Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-19
ROADS YIELD ON
ALL BlCP0nNTS
TO.BROTHERHODS
Greatest Victory Ever won
For Labor" Comments
Lee.
MED1ATORS GAIN
FULL CONCESSION
Agreement Signed at 5:15
This Morning-All are
Satisfied.

New York, March 19.-The rail-
road strike has been averted. Yieio-
ing to the appeal Of President Wilson
and facing the probability OF TINS
the vailroads early today granted the
demands Of the four railroad em-
ployes' brotherhoods for a basic eight
hour, day. Telegraph wires this morn
ing carried throughout the United
States messages from the brotherhood
chiefs resembling the orders for the
inauguration. Of the, great progressive
strike at z, o'clock tonight.
@ Complete Surrender.
The decision IL regarded 40 COM
plete; surrender TO the brotherhoods.
brpuFht about however. after the
patriotism OF the railroad managers
had been; put. to the test. The presi-
dents .mediators,-a playing what they
considered their last trump card,
were not successful in their mission
until after more than fifty hours OF
anxious conferences, all OF wnch
pointed within q short time before
the decision, was announced to an IN
evitable deadlock.
Secretary Of the Interior Lane and
the other mediators were visibly at
fected when told Of the action of the
railroad managers. Mr.. Lane sent
Immediately for the committee OF the
railroads. and, turning to Elshia Lee,
their spokesman. said:
'"This is q magnificent thing that
you have done for. your country. It
win 20 down in historp as one Of the
greatest things you ever did"
W. L. Lee, head Of the tratnmen.
announced that orders would go for
ward at once informing all district
chairmen Of the brotherhoods Of the
successful out come of the confer
ences.
Se0, ,00ey 900 Yearly Increase.
BY the terms Of the settlement, the
combined salary list Of the railroads,
According to conservative estimates.
the number Of workmen profiting by
this increase will be more than 300,-
900.
mat tho CRISIS resulting from the
etnktne of three American ships by
German submarines was tho prime
factor in clearing tho situation and re-
storing the country to normal condi-
t1ons Insofar as it's transportation 10.
by all. The presidents mediators
have made no secret of tho fact that
they viewed tho outlook with pessdm.
ism, 1t was evident that the strike
undoubtedly would become effective
unless something more, tntervemed
than the nero suggestion that tho
severence of diplomatic relations with
Germany might lead to open boat
hoedlideS.
Urged Roads to Yield.
The Presidents mediators again
communicated with the railroad man
ayers, however. with tho result that
they are said to have voted un-
animously to yield to the demands Of
tho brotherhoods ''that neither. at
home nor abroad should there 30 fear
or hope that tho efficient operations
of the railroads Of tho country will
be l1ampered or impaired"
Tho mediation negotiations and the
result were summed up in q state
mont issued today:
I'VE desire to express our apprecia-
tion Of the large and patriotic action
Of the railroad -managers' committee
which has put beyond peradventure
tho possibility Of . nationwide strike
Tho railroads have met the full de-
mand of the Adamson eight hour
law. This concession was secursd az
the elimination Of two days and
nights Of negotiations. i.
Pustponemeut First
sOur first effort was to secure q
postponement Of the strike which was
fixed for Saturday night. This post
ponement was secured by presenting
to the railroad managers q memor.
andum agreement drafted. by the
brotherhoodi which expressed the
provisions Of the Adamson law. We
asked the railroads to agree to that II
the Adamson law was held to be con-
stitutiOnal that this construction and