The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-19


joint session between the brotherhood
chiefs and the managers ana with
much difficulty the chiefs stayed the
strike an act vital to the success of
our efforts at further mediation.
Leave 1t To MediatOrs.
I'VE now sought some adjustment
that would be effective should the
law be held to be unconstitutional
Many propositions were made to both
sides until the railroad expressed
Willingness to place the whole matter
with the committee. This action pro-
ceeded as the letter of the railway
rnanag gers states. from a desire to de-
monstrate to the country that the
railroads would not allow their own
conception of policy to stand in the
way of the fullest use of the roads
at a time of severe national strain.
The committee decided in view of the
action of congress in passing the Ad-
amson law and the necessity for inn
mediate actiCt.. that it was best to
adopt at once the memorandum
agreement of the previous day as APP
tiicable under all conditions Then
tn provisions of the Shour law by
agreement between the roads and the
men became the basis of the settle
- ri1ent and whether the supreme court
holds for the validity of the law or
against it. there will be no strike
. (Signed)
FRANKLIN X LANE
Wv E. WILSON.
DANIEL WILLARD.
SAMUEL GOMPERS.'
The committee sent the following
letter to Elisha Lee, chairman of the
railway committee:
I've are in receipt of your favor of
this date, placing in our hands for
Immediate adjustment the matter of
the differences between your COM
Inittee and the railroad brotherhoods
1--WE have brought this letter before
the brotherhoods with the statement
that in our judgment, it was advisable
TO put into effect the provisions OF the
Adamson law, whether il be held valid
or otherwise. This was acceptable to
them. Thus, by your action urged
thereto by the highest reasons of ma
tional concern, you have avoided
national calamity.
I'VE would be delinquent in true
sense of gratitude if we failed to ex-
press our sincere appreciation of the
action you have taken, We trust that
IL promises a long period of hearty
co-operation between the railroad
Arrangements and their employees"
Settlement Came Unexpectedly.
when the railroad manag gers left the
Conference room at IL o'clock last
night without having arrived at an
agreement it was set faces which
showed the strain they were under.
When the heads of the brotherhood
left an hour earlier, they, too, ap-
peared to be depressed
Secretary Lane plainly indicated
that the mediators had all but reach
ed the limit of their appeals, appar-
emily without result, the strike seem
inEly would go on rs announced.
The first intimatiCn that the tie-up
had been averted came unexpectedly
at 1916 o'clock this morning when a
representative of the railoard mana
gers conference committee telephoned
to the Associated Press and announce
ed: The strike is off" Several hours
elapsed before the settlement agree
Haent was signed.
Labor's Greatest Victory.
eW C. Lee. head of the trainmen
and spokesman for the brotherhood
chiefs, declared today that the set
tIemen of the controversy was the
greatest victory ever won for labor
e"Nearly 100000 men, he said,
''have swon the eight hour day with
ont Sc crificjng a cent of their money
for it We are now iE a position to
go back to our men with the greatest
thing ever put over for labor"
Mr. Lee said the brotherhood chiefs
would remain in New York until to-
xkorrow.
<Advices from Baltimore, where
members of the brothcrhoods already
had struck and refused to return TO
Work, had been received giving assur-
aaAees that the differences had been
settled.
Sign Agreement at 5:15 A. NJ.
The agreement which aVerted the
strike was signed in Secretary Lanes
nom at Sis this morning just a few
lpurs after the managers had agreed
Is abandon the long and bitter fight
they have made against the brother
hoods demands. With the last sigma
tare the tension in the little group re-
ltNed. The managers and the chiefs
shook hands with one another and
With each of the Washington medi-
ators.
THE sun was just touching the front
OF the neighboriI1g skyscrapers. Then