The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-23
Heads Of Great Railway Or
carnations Hold Long Con-
ference With President
NO INTERRUPTION OF
SERVICE DURING WAR
viii Considef Amy Proposed
Solution in Spirit of Accom-
mediation and of Patriotic
Purpose

Washington, Nov. 22.--Follow-
ing the lead of the railroads, the
heads of the Railway Brother
hood today placed their destinies
in the hands OF President Wilson
The strike that had been declar-
ed imminent IL tonight practical
ly beyond possibility.
In addition II wns agreed that
the demands made by tho work.
ers comprising the brotherhoods
will be discussed and adjusted.
To be exact the entire situation
from both sides Is to all intents
entirely In The keeping of the
president Both the railroads
and tho brotherhood heads have
imposed upon him the solution =.
OF the difYiculty.
The agreement was reached at
conference today at the White House
between the president and the four
brotherhood chiefs, Warren 9 stone.
of the locomotive engineers. w. G.
Ire. OF the railway trainmen: ". S.
Garter. or the LOCOMOTIVES frefnsfs and
enginemcn; and A. p. Garretson. OF
the Order Of Railway Conductors.
Judge w. L. Chamber and Judge Msr-
tin A. Knapp. OF the United States
board OF mediation and conciliation
were both present.
brotherhood Heads T~~uc Statement
- Ir,eF conference OF two hours.
the brotherhood heads issued the fol-
lowing statement:
The men who comprise the rail
way bretherhood's are thorough
Americans, therefore they believe in
American standards OF living and In
cor sss~snnc- OF this -ee,t-c that T. stn1d-
er5s Of gay that c'-re established IN
t$4- ard 1913 are inadequate to meet
prpeent dsv prices for commodities
and for that reaxon are demanding
IN Increase IN present rates that will
nee. half ~ lc.st the increase OF Goa.
OF these things they are compelled TO
purchase.
They want TO cooperate in every
wav that is At all po> <ihle IN the
successful prosecution OF he war. and
they fully realize that the most seri-
nus thing TIA. could ecoszr turing the
conduct Of war wouls he any inter
rurtion OF railway transportation. and
are determined 20 do everything with
in the bounds OF reason 10 avoid such
interruption.
tResng fully conve rssnt with their
attitude and desire in this matter we
are in a position to give the assurance
ahat II situation should arise which
threatens tbs interruption Of trans
portation the men whom we repre-
sent would%he more than willing to
discuss and consider any solution OF
the dificulty which presented itself,
doing so in the spirit of patriotic CO.
operation. and would undoubtedly CO.
operate with the government TO the
utmost extent in arriving at just.
equitable. rs we'll as patriotic conclu-
gIon.
In Hands of the President.
Very soon After this statement was
issued, the other statement was sent
on, from the White House. This nna
read;
I'm addition to the staement given
o.,t by the hea dis of the railway broth
erhoods. the president authorized the
representatives of the press to say
that he got from the interview ex-
acfly tho impression conveyed by the
abatement from the heads OF the broth
erhoods, namely, thst the men whom
they represented were not inclined
10 contend for anything which they
did not deem necessary to their own
maintenance ana the maintenance OF
their families, and that they would
be willing in case any critical situa-
ton of controversy should arise to
consider any proposed solution In q
spirit OF accomm notation. and of pa
trjotic purpose"
Following the issuance Of these
statements. the brotherhood heads
and the White House were equally
silent on what had actually transpired
Zee Garretson, Stone and Carter
were as sphinx-like as In those no,
August days df 1915 when another
and greater strike tmpended. Add
,,onai information from the White
House was equally unattainable.
AS stated, the brotherhood heads
agreed to allow the president to guide
their bark. 1t is understood that they
gaye him virtual control of their for.
tunes for the entire war period.
MFR. Wilson has strong hold upon
,he brotherhood heads. Last year
,vhen great pressure was exerted te
was he who aided them. Today he
was in a position to appeal to then
natriot.sm Also he had convinced
them last year OF fair treatment at his
hands.
From, the tenor of the statements il
is indicated that the men will not
entirely stop efforts for higher wages
and IT is also indicated thai some IN.
frease witt be. granted. 7f,tttis viii. 4
/. believed. be settled by the president
with the aid of the board OF medi.
alton and cancellation
In to this time the brotherhood
have never looked with favor upor
mediation hv the official board. Blu,
now that they haye presidential ass,r
ances that their rights will be care
fully safeguarded, ii is said they vii
drop their opposition.
Could Re No strike.
II was a foregoEe conclusion thai
there would be no strike, This wa.
practically settled when the railroad,
(Continued on Second Page.l