New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-14
..d.r, Pledge Their War
srrport to Him and Again
Threaten the Country
Government Control of
Carriers Is Suggested
Meanwhile Preparations fol-
Nationwide Strike, War
orNo War, Go Forward
,r-c, 1bs Tribune Bureau


,..d. of railway trainmen, hremen and
.,sers. holding the power of let or
trance over the whole country's
..,rortation system, are playing
Ia which nobody understands.
War or no war. they will strike, they
- unless the railroad managers yield
.,tbsir demand for an eight-hour basis
4 .s,,v At the same time they assure
., President. in a letter given out at
q, White House to-day, "if our coun-
~ becomes involved in war, that we
"a the membership we represent can
!, relied on 10 support you to the
illsst extent.
When W. G. Lee, president of the
s,o.berhood of Railway Trainmen, was
,.,d afterward what those words
-,nt he answered evasively. What
IA been written TO the President, he
aid meant only that in the event OF
var government supplies would be
transported.
Want L. 5. to intervene
There is current in railroad circles
,umor that what the railway brother
lsods really wish to bring about is
direct government Intervention, ana
,.,t some of the labor leaders expect
thy 10 be the outcome.
me argument is supposed TO be that
| u,he government took over control OF
Il, railroads as an emergency measure
+, eight-bour schedule would so into
,s,et Immediately. since the President
wholly committed TO it as social
~;5eiplc. once this had happened the
aaory would be final.
color was given to this hypothesis
b The recent last night OF copy OF
suustin No. >" of the Brotherhood OF
ls,snotive Fremen and Enginemen.
Is Carter. the radical among the
wv -FOUR" leaders. is the author OF
tbs bspetin. In it he says IN black
istsdne:
II here is a sincere public de-
nsud that railway employees shall
ne strike for the eight-hour day,
'ssa let the Federal government
operate the railways and assume re-
sponsbilitv for wages and working
conditions for railway employees
Denies Seeking Seizure
One OF the brotherhood chiefs gave
he following statement, which he in
sisted for personal reasons should be
anonymous:
There is no foundation for the
',s!ement that we arv seeking to force
he government % take over the rail-
iosds as a preparedness measure. Such
proposition has not entered into our
alterations. We would oppose such
step in time e peace, and would ap-
Prove il as q temporary war measure
t1ly when our military authorities con-
slaered IL a necessity. We are not seek
lg socialism, but justice. The rail-
rosds are plenty able to meet our de-
nsnds. which would not cost them as
nueh as they claim
Developments of the Day
Other developments here to-day in
tuded
}. The declaration by a man very
tose to the President that the latter
would take no steps to interfere with
say strike situation that might de-
,s!op. and specifically that the Presi-
Gen, was convinced he had no authority
2 'eize the railroads and operate them
'ol government purposes.
l. The statement by the chiefs of the
Notherhoods that their demands as
gesshted 70 the managers next Thurs
q! would be exactly the same as those
discussed a. the conferences last De
ssnoer. These demands are for the
saioieement Of the spirit Of the Adam
,on lsw-the elimination Of penalties
lN overtime. but the adoption of the
.sathour day as the basis of pay in
.;sad Of the ten-hour day. This is, in
'1sei, demand for an increase Of 25
M cent in the wages Of freight trans
RHstion employees.
.; Denial by the chiefs that the
Enke, II called, would take the form
progressive series, as the man
sss's had said would be the case. "If
sstnke at all" said one of them, sit
VI MI the whole country at once"
Backed by A. +. of l..
T. Endorsement Of the brotherhood
~ sae,s plans by meeting here OF
s-ood committee ehsirmen OF the
sanesstern territory, embracing all
ae railways east Of the Mississippi
"a south Of and including the Chesa-
Nsts Ohio Railway.
.. The admission that this indorse-
sat came only after vigorous opposi-
'h had been made in the conference
shy action during the international
~Ns which the nation faces now.
"A The absolute silence Of the lead
:. concerning the action at similar
sHng held in 81. Louis, and attended
representatives OF the brotherhood
snosrs IN the Southwest.
a.. The Ofieial announcement that the
e.Ssncan Federation Of Labor unquali-
,,Ay indorsed the plans Of the broth
,is'ocl, and the admission that these
s.r, 80, had been discussed al the SO
Ssso preparedness conference OF the
"a'ion leaders here yesterday.
Disloyaliy Is Denied
a." brotherhood readers issued a
.s.rt tonight in which they re-
..s'eo intinustioDs that the transpor-
smp!oyes are not loyal citizens"
~ '7.ct charged that the railway
a.g,ii had deliberately postponed