Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-20
.PATR|OT|9M0F
RAILWAY HEADS
IAvERTS STRIKE
IN FACE OF WAR
Trainmen Granted Demands
for Eight-Hour Day and
Ten Hours Wages
AGREEMENT COMES
AS A GREAT RELIEF

New York, March 19-The railroad
strike has been averted. Yielding to
the appeal of President Wilson and
facing the probability of this country's
entrance into the world war, the rail
roads early today granted the demands
of the four employees brotherhoods for
basic eight hour day. The telegraph
wires this morning are carrying
throughout the United States messages
from the brotherhood chiefs rescind
Ing the orders for the Inauguration OF
the great progressive strike at
o'clock tonight
The decision is regarded as a COM
plete surrender to the brotherhoods
brought about, however, after the pa.
triotism of the railroad managers had
been put to the test The presidents
mediators. playing what they consid
cred their last trump card, were not
successful in their mission until after
more than fifty hours Of anxious con.
ference, all of which pointed within a
short time before the decision was an
nounced to an inevitable deadlock.
Thanks for Managers.
s Secretary of the Interior Lane and
the other mediators weres H~thly af
fected when told of the action of the
.aalsaA a-<ssa fsssNers. N 1aste sesf Sffif'
ydeSiately for the committee OF the
railroads and, turning to Elisha Lee,
their spokesman, said:
4 "This is magnificent thing you
have done for your country. 1t will go
down in history as one of the greatest
things you ever did"
The brotherhood chiefs who already
left the hotel where the conferences
were being held and had retired for
the night. apparently convinced that a
settlement of the differences could not
be reached, were summoned next.
Their faces showed the relief they felt
from the strain under which they had
1abored since early Friday evening
with the presidents committee. w. G.
Wee, head of the trainmen. announced
or them that orders would go forward
t once informing all district chairmen
the brotherhoods of the successful
ltcome of the conferences.
BY the terms of the settlement. the
ombined salary list of the railroads
Hil! be increased approximately $780,
100000 year, according to conserva-
tive estimates The number of work
nan profiting by this increase will be
hore than 100000.
Act One of Patriotism.
That the crisis resulting from the
sinking of three American ships by
herman submarines was the prime fac
ttor in clearing the situation and re-
ktoring the country to normal condi-
u 20 sF- two c.
Hies were concerned, was conceded by
MI The railroad managers. who until
80 late hour last night had held out
sainst the brotherhoods, had been
& dismissed temporarily by the presi-
&ient's mediators, who made no secret
,Fbf the fact that they viewed the out
Nook with pessimism. Secretary Lane,
"a short time before word came that the
smanagers had yielded, issued state
kmcnt that the conferences would be re-
iumed today but intimated that he
Fvas none too hopeful of settlement.
! The railroad managers and brother.
ood chiefs had been told of the seri.
dsness Of the international situation.
put the warnings had apparently fal-
en- on deaf ears. It was evident that
he strike, which originally had been
ct for Saturday evening at O'clock
ut had been postponed to permit of
urther negotiations, undoubtedly
would become effective unless some
thing more interviewed than the nero
suggestion that the severance of diplo-
matte relations with Germans nigh.
lead to open hostilities.
The presidents mediators again
communicated with the railroad man.
egers however, with the result that
fhey are said to have voted unanimous
| ly to yield to the demands of the broth.
erhoods In order that neither at home
nor abroad should there be fear or
hope that the efficient operations of the
railroads Of the country will be ham.
pered or impaired"
Statement Is Issued.
4 The mediation negotiations and their
Eesult were summed up in the follow
ing statement issued by the committee
Srom the council Of national defense:
1--WE desire to express our apprecia-
zion Of the large and patriotic action OF
The railway managers committee which
has put beyond peradventure the pos.
sibility OF nation wide railroad strike.
The railroads have met the full de.
mand of the Adamson eight hour law.
This concession was secured as the
elimination of two days and nights of
negotiation.