Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-17
No Word From Conference
Room atEarly Hour This
Morning - Railroad
Managers aiting.

| NEW YORK. March lG.-Three of the
mcdlators appointed by the National
Council Of Defense in an attempt TO
avert a general railroad strike we're
still in conference with the chiefs Of
four railroad brotherhoods three
the four railroad brotherhoods three
! At that time. more than two hours
after the meeting began, no word had
come from the room where the session
! was being. held
Meanwhile, the members of the ma
! tiounl conference committee Of rail
road managers were awaiting at the
Grand Central Terminal a summons to
| join the conference. Three OF the
four members of the National Council
of Defense, appointed with the sane
tion of President Wilson To act AZ
mediators in the hope OF averting the
nation wide progressive railroad
strike" called To begin at 6 o'clock to-
morrow night. went into conference at
l 40 o'clock Tonight with the chiefs
of the four railroad brothcrhoods.
Secretary OF the Interior Franklin
X. Lane arrived in the city at $3.50
1890 o'clock tonight with the chiefs
liam B. Wilson nearly an hour later.
Daniel Willard. president of tho Bal
timorc and ohio railroad. had pre-
ceded them from Washington. No ono
knew at what hour Samuel Gompcrs.
president Of the American Federation
Of Labor. the fourth mediator, would
arrive.
1t was the purpose of the defense
councils committee to carry their dis
cussion with the representatives of the
men as far as possible. and then call
in the members Of the national con-
fas ,;,, e
ayers All tho persons concerned in
the conference believed it might last
all night.
BRINGS NO MANDATE
FROM WASHINGTON
When Mr.. Wilson arrived at the hotel
where the meeting is being held he
declared he brought no mandate from
Washington.
The mediators had no "cut-and-
dried" plan. hes aid, but il was their
purpose TO bring about a compromise
although they had no idea along what
line.
Mr. Lane reached the hotel only "A
few minutes before the leaders Of the
brut hoods. headed by w c. Lee
The hour set for the conference was
$3.50 o'clock. THE railroad men did not
linger in the lobby, but went at once
to the rooms reserved for the meeting
MIR. Lane declined to discuss the pro-
gram of the mcdiators, except that it
was their mission to bring about a
settlement, if possible.
Il have not come here with a club
in my hand" he said but to listen
and investigate"
Secretary Lane and Mr.. Willard held
Il preliminary conference with the
representatives of the men. pending the
arrival of their confcrecs
The brotherhood chiefs refused to
discuss for publication their prpbahi.
attitude. They admitted. however. that
they had sent no message To President
wilson in response to his plea that
they strive TO bring their controversy
with the railroads To an "umnied,atc
accommodation" for patriotic reasons.
The managers committee made public.
however. telegram sent the lresi-
dent. in which they assured him they
would cooperate lin an earnest effort
10 avert the national calamity. which
would result from an interruption OF
railroad service"
BOTH SIDES CONTINUE
POLICY OF RETICENCt:
Both sides to the conflict continued
the policy of rcticencc they had main
tanned all daY. The managers were
making plans to combat the strike if
IL Is not to be averted through the cf- |
forts Of President Wilson's representa-
lives. and the broth crhooj leaders were |
simply marking time, as all their plans |
have been made to meet an emergency
Both sides expressed n Willingness to
renew their Joint conferences, but |
neither would make overtures to that