Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-23
RAILWAY TRA|NMEN
YIELD TO PRESIDENT
Will Avoid Strike Until Com
plete Consideration Is
Given Demands.
OFFICIALS ARE HOPEFUL

pears probable today, following yes
terday's conference at the White House
between President Wilson, labor repre-
sentatives and members of the fedora
mediation board.
Officials are hoping for a speedy ad
Judication of the claims which, for s
time, seemed destined to tie up the
nations rail facilities.
Under virtual promise to the Presi.
dent to avoid strike until complete con-
sideration can be given to their demands
tho brotherhoods today are free to lay
their case before the carriers for action II
case a deadlock develops. the trainmer
again will take their claims before the
President for further discussion.
A definite issue in the wage negotia-
tions, 1t was assured. could not be reached
before the first of the year, as the de-
mands will not be presented until Decem-
Der 1. Future developments will depend
f1rst, upon tho carriers disposition of the
deadlock. upon further negotiations agreed
to at the meeting at the White House.
Issues Cryptic Statements.
| Cryptic statements were issued by
President Wilson and brotherhood
chiefs after the two-hour conference, In
which the President announced that
the brotherhood heads agree, "fn case
of any critical situation of controversy
T. to consider any proposed So
| luton in spirit of accommodation and
statement was in similar vein, declar-
ing willingness to discuss and con-
slider any solution If situation should
arise which threatens the interruption
of transportation
What attitude the railroads would
assume as result Of yesterdays con-
ference was not made known Several
days ago, through the railroads war
board, they agreed in the event OF a
crisis to place their interests in the
position as he ehould deem best in the
public interest. The board was in ees-
sion much Of the day. but adjourned
before the result Of the White House
conference became known.
1t was believed generally there would
be no further move In the present con-
troversy until after the brotherhoods
present their demands for wage in
creases affecting 100000 operatives and
roads ageresating about Sl9s, ,000, ,00o
annually, Should the representatives o1
the roads and the brotharhoods be un-
able 70 -a8raAs tAA aaio9r fheang0uld
be placed IN the hands Of the govern
ment under the agreement and the
roads decision to leave their interests
to the Presidents disposition.
Signs statsmsnts.
Soon after the close Of the conference.
which was said to have been most
earnest and Mt times animated. the
heads Of the railroad brotherhoods fs-
sud this statement. which was signed
by the four chAirmen. Messrs. Stone,
Lee, Carter and Garretsen.
Tho men who comprise the railway
brotherhoods are thorough Americans,
therefore they believe in American
standards OF living. In consequence OF
this they realize that standards Of pay
are inadequate to meet present day
prices for commodities and for that
reason are demanding an increase in
present rates that viii meet half at
things which they are compelled to
| purchase.
They want to cooperate in every
way that is at all possible in the sue
| they fully realize that the most seri-
GUS thing that could occur during the
conduct of war would be any Interrupt
tton of railway transportation and they
people are determined to do everythins
within the bounds of reason to avoid
such interruption.
Being fully conversant with their
attitude and desire In this matter. we
are in a position to give the assurance
that IL a situation should arise which
threatens the interruption of trans
portation the men whom we repre-
cuss and consider any solution of the
difficulty which presented itself. and
doing so IN the spirit of patriotic CO.
| opera ton. and would undoubtedly CO.
A q rnrfHt h h.
most extent In arriving at a just, eouit-
able as well as patriotic conclusion
Wilson Issues Statement,
After the fersgoipE had been made
public. President Wilson issued this
| statement:
| I'm addition to the statement given
out by the heads Of the railway broth
| representatives of the press to say
that he had got from the interview W
| exactly the impression conveyed by the
statement OF the heads of the brother
hoods namely. that the men whom they
/ represented were not inclined to con-
tend for anything which they did moi
| deem necessary to their own mafnte-
families. and that they would be VIII
ling. in case any critical situation OF
| controversy should arise, to consider
/ any proposed solution in a spirit OF
accommodation anu patriotic pur-
pose"
Attending the conference were w. G
Lee, president of the Brotherhood OF
| Railway Trainmen; Warren s. Stone
grand chief of the Brotherhood of Lo.
connective Engineers: A. B. Garretson
| president OF the Order Of Railway Con.
ductors: w. S. Carter. president Of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemer
and Enginemen. and Judges William L
Chambers and Martin s. Knapp of the
United States board Of mediation ant
CLEVELAND Ohio. November "a
w. G. Lee, president of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen, who at
tended the conference at the Whit,
House yesterday between Presiden
Wilson. railroad brotherhood chief
and members of the federal mediatio,
board. said today the meeting was sat
isfactory to the brotherhood chiefs an,
that they hoped for satisfactory settle
ment of the wage questions.
The referendum vote now being ta r.
en- by the trainmen and the conductors
organizations on the wage propositioI
will not be completed until Noyembe
rs and brotherhood chiefs do NOT AZ
| pect to enter into negotiations viii
the railroads before December 10.
Liberty Loan Receipts Increased,
Additional receipts today from tn. !,