotherhood leaders from
point near New York. 1t was thought
he would be in New York Tomorrow:
II he did not get there tonight.
PRESIDENT CONFIDENT
THERE WILL HE NO STRIKE
The President IL confident that there
Will be no strike. However, he already
is considering what may be done IL
his appeal 20 the patriotism OF the
men involved is futile Legal officers
OF the government arc studying the
problem to determine what measures
will be lawful. not only in an effort
TO keep food supplies and the mails
moving. but to deal with an even more
serious situation if the country should
be drawn into war. The latter phase
is being given only minor attention,
however. as officials are satisfied that
II war came the loyalty OF all tho
railroad men couN be depended on.
The Presidents action came with
dramatic suddenness late to-day The
Council Of National Defense had met
at the War Department and decided
that. with the United states appar-
entity on the verge of war a railroad
strike would be national disaster, pro-
posing the sending OF mediators
Against the advice of his physician,
the President. just recovered from n
cold. summoned Cabinet meeting in
a short decisive session and approved
the course.
Formal word that they had been Sc
iected TO carry on the mediatory me-
Gotia;ions was contained In his mes
sage sent by Secretary Baker, as chair
man OF the National Defense Council.
to Secretaries Lane and Wilson and
Mr.. Willard and Mr.. Gompers. It fol-
lows:
AT meeting of the Council OF Ma
tional Defense il was resolved that YOU
be requested at once to seek an inter-
View with the representatives Of the
railroad brotherhoods and railroad ex-
ecuttvcs with reference to the differ
ences now existing between them, and
apparently threatening to produce a
general railway strike in the country;
mat you present to the representatives
or both sides the grave peril involved
in such situation at this time and
that YOU request them so to adjust
their differences as in any event to
lead To Il postponcment Of any acute
difficulty during the present national
emergency.
NOT READY TO ABIDE
BY FORMER STRIKE VOTE
Prior to taking up the question with
the National Defense Council the Pres
idcnt had been informed that the leaders
OF the employers and employees were
waiting in New York to see whether
he would take action. and had also been
told Of reports that at least some OF
tho brotherhood members were not
ready to abide by last years strike
vote.
II is known that the President be-
iicNes. from his intimate knowledge OF
tn" situation. gained while trying to
mediate himself last year. that there
is no good reason why compromise
is not possible.
Both at the meeting OF the Council
OF National Defense and at the Cabi-
net meeting afterwards. the situation.
from military and economic stand
point was canvassed with frei0ht