New Britain herald., 1917-03-17
'Mediators in Session With Brotherh OOd Chiefs and Railroad Managers All Day
DAY OF ARGUMENTS
 AT ELEVENTH HOUR

Secretary Zane of Interior Depart.
 ment Says Prospects Arsp Brighte. < But Is Unable to Make Announce. Y ment As He Had Intended-Presi.
 dent GOmpers of A. F. of l.. Fails
 to Put in Appearance.
 'sS New York, March 17.-For more < than six hours. until $40 o'clock this ] morning, the committee from the { council aof national defense labored with the railroad managers and the S brotherhood chiefs without finding a way to prevent the national railroad strike called for ' o'clock tonight. Hope of settlement was not aban- s doned. however. for the mediators continued their efforts a. few hours later. It is probable that these peace conferences will last all day.
 When the night session ended at . the hotel Biltmore none of the wearaed conferees would discuss the situation. The only announcement came from Secretary Wilson of the department of labor, who said that the mediators would meet the broth erhood representatives again at s:3O q. m. today and the railroad man. agers at II a. m.
 The committee from the council of national defense sent from Washing ton by President consists of Secretary Lane of the department of the inte- rior; Secretary of Labor Wilson, Samuel Gompers, president of. the American Eederation of Labor. and Daniel Willard, president of the Bal timore and Ohio sailroad. Mr. 0om- pers did not take part in last nights conference and bis whereabouts could not be discovered. Fl
 Iane Hosds No Oub.
 The mediators began their labors at 9 o'clock with the arrival of .Secre- tary Lane. Mr. Wilson had reached New York earlier In the evening, and Secretary Wilson joined them at 1O:30.. The hrst session was with the leaders of railroad brotherhoods. They declared they had come hero with no definite plans and with no commands. As Secretary Lane expressed it-"I have not come here with club in my hand. but to listen and to investi- gate.''
 At 1915 a. m. the railroad managers, who had been waiting in their quar- ters at the Grand Central terminal. were called into the conference. The meeting of the representatives of em- ployes and employers lasted barely an hour. Before 2 o'clock the brother hood men left the room and, it is be- Meved, began 8 conference of their own which lasted well toward day. light. The managers remained with the ,mediators until $40 a. m.
 It is understood that the Council of National Defense committee ap- peaked to both sides on the ground of patriotism and urged them to avert the strike on the ground that at such time, as this 1t would be a national calamity. There were rumors that brotherhoods might be asked to ac- cept the terms of the switchmen's award. which would give the men nine hours pay for eight hours work in- stead of the ten hours pay provided by the Adamson law. No inkling of what transpired in the conference room, however. came from any of those present.
 Embargoes On An Freight.
 In preparation for the strike all the big railroads have issued embargo orders on freight. The New Haven announced that beginning tonight all sleeping and dining car service would be discontinued unless meanwhile the strike was declared off. M4A of the roads announced that efforts will be made to continue the movement of food and fAe1.
 1 !
 Secretary Lane was asked if any specific plan was under consideration today looking toward an adjustment. He replied:
 There are various plans before us We want to find out what will be ac- ceptable to both sides. We are work ing sincerely and earnestly to find a solution to the problem. After we have talked to the brotherhood chiefs we will see the representatives of the railroads again.
 MT. Lane said it had not yet been determined whether both sides would meet with the mediators in a general conference.
 Prior to the resumption of confer ences with the brotherhood represen- tatfves this forenoon one of the me- diators said the situation was devoid of developments. Neither side had made oyertures, he said, and he did not consider the outlook promising at that hour.
 From an authoritative source it is learned that, to avoid international the strike order affect ling the New York Central lines does