The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-17
Pins Faith i'm Efforts
of His MediatOrS.
However, Efforts Continue to
Cope With Situation.
MAY HOLD A TRUMP CARD
Declare He VIII Not Permit
Strike to Cripple Business.
Question Whether He Intends
to Use Military Power.

Washington, March 17.-At 2:25
p. m. President Wilson had not yet re-
ceived any report from the mediators
in New York as to the expected strike
on the proposition they had submitted
to the railroads and the brotherhoods
for averting the threatened strike.
The firmest conviction holds here,
however, that the strike will not go
into effect at O'Clock tonight.
The president had ordered his car
preparatory to taking an automobile
ride, but delayed starting for some
time, anticipating some direct word
from New York from the mediators.
Washington. March 17-President
Wilson believed today there will be no
railroad strike tonight
On the contrary. he thought that
the mediators he sent post haste to
New York yesterday afternoon would
prevail upon both sides of the impend-
ing rail trouble to adjust their diff
ferences peacefully.
This confidence did not lull him into
inaction. He is studying means of ac-
ton to prevent railroad and business
paralysis with it's consequent suffer-
ings for thousands and thousands of
citizens.
Legal precedents, presented by his
advisers, have been carefully studied
sion that the president would be en-
abled to take strong steps to check
the strike. Whether he would be able
to put the roads under full martial
law was uncertain. tho the presidents
showed he has power to do that in
event of any violence on the lines.
In any event, his advisers said, the
president does not propose to let any
railroad strike drag along into a Bit
ter warfare with attendant high food
prices shortage of supplies and gen.
eral Gripping of business.
Aside from the probability that the
presidents mediators may draw a sat
isfactory settlement in New York,
there is the possibility that the su-
preme court will hand down its Adam
son law decision Monday.
Court Decision Would Settle 1t.
Should this decision be favorable,
the trouble would be swept aside and
the railroads compelled to comply with
the eight-hour statute.
The fact that President Gompers of
the American Federation of Labor had
not Joined the mediators last evening,
came to light over night, but it was
said that he would serve with the
others today.
The navy department, with keels
about to be laid for six new scout and
four battle cruisers, as the first step
in the execution of its great speed up
naval building program, today faced
complete suspension of work thru the
rail strike called for tonight.
Best government authority today
held the department stands absolutely
powerless to force delivery of vital
materials for continuance of the work.
Question Whether Wilson Can Act.
Provision for national emer-
gency" is apparently lacking.
1t was realization of this, officials
said, which prompted President Will
sons urgent request for action on the
remedial legislation which failed at
the close of congress. Under this, the
president, proclaiming national
emergency to exist, would have been
empowered to seize forthwith and
operate the country's transportation
system.
Authority is found in last years
army bill for forcing the railroads to
accept government shipments despite
freight embargoes and to give prefer
ence to government supplies
Provision for acting in event of
strikes or lockouts, however. except in
time of actual war, was found lack
ing.
Some officials were disposed to feel
the president, in the absence of spe-
cific authority, should take the matter
into his own hands and decide the
Ii+xy of IL later