The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-17
TRY 70 PREVENT STRIKE.
PEESiDENT CALLS RAILWAY
MEN TO WHITE HOUSE
CONFERENCE.
Chairman Of Board of Mediation ana
Cancellation Held Meeting I'm CIcvc-
iaAd With Chief of BrOthcrhOOds
Without Definite Agreement Being
Reached

Washington. Nov 14.-Once again
President Wilson has undertaken
personally, to prevent general raj.
road strike. He has called the heads
oi the four great railroad brothcc-
hoods to meet him in conference No
Vember %, and will insist that patrio
tism he put ahead of private inter.
ests that there be no attempt t.
handicap the operation of a vital pa.
OF the nations war making machir
cry.
The president is confident that moth.
ing unpatriotic will be done, but if thc
Necessity arises he is prepared to tax.
the required steps 10 prevent tie II
OF transportation.
In announcing today the COMM
conference with the union chiefs
Judge William l.. Chambers, chair
man OF the board of mediation an.
conciliation made public lett
from the president which said:
1t is inconceivablc to me that pa
triotic men should for a moment cor
tenn plate the interruption OF thu
transportation which is so absolutel,
necocsar.' to tho safety OF the nation
The last thing I should wish tc
contemplate would be the possibilit, ,
oh
measure TO operate railways, and
nave much confidence that the me-.
you are dealing with willfappreciat
the patriotic motive underlying you
Efforts that / shall look forward wit,
assurance to your success"
AT the time of the threatened
strike, avertcd by the eight hour law
last year, it was understood that thc
government developed plans 70
emergency operation of the railroad.
II that became necessary. At tina,
inc the United States was not at war
President Wilson's letter was sec
20 Judge Chambers two weeks ago
before the mediation board chairma
eft for Cleveland. Ohio, TO p confer
with the union leaders. 1t is 81;
that the conference held there VIZ.
productive OF substantial agreemen,
mat the engineers. conductors, train
h"h ana firemen were unwilling
commit themselves unconditionollv
arbitration.
An adjustment at the White Hous
next week IL hoped 70
which will dispose OF the possihilil
If ",rike at least for the durat;o
Of the war either by an agreement.
submit their differences TO an arb:
-ration board whose findings woul
be binding or by postponing a wag
contest until the enemy oyerseo>
has been defeated.
The switchmen's union had oproe
% arbitration and 1t is understoo
hat the Order of Railway Telegraph
@fs ~ willing TO put it's case in the
hands OK an impartial tribunal. Th
new demands by the railroad WORK
ers would add 100000 900 yearly
heir pay envelopes, according to co
'uiations Of the railway managers.
Judge Chambers issued this memo
"a nd urn:
AS a result of the efforts of IN
ooard OF mediation TO bring roilrc.
executives and the brotherhoods on
gagged in train operations to =
agreement that there shall be no in
eruption in their relations on eitbc,
'ide until ample opportunity sha
nave been afforded the United State
BOARD of mediation and conciliotio
% pring about if possible an an.ica
We agreement and that in the even
81 a failure to bring about such M
'sreement any controversy that m.
'aVe arisen will be submitted to or
'''ration in accordance with the nro
'lsion of the Newlands l,v con,
missioner Chambers has held confer
'hces with leading railroad Official
'ho chief executives of the broth
A' conference in Cleveland. O
'h Thursday last between .udc,
Numbers and Warren s. Ston,
r'"o chief' Brothe HOOD of Locomo
I've Engineers; w. :. Carter nro.,
tent brotherhood OF Iocouo,,,
iremen and Enginemen; l.. f.. sbep
''r"' Irst vice president Order O
'"'iway conductors, and w. G.. Leo
resident brotherhood of RoiIr,,a |
'rainmen. ii is Understood car,a;
'"''"'''''i agreements were reached