Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-03-17
President Appeals to the
Trainmen Not to Strike
at This Hour.
SEEKS A COMPROMISE
Chief Executive Sees No
Reason Why Arbitra-
tion Not Logical.

WASHINGTON. March lG.-rresi-
dent Wilson today called upon rail
road managers and chiefs of the en-
poyes' brotherhoods ns patriotic men
60 reopen the questions at issue be
tween them and prevent general
interruption of railway traffic 'in this
time OF national peril"
The presidents message. an appeal
for adjustment of differences and Il
solemn protest against strike, was
sent after he ana the cabinet had ap-
proved "A proposal of the council of
national defense that 1t send a com
mittcc 20 New York to undertake
mediation between the railroads and
their employees. At the same time the
committee, Secretaries Lane and VIII
son. Daniel Willard, president Of the
Baltimore x Ohio railroad, and
Samuel Gompcrs, president of the
American Federation Of Labor, started
for New York To seek immediate con-
ferences with representatives Of both
sides.
What VIII BE Lawful.
The president is confident that there
will be no strike. However, he al
ready is considering what may be
iblit II llln AIlNfdl u lllt pau loNlAlll
of the men involved is futile. Legal
officers of the government are study
ing the problem to determine what
measures will be lawful not only I'm
an effort to keep food supplies and the
mails moving, but to deal with an even
moro serious situation If the country
should be drawn into war. The laI.er
phase is being given only minor at
tentiOn, however, as officials are
satisfied that If war came the loyalty
of all the railroad men could be de-
pended upon.
The action OF the president came
with dramatic suddenness late this
afternoon. The council OF national de-
fense, including in its membership
several cabinet members. had held a
meeting at the war department and
deciding that with the United States
apparently on the verge OF war n
railroad strike would be national
disaster. proposed the sending OF me
diators.
Wilson Dcfles Physician.
Against the advice OF his physician,
the president just recovered from n
cold which has kept him in bed for
nearly two weeks, summoned "A cab
met meeting and in a short, decisive
session approved the course.
The president then sent his mes
sage to the representatives. of the rail-
roads and of the four brotherhoods.
1t follows:
'I deem 1t my duty and right
to appeal TO you in this time of
national peril to open again the
questions at issue between the
railroads aud their operatives
with n view to accommodation or
settlement
with my approval n commit
tee Of the council Of national de-
fense Is about to seek confer
ence with you with that end in
view.
"a general interruption Of the
railroad traffic Of the country at
this time would entail n danger to
the nation against which / have
the right to enter my most sol
emn and earnest protest.
at Is now the duty Of every
patriotic man to bring matters
of this sort TO immediate settle
ment. The safety of the country
against manifest pcrlls affecting
It's own peace and the peace of
the whole world makes con-
vention absolutely imperative and
seems TO me to render any other
choice or attitude inconcoivable."
Formal word that they had been
selected to carry on mediatory negO-
tiations was contained i'm n message
sent by Secretary Baker as chairman
Of the national defense council TO Sec
retarios Lane and Wilson and Mr..
Willard and Mr.. Gompers.
No Effort to Place Blame.
In the formal communications the
government did not seek to lay blame
for the present situation either on the
railroad officials or on the brother
CONTINUED on PAGE TWO
ADI &c Hl