Evening star., 1917-03-16
Action May Be Taken After the
Cabinet Meeting Is
Over.
POSSIBLE DRASTIC STEPS
ARE GIVEN CONSIDERATION
One Suggestion Is for U. S. to Ask
Receivership for Railroads.
and Operate Them.

II became known today when sno
cabinet assembled at tho White
House that the council OF natonaA
defense II working upon plans 10
preveut tho strike OF the railroad
trainmen of the country, which II
scbeduled to begin tomorrow night.
The council, which includes the Sec
rotary of War, the Secretary OF tho
Navy. the Secretary Of the Interior
and other government omciais' as
well as leading men in various lines
of private endeavor, including labor
leaders. il empowered under the act
which created the council to deal
with Just such emergencies NJ the
railroad strike would present. The
councils plans for preventing the
strike are being laid before the full
cabinet and President Wilson this
afternoon.
President Wilson is expected to make
a determined effort through the power
of the government to avert the titanic
railroad strike ordered to start tomor-
row night. following conference with
his cabinet this afternoon.
Throwing light on the cabinet dis
cussion was a statement today from
Chairman Newlands of the Senate in
terstate commerce commission and OF
the Joint congressional committee in
railroad problems. that
President Wilson has ample authority
to use the police power of the federal
to keep trains moving in
interstate commerce and would do SO
II necessary.
Consideration was given by admin
istration officials to possible drastic
steps which might be taken to rorce
the operation Of the railroads In case
the strike actually comes. One means
was for the government to
ask for receiverships for the roads and
their operation. The dis
cassion was entirely tensafive. howeEer
To Concentrate on Foodstuffs.
with all agencies of the government
bent on q desperate effort to avert the
strike, the railroads designated in the
strike order are today declaring freight
embargos and preparing to concentrate
all their efforts on moving foodstuffs for
human consumption,
1, was stated on good authority that
some of the roads have consult
ed with government officials regarding
the use of state militia to guard their
freight houses and to protect the trains
that they intend to attempt to run
The President had Cancelled regular
cabinet meeting when he got reports from
the conferences in New York, and then he
suddenly summoned the members for this
afternoon.
A general impression prevails in official
circles that the President, before going
further, will appeal to both railroads and
men not to plunge the country into a rail-
way strike at this critical juncture of in
affairs.
Cabinet Said to Be Divided.
Further than that the Presidents pur-
poses have not been openly disclosed.
1t is known that one element in the
cabinet, regarded as favoring the labor
side of the controversy. is pressing to
let the situation come to a strike If
the railways do not yield. on the as
sumption that the strike VIII be sue
cessful.
Another element. regarding strike
at this time as a national calamity. al
most an unpatriotic act, is pressing
for vigorous action to prevent it.
Congress at the last session failed to
pass a bill to empower the President
to seize and operate RAILROADS IN emer-
seucy, and many officials We're inclined
to doubt the efficacy of a personal ap-
peal from the President to railroads
and employees to compare their differ
ences. Those more optimistic believed
a compromise would be arranged. per
hans even after the first phases of the
strike had been put into effect.
some of the Presidents advisers
pointed out today that while he favored
the contention OF the men in the con-
.roversy last fall. that was purely a
natter between the men and the roads.
rhe situation now, they say. concerns
he government vitality and that in such
. situation tho President regards the
interests as overshadow-
ng all others.