Arizona republican., 1917-03-17

Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor. is the
fourth member Until tonight it was
understood at the White House thar
he had gone to New York with the
committee, but it developed that he
had been out of the city for two
davs and hat Secretary Lane en-
trusted with arrangements for the
committees trip, probably had not
been afle to reach him. Officials at
the federatiop's Headquarters would
not say where Mr.. Gompers WAS. but
explained that he had been keeping
in touch with the brotherhood lead
ers from a point near New York l.
was thought he would be in New
York tomorrow, if he did not get
there tonight.
The president is confident there
viii be no strike. However, he al
ready is considering what may be
done if his appeal is futile. Legal
officers of the government are study
ing the problem to determine what
measures will be lawful, not only in
an effort to keep food supplies ami
the mails moving. bCt 20 deal with
an even more serious situation if the
country should be drawn INTO war
The latter phase is being given only
minor attention. however. as officials
are satisfied that if war came the
loyalty of ell the railroad men could
be depended upon.
The action of the president came
with dramatic suddenness late this
afternoon. The council of national
defense including in its membership
several cabinet officers met at the
war department and. deciding that
with the United States apparently on
the verge of war a railroad strike
would be a national disaster pro-
posed tire sending of mediators
Against the advice OF his phy sician.
the president, just recovered from a.
cold which has kept him in bed for
nearly two weeks, summoned cab-
met meeting, and in short, decisive
session. approved the course
Prior to taking UP the question
with the national defense council, the
president had been informed that th..
leaders of the employers and en-
ployes were waiting in New York to
see whether he would take action.
and had also been told of reports that
at least some of the brotherhood
members were not ready to abide by
last years strike vote.
In the formal communications the
government did not seek to lay blame
for the present situation. either on
the railroad officials or on the broth
erhoods. II is known, however that
the president believes frcm his inti-
| mate knowledge of the situation
gained While trying to mediate last
year that there is no good reason
why a compromise is not possible.
Both at the meeting of the council
Of national defense and at the cab
! met meeting afterWard, the situation
! from a military and economic stand-
point was canvassad. With freight
! traffic Just partially recovered from
! a period of unprecedented congestion,
and with food prices constantly ris-
| ing tie-up of transportation facili-
! tics for only a few days would re-
suit in terrible suffering. The gov
| ernment officials believe that ultf-
| matey, through one agency or an
other, the railroads win have to ac-
cept the eight-hour day. They be-
| lieve that the commission headed by
| Major General Goethals, appointed by
| the president under the kdamsOn act,
| IS far and will settle eauitably diff
| ferences over the application of the
Height hour day. While there have
been no formal expressions on the
subject. the calling of the strike
! without waiting for the supreme court
to hand down its decision on the con-
| VI lIit law, Has bttA
| generally condemned.
So far as any attempt by strikers to
interfere physically with operation of
the railroads is concerned. in the cele
brated "Debs case the United States
supreme court in most sweeping terms,
unanimously declared the federal gov
ernment had widest powers to prevent
physical obstruction at least to inter-
state commerce and transportation Of
the mails.
Propressives Start Revolt
LONDON, March 16.-From an au
thority closely in touch with Russian
official circles, it is understood, says
the Reuter- correspondent at Copenha
gen. that the revolution originated
rather with the progressive members
of the duma than with the people. This
probably was because the progressives
We're convinced that the hated minister
of the interior Protopopoff was about
to make himself dictator and thus the
last hope of regulating the foodstuffs
and carrying out other reforms in the
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