Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-17

Washington, March 16.-President Wilson today called upon the railroad managers and chiefs of the employees protherhoods as patriotic men to re- open the questions at issue between them and prevent a general interrup- tion of railway traffic ''in this time of national peril"
 Efforts for Mediation
 The presidents message, an appeal for adjustment of differences and a solemn protest against a strike, was sent after he and the cabfneti1ad ap- proved a proposal of the council of national defence that it send acom- mission to New York to undertake mediation between the railroads and their employees. At the same time, three of the four members of the committee-Secretarie Lane and Will son. Daniel Willard. president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad-started for New York to seek immediate con- ferences with representatives of both. sides.
 Gompers Missing
 Samuel Gompers. president of the fourth member. Until tonight it was understood at the White House that he had gone to New4YorE with tho committee, but it deveIoped that he had been out of the city foretwoTdays and that Secretary Ianess entrusted with arrangements for the esn1nait- tees trip. probably had not been able to reach him. Of1iciafs at the fedefa- tionss~ headquarters, would not say where MT. Gompers was. but explained that he had been keeping in touch with the brotherhood leaders from q point near New York. It was thought he would be in New York tomorrow if he did not get there tonight.
 President Confident of No Strike
 The president is confident that there will be no strike. However. he is al- \ ready considering what may be done if his appeal to the patriotism of the of the government are studying the problem to determine what mea sures will be lawful not only in an effort 1 to keep food supplies and the mails 1 moving, but to, deal with. an even more serious situation if the country 1 should be drawn into war. The latter l phase Is being given only minor at 1 tention, however, as officials are sat l isfied that if war came the loyalty of | all the railroad men could be depend | ed on. ---s-A
 The action of the president came with dramatic suddenness late this af- l ternoon. The council of national de- l fence, including in it's membership 1 several cabinet officers, had held a | conference at the war department. and | deciding that with the United States | apparently on the verge of war a | railroad strike would be g national | disaster, proposed the sending of me- diators.
 Called Cabinet Meeting.
 Against the advice of his physician | the president, just recovered from a | cold which has kept him in bed for | nearly two weeks, summoned cab | fnet meeting and in a short, decisive | session, approved the eourse.
 The president then sent his message to the representatives of the railroads | and of the four brotherhoods. It fol- lows:
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 President Wilson's Appeal. ''I deem it my duty and right to ap-1 peal to you in this time of national peril to open again the questions at | issue between the railroads and their o peratives with a view to accommoda- tion or settlement.
 With my approval committee of the council of national defense is about to seek conference with you | with that end in view.
 "A general interruption of the rail- way traffic of the country at this time would entail a dang er to the nation | against which I have the right to en- ter my most solemn and earnest pro- test.
 ''It is now the duty of every pa triotic man to bring matters of this | sort to immediate accemmodation.t The safety of this country against | manifest perils affecting it's own peace and the peace of the whole world | makes accommodation absolutely ifn-
 
 other choice or action inconceivab1e." The presidents message was sent t to Elisha Lee. chairman of the con- ference committee of railroad man asers; L. B. Sheppard. acting head dS the conductors: W G. Lee, head of the trainmen; w. E.. Stone. grand f chief of the engineers. and w. S. Carter, president of the firemen and enginemen.
 Formal word of the president that they had been selected to carry on the negotiations was contained in this message, sent by Secretary Ba- ker, as chairman of the national de- fence council, to Secretaries Lane and Wilson. and MT. Willard and MT. Gompers:
 Secretary Bakers Note.
 "At a meeting of the council of na- Iional defense it was resolved that vou he requested at once to seek an interview with the representatives, of the railroad brotherhoods an 7 rail- road executives with reference to the differences now existing between them and apparently threatening to produce general railway strike in the coun- try, that you present to the repre- sentatives of both sides the grave peril involved in such situation at this time and that you request them % 10 adjust their difference az in any .
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