New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-15
President Will Confer With
Brotherhood Chiefs to
Urge Mediation
He Plans Drastic Steps
If Issue Is Forced
Executive Hopes Federal
Board Will Avert Strike
Now Threatening
Bv c. w. Gilbert

N -
rouneed here to-day that the President
o,onl5 hold a conference at the White
Eopse with the chiefs Of the railroad
h-otberboods on November %. Al TINS
.o,fcrenee it is expected that an
ocreeme.t will be entered into for the
nsdiation by the Federal Board OF
Mediation and Cancellation of the wage
.,estions between the railroad en-
riovss and the railroads and the sub
seouent arbitration of those ques'iohsS
;t The effort of the board fails.
No one expects the issue that Is
,;.s1v 70 arise when the men vote 70
.ubmit demands to the railroads 10
lead 70 a strike, but if it does the
President is prepared to operate the
railroads as a military measure. Inc
brotberhood leaders may not accept
orhitration as it is provided under the
Nsvlan6s law, but some plan Of arbi-
trst;on will probably be agreeable to
,.sr, and will be arranged at the con-
t.rsrce with President Wilson.
Wilson's Attitude
On Strike
Judge Chambers, Of the Board OF
Mediation and Cancellation, has al
ready held conferences with the heads
Of the brotherhoods looking toward
mediation, and if that fails, arbitra'
tion, and he arranged for the meeting
with the President.
The Presidents attitude on the sub
jeet Of the threatened strike is re-
vealed in the following letter to Judge
Chambers:
"My Dear Judge Chambers: May l
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
interruption in their relations on
either side until ample opportunity
shall have been afforded the United
States Board Of Mediation and Con-
Citation to bring about If possible
an smicable agreement, and that in
the event of a failure to bring about
such an agreement any controversy
that may have arisen will be sub
mitted 70 arbitration, in accordance
with the provisions Of the Newlands
law?
q take it for granted that your
efforts will succeed, because it is in
conceivable to me that patriotic men
should now for a moment contem-
plate the interruption Of the trans
portation which is so absolutely
necessary to the safety of the nation
and 10 its success in arms. as we'll as
TO its whole industrial life; but l
wanted, nevertheless, to express my
deep personal interest in the matter
and 70 wish you godspeed.
"The last thing / should wish to
contemplate would be the possibility
Of being obliged 70 take any unusual
measures to operate the railways,
and ! have 50 much confidence that
the men you are dealing with will
appreciate the patriotic motives un-
oerlying your efforts that shall look
forward with assurance TO your sue
cess
Cordially and sincerely yours,
"WOODROW WILSON"
The threat in the letter to operate
The roads in case Of strike is taken Il
mean that the President would 20 4
ConHess, which will be in session BY
The time the issue may arise, and OBJ
TAN legislation under which the rail
roads, because they carry military sup
plies, may be treated as military roads
and labor may be conscripted for THEN
Operation. II is not believed, however
that any such action will be necessary
The brotherhoOds will not be likely u
ADOPT extreme measures in the midst
Of war Moreover, they have generally
been willing 70 accept arbitration.
II has been the railroad managers
wtO have stood out against il in the
past - a one-sided device, which in
Ysr.abiy resulted in a compromise IA
yorng the brotherhoods.