Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-03-18
Brotherhood Leaders Predict
Threatened Tie-Up Will Be
Averted Tomorrow.
MEDIAT0RS WIN 48-H0UR
DELAY AFTER LONG PARLEY
Managers Said to Have Agreed to
Accept Employees View Of Adam.
son Law, If It Be Upheld.

By the Associated Press,
NEW YORK, March H.
After a forty-eight-hour truce
between the four railroad broth
erhoods and the railroads had
been declared here late today,
thus averting the great pro
strike that was to have
begun at 7 o'clock tonight, w. G.
Lee, chief of the trainmen, and
spokesman for the brotherhood
chiefs, asserted that he believed
an amicable settlement of all the
differences would be reached hy
Monday.
Another official of the railroad
brotherhoods, who would not per-
NIT the use of his name, made tho
fiat declaration tonight that
there would be no strike, and that
the brotherhoods had won z COM
plete victory.
This was taken to mean that
the efforts of the President's
committee of mediators repre-
senting the council of national
defense not only had been sue
cessful in hating the strike to-
night, but that with the resump-
tion Of conferences tomorrow and
Monday the whole situation
probably would be cleared and
the country again assured of nor
NAL transportation conditions.
Many Go Out on Strike.
Mr.. Les's reassurtng statement came
after he was informed that many mem-
bers Of the four brotherhoods in Ohio.
West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Illi-
nois. failing to reoeive word Of the
postponement Of the strike actually
had quit work tonight. He said he was
not surprised at this. inasmuch as there
was so little time-less than three
hours-in which to communicate with
the men.
'aThat should be sufficient proof Of
the fact that we were not talking idly
when we said all our members would
obey the strike order" said Mr. Lee.
I'VE knew they would-every ono OF
them"
It was agreed with the railroads, he
eft
men falling to receive word of the
change In the situation and going on
strike the railroads should not at
tempt to discipline them in any way.
understanding would be Strengthened
out before midnight and that those who
had left their places would have re-
turned to work by that time.
Truce After Long Conferencs4
Tho decision late today to postpone
the strike for forty-eight hours was
reached only after three OF the Presi-
dents MISUNDERSTANDING of the In
terri Lane, Secretary of Labor Wilson
and Daniel Willard had labored al
most necessarily since early last night
with the four brotherhood chiefs and
the conference committee of railroad
Samuel Gompers. president of tho
American Federation of Labor. who
also was appointed a mediator. did not
arrive in this city until tonight, eN-
planning that he had been at Atlantic
City and did not learn that his pres
ence was desired hero until this after
noon.
While Il was generally understood
that q tentative agreement had been
reached, all who participated In the
conferences maintained silence until
Mr.. Lee made his statement tonight.
ofv,, hs1
hood intimated that concessions had
been made by the railroads that prob
ably would be acceptable to tho en-
ployes. He declined to outline these.
simply saying:
II believe that BY Monday we shall
reach an agreement which will avert
q strike"
Considerations That Brought Truce.
From other sources regarded ~ su-
Il was learned. however,,
that three important considerations en-
tered into the negotiations. Thass
were:
Pressure Of public opinion against he
strike.
The possibility Of a decision Monday
by the Supreme Court on the const1tu-
Of the Adamson eight-hour
law.
A proposal that the railroads accept
The brotherhoods' Interpretation" Of
tho law in the event of its being up
held.
Mr. Leo admitted that the possibility
Of IL decision by the Supreme Cour-
had been discussed. as well as
the Interpretation to be placed upon tho
law by both sides to the controversy ia
the event Of its being declared constI-
rutionai.
1t was learned that tho chief question
or consideration tomorrow will be to
determine the attitude of the brotherhoods
md the railroads in the event the Adam
ION law should not be upheld by the
Supreme Court. In quarters close to
10Th factions it was said that tentR-
i've agreement already had been reached
md that the conference tomorrow would
Iettle the details.
Mr.. Gompers to Take Part.
Samuel Gompers is expected to par
icipate in the conference tomorrow. The
irst thing Mr.. Gompers did after ar
living here tonight was to communicate
With Secretary Lane and inform him hs
vas ready % % to work. 1As hhes
3