Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-03-19
Sinking Three American Ships
Aided in Reaching
Agreement
WILL PAY NO ATTENTION
TO THE SUPREME COURT
VIII Garry Out Provisions Of
Law Regardless Of Lat
tef's Decision

New York, Mar. I9.-The railroads
have met the fullest demands of the
Adamson eight hour law and thereby
definitely averted the threatened ma
tion-wide strike with the country on
the verge of its most serious crisis.
Patriotism, swayed to its height by
the sinking 0f three American vessels,
brought from the railway managers
committee early today the announce
ment that they would accept the broth
erhoods rather than give the
impression at home or abroad
that the efficient operation Of the
country's would be hampered or impair
ed in the face of its latest peril.
The railroads surrendered complete
ly, leaving their end of the adjustment
entirely in the hands of President Will
son s mediation board. A joint com
mittee is to thresh out the minute de-
tails.
The following statement was issued
by the mediators at a. M:
We desire to express our appTeeia-
tion Of the large and patriotic action
OF the railway managers committee
which has put beyond preadvcnture tho
possibility of q nationwide railroad
strike.
"The railroads have met the Yull de-
mands of the Adamson eight hour lau.
This concession was secured as the cuI-
mination of two days of negotiations.
Story Of Conference.
"0ur first effort was to secure q
postponement of the strife, which was
fixed for Saturday night This was se-
cured by presenting to the railway man
ayers memorandum agreement dFa1t-
ed by the brotherhoods which, with
some particularly expressed the pro-
vision Of the Adamson law.
"We asked the railways to agree
that If the Adamson law was held 90 be
constitutional that this construction and
application would be given to it. The
railways agreed to this at joint ses-
sion between the brotherhood chiefs and
the managers. And with much difficulty
the chiefs stayed the strike, an act that
was vital to the success of our efforts
and further mediation.
We next sought some adjustment
that would be effective should the law
be held to be unconstitutional In this
regard many propositions were made to
both sides, but none was accepted until
the railroads expressed their willingness
to place the whole matter in the hands
of this committee.
"This action proceeded, as the letter
from the railway managers states, from
a desire to demonstrate to the country
that the railroads would not allow their
own conception OF railroad policy ia
stand in the way of the fullest use of
the roads at time of severe national
strain
Ignore Supreme Court.
"The committee considered the mat
ter and decided that in view of the ae-
tion of congress in passing the Adamson
law and the necessity for immediate ac-
tion that it was best to adopt at once
the memorandum agreement of the pre-
vious day as applicable under all con
ditions.
"Thus the provision of the eight hour
law, by agreement between the roads
and the men became the basis of thu
settlement and whether the supreme
court holds for the validity Of the law
or not, there will be no strike"
The decision of the railway managers
which was as sudden as it was unex-
peVtcu ny All cAcepI bhoSt uiIcCttJ III
the conference, came after virtually 48
hours continuous conference.
The following letter was sent 10 the
railroad managers committee early to-
day by the mediation committee:
viii Follow the Lew
"Elisha Lee, Esq, chairman national
conference committee of the railways:
"Dear Mr.. Lee: We are in receipt