Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-03-18
WIRES
NEW R. R. APPEAL
Pleased at Brighter Outlook,
Hopes Roads and Employees
Will Avert Strike.
"FoR SAKE OF COUNTRY

President wilson ana his ADVISERS
were relieved and gratified by the
agreement to postpone tho nationwide
railroad strike until tomorrow at 8
PM. and the President last night tele-
graphed to the representatives Of the
railroads and the brotherhood leaders
in New York an expression Of his graf
ification.
Coupled with this was earnest solfci-
tation that further conferences should
draw the sides closer together and
spirit Of optimism prevailed about the
White House that the threatened labor
war would be averted.
The President sent his now appeal
after he had received word from Secre..
tary Lane that the negotiations would
be continued today. Mr.. Lane did not
go into details. but held out hopes for
a satisfactory settlement.
Presidents Message.
The Presidents message follows:
"I am exceedingly glad that tho con-
ferences have been reopened and that
the prospect OF & settlement looks
brighter. .-, ...-
.I hope most earnestly Tor the sake
Of oil concerned. and most OF all for the
sake OF the nation. that tho two parties
will continue to draw closer together.
and that a little further conference will
lead to the result the entire country
hopes for and expects"
The President. pleased At the days
developments, was described as very
hopeful Of an agreement which would
relieve him of taking drastic steps to
prevent the Gripping of tho nations
resources in the face Of an interna-
tional crisis. --
Speculation as to Court Decision.
Whether the Supreme Court of the
United States. on whose course future
moves in the controversy may hinge.
will deliver an opinion tomorrow on
the Adamson law. remained q subject
purely speculative. Before the present
situation arose there were indications
that a decision might be imminent. but
the courts intentions never are author
itatively forecast. Its deliberations in
chambers, when . decision will be an
nounced, and what tho decision will
be arc matters which by tradition as
old as tho court itself never are re-
vealed.
Although the President kept in close
touch during the day and last night
with the situation, he took no active
part in the negotiations and 1t was said
at the White House that no further
until tho New York conferences were
concluded.
Pleased by Postponement.
To officials about him he expressed
h,,<
made no formal comment He is un-
derstood to feel that in appealing to
the patriotism of both sides and Offer
ing mediation he has done all that is
possible for the present.
Meantime, the government is not los
ing sight of tho critical conditions with
which 1t would be compelled to deal
should the mediation finally fail. The
President and other officials continued
yesterday their consideration of what
steps could be taken legally to keep
traffic moving in case Of strike, but
no definite course of action was de-
cided on.
Attorney General in Close Touch.
Attorney General Gregory was ono Of
tho officials in closest touch with develop
ments during the day. The immediate
concern of his department involves pre-
cautions to safeguard such railroads un-
der federal receivership az apply for pro-
lection against a strike. Pending de-
velopments in New York, however. moth
ing will be done in the cases Of tho roads
which already have made such applica-
tions.
The Attorney General and his assist
ants also are devoting considerable at
Jention to precedents establishing what
broader action the President could take
to prevent general paralysis Of trans
portation. Up to last night no conclu-
sions had been announced, but the
still prevailed that should
a tie-up actually be threatened Mr.
Wilson would find some way to bring
the force Of the federal governmeut
to bear to relieve it
Receivership Discussed.
Steps discussed last night as possi-
BILE in case Of strike included the
alling out of the National Guard to
protect trains carrying mails and food
supplies. Whether It would be possi-
BILE to seek receivership of the roads to
enable the government to control and
operate them also was under tenta-
tive consideration. Ofacials empha-
sized, however, that any decision on
until the result Of the New York con-
ference 10 known.
Speculation among officials last night
revealed an opinion about evenly divided
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