Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-03-18
WILSON WIRES
ROADS AND MEN
HOPE NOSTR|kE

Republican =. P. Leased Wirel
WASHINGTON. March 17.-Presi-
dent Wilson tonight telegraphed the
representatives of the railroads and
, their employees meeting in New York,
expressing pleasure over the agree
ment to postpone the threatened nation
wide strike until Monday and earnest
ly urged further conference to draw
the two sides closer together.
The presidents message follows:
Il am exceedingly glad that the con-
ferences have been reopened and that
the prospect of a settlement looks
brighter
II hope most earnestly for the sake
of all concerned and most of all for
the sake of the nation that the two
parties will continue to draw closer
together. and that a little further con-
ference will lead to the result the en-
tire country hopes for and expects
The president sent his new appeal
after he had received word from Secre-
tary Lane that the negotions would
be continued tomorrow Mr.. Lane did
not go into details but held out hopes
of a satisfactory settlement.
With the general railroad strike
postponed for another AS hours through
President Wilson's mediation there was
increasing hope tonight that it would
be averted altogether.
The president, pleased over the days
developments, was described as very
hopeful of any agreement which would
relieve him of taking drastic steps to
prevent the Gripping of the nations
resources in the face of an interna-
tional crisis.
Whether the supreme court, on whose
course future moves in the controversy
hi al;
Monday on the Adamson law remained
a subject purely speculative. Before
the present situation arose there We're
indications that decision might be
imminent, but the courts intentions
never are authoritatiYely forecast. It's
deliberations in chambers when a de-
cision will be announced and what the
decision will be are matters which by
tradition as old as the court itself new
er are revealed.
Although the president kept in close
touch with his mediators in New York
he took no active part in the negoti-
ations and il was said that no further
move on his part was contemplated un-
til the New York conferences were
concluded. To officials about him. he
expressed pleasure over the postpone =
ment, but made no formal comment.
He is understood to feel that in appeal
ing to the patriotism of both sides and
offering mediation he has done all that
is possible for the present.
Meantime the government is not los
ling sight of the critical conditions with
which it would be compelled to deal
Ishould the mediation finally fail The
president and other officials continued
their consideration of what steps could
be taken legally to keep traffic NOV
ing in case of a strike, but no definite
course of action was decided on
Attorneys General Gregory was one
of the officials in closer touch with
developments. The mediate concern
of his department involves precautions
to safeguard railroads under federal
lreceiVerShip.
The attorney general and his assist
: ants also are devoting considerable at
i tention to precedents establishing what
broader action the president could take
to prevent a general paralysis of trans
Dortation. Tn to tonight no conclusion
had been announced but the impression
still prevailed that should a tie-up ac-
, tually be threatened, Mr.. Wilson would
find some way to bring the force of the
federal government to bear to relieve
it.
, Stems discussed tonight as possible
3 in case of a strike included the callins
2 Dut VI tie HdlIOIldl SQdiu 10 pTOlet
trains carrying mails and food supplies
/ Whether it would be possible to seel
f receivership of the roads to enable tn,
e government to control and operat,
them also was under tentative consid
GRAFTON. Officials emphasized however
: that any decision on these suggestion.
: must be postponed until the result O
r the New York conferences is known.
e Speculation among officials tonigh
4 revealed an opinion about evenly di
}. ivided on the possibilities of a decision
: from the supreme court on Monday OF
: the Adamson law.
Il From the fact that attorneys fol
: both sides asked for an early decision
: and that two decision days when al
opinion was expected already hav,
: passed, some legal authorities believ,
e lit will not again be deferred. On the
Continued on Page Two)