New Britain herald., 1917-11-15
WILSON TO BLOCK
 RAILROAD STRIKE
Conference to Be Held at the
 White House on Nov. 22

Washington, Nov 15.-Operation of the railroads of the country as a military necessity, under the authority contained in the Federal railway eight-hour law may be exercised by President Wilson if the railway broth 'crhoods carry out their proposed de- mand for an increase of wages for railway employees and transportauon facilities are paralyZed as a result
 A broad hint that the president might be obliged to invoke the author ity to operate railroads is contained in letter which he has sent to Wll- liam l.. Chambers, Commissioner or Mediation and Arbitration, expressing deep interest in Judge Chambers ef- forts to bring about an agreement as to wages between the railroad execu- tives and the representatives of the brotherhoods.
 In order to take every measure to prevent transportation paralysis at this critical time, when all the rail- roads must work at full capacity to ascist the government and its allies in the movement of war material, the president has invited the heads of the railway brotherhoods to confer with him at the White House on Nov. 22. He is determined that there shall be 10. transportation paralysis, and it is believed that he will resist any ef fort on the part of the brotherhood heads to follow the tactics that en- abled them to coerce congress into en- acting the Railway Eight-Hour Day Law when sentiment in the National Legislature was opposed to this step.
 Judge Chambers has been in con- ference with the heads of the broth e4hoods but it is gathered, from what was said yesterday that he did not make any progress in his effort to persuade them that at this time pa tr:otism. demanded they should not press their grievances. The brother hood heads are credited with giving the cold shoulder to suggestions Hat their differences with the railroad executives be submitted to arbitra- tion.
 The Letter.
 The following letter from President Wilson to Judge Chambers expresses the presidents attitude toward the situations:
 My Dear Judge Chambers: May I not express my very deep and serious interest in your efforts to bring the railroad executives and the brother hoods engaged in train operation to an agreement that there shall be no fn- terruption in their relations on either side until ample opportunity shall have been afforded the United States Board of Mediation and Cancellation to bring about. if possible, an ami- cable agreement and that in the event of a failure to bring about such an agreement any controversy that may have arisen will be submitted to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the Newlands law?
 ''I take it for granted that your ef- forts twill succeed because it is in- conceivable to me that patriotic men should now for a moment contem- plate the Interruption of the transpor- tation which is so absolutely necessary to the safety Of the nation and to it's success in arms, as well as to it's whole industrial life; buk l wanted, nevertheless. to express my deep per sonal interest in the matter and to wish you Godspeed.
 ''The last thing I should wish to contemplate would be the possibility of being obliged to take any unusual measures to operate the railways and l nave HO luuCn cOVllOGnCc InaC the men you are dealing with will appre- ciate the patriotic motives underly- ing your efforts that I shall look for ward with assurances to your success.
 Cordially and sincerely yours,
 WOODROW WILSON"
 Judges Statement,
 Judge Chambers issued this memo randum:
 "As 8 result of the efforts of the Board of Mediation to bring the rail- road executives and the brotherhoods engaged in train operation to an agreement that there shall be no in- terruption in their relations on either side until ample opportunity shall have been afforded the United States Board of Mediation and Cancellation to bring about, if possible, an amicable agreement and that in the event o1 a failure to bring about such an agree. ment, any controversy that may have arisen will be submitted to arbitration in accordance with the provisions o1 the \eWlands law, Commissione1 Chambers has held conferences witf leading railroad officials and chic executives of the brotherhoods