The Detroit times., 1917-03-16
WILSON AND HIS
CABINET TACKLE
STRIKE PROBLEM


when the railroad managers hur-
riedly went into conference shortly
after W. @. Lee. speaking as prcst
dent OF the brotherhood OF railway
trainmen. suggested the step.
The brotherhood chiefs followed
the example of the managers and
also went into an informal confer
ence.
Lee made bis statement In talk
ing with newspaper men and the
quickness with which the railway
managers went into conference led
TO the belief that IL was being tAv-
orahly considered.
From the railway managers' con
ference shortly came "unofieial"
word that Lees request for President
Wilson 10 mediate amounted TO ap
proximately the same thing az the
managers suggestion yesterday that
the Cocktails eight-hour commission.
appointed by the president. settle
the whole controversy The oppos-
ing camps were apparently much
nearer together than during ysster-
days peace conference"
Lee today charged disloyAity 10
several minor leaders In the brother.
hood councils and admitted that
thru fear OF possible Imprisonment
on conspiracy charges, the brother
hood chiefs have passed the strike
order 20 the men by spoken word
The customary written order was
abandoned. he minated. because Of
the fear that n might be construed
! as a violation OF the law forbiddinE
interference with interstate trafie
w. q. Lee, chairman OF the train
mems brotherhood. declared TO-DAY
that s5 per cent OF the men called
cut Saturday night VIII strike.
The railway managers cannot get
II into their heads that this strike
r. real and apparently they wiz not
believe II until they wake up Sun
day morning and nnd their trains
stopped" he said. The railroads
claim At least IS per cent Of their
men WIN remain loyal, this group
being composed OF men who have
long service behind them and are
nearing the time when pensions
would become operative"
Speaking OF disloyaity. he said
Don't forget history says our
Saviour found one Judas among the
~ he selected. We. therefore. do
not hope 10 beat HIS record. and
we look for at least one in IL"
He declared that one man was
known 70 have gone 70 railroads
with information and 10 have re-
ceived as pay for this service 800
a month. Others, he declared. are
Known.
The only way we can determine
these things" said Lee. "is 20 coun,
noses Sunday and thereafter. Don't
forget We left the entire matter 10
President Wilson last September
and agreed TO abide By his propos-
ais then The railroads refused 10
accept hts recommendation 20 set.
tie the question then. T>have since
publicly proposed 10 leave the en-
tire controversy 20 President VIII.
son 10 personally say whether We
should have the eighthour day In
freight and yard service without
reduction Of present daily rates.
The railroads seemingly prefer a
strike. rather than abide by Presi
dent Wilson's suggested methods OF
settlement Who IL disloyal to the
government
The nation already had begun 20
feel effects Of the order early to.
day. Drastic embargoes were be.
ing placed on freight shipments
Food spectators were reported 40
tive
Today ticket of1ces were besieged
by persons seeking TO return home
before the tie-up IL put into effect
The effect OF the strike on this
city's food supply was a matter OF
grave speculation. Tn some quar-
ters II was declared that I'VE days
A. the most would see the city In
nearfamlne conditions
Freight employees. yardmen and
engine hostierp on the New York
Central lines east and west. the
Nickel Plate and Baltimore a Ohio
railroads and In the great yards In