The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-14
President Wilson Perturb-
ed At the Prospect of
Railroad Tieup
WRITES LETTER TO
FEDERAL MEDIATOR
Tactfully Refers to Posi-
bility of Unusual Meas
ures" Being Needed
CBy Associated Press)

Washington, Nov. 14.-Aroused by
the plans OF the railway mems broth
erhood to demand wage increases
PRESIDENT Wilson has set the ma
chtnery Of the federal government in
motion to avert, IL possible, the
threat Of paralysis Of the country's
transportation systems so vital to
the war.
At q conference with the heads OF
the Big Four" brotherhoods at the
White House, on Nov. %, President
Wilson will appeal to the labor lead =
ers TO defer any struggle until after
the country has passed through the
period where it's transportation sys-
TENS are so vital to the conduct Of
the war.
With the announcement Of this
conference Is was disclosed that
President Wilson, while entertaining
every hope for a complete agreement
does not intend to permit the coun-
trys transportation systems TO be
tied up by a strike at this critical
time in the nations history, even IL
II becomes necessary for the gov
ernment to operate the roads.
IL was disclosed today that Judge
William l.. Chambers, head of the
federal board OF mediation and con-
Citation, already has been holding
conferences with the heads OF the
big Four1 hrotharhoods, Thc status
Of tiTe pfUCeedihes 50 far shows a
disinclination of the brotherhood
heads 70 commit themselves to a
plan OF arbitrating the differences
and the hope OF the government
negotiators is for an agreement
which viii postpone any disruption
of the transportation systems until
after the war.
Presidents Attitude.
The following letter from Presi-
dent Wilson to Judge Chambers ex-
presses the Presidents attitude
toward the situation:
MY dear Judge Chambers:
May / not express my very deep
and serious interest in your efforts
to bring the railroad executives and
the brotherhoods engaged in train
operation to an agreement that there
shall be no interruption in the rela-
tions on either side until ample op-
portunity shall have been afforded
the United States board of mediation
and Cancellation to bring about IL
possible an amicable agreement
and that in the event of a failure TO
bring about such an agreement any
controversy that may have arisen
will be submitted to arbitration in
accordance with the provisions OF
the Eewlands law.
Il take it for granted that your
efforts will succeed because IL is in
conceivable to me that patriotic men
should now for a moment con-
template the interruption Of the
transportation which is so absolutely
necessary to the safety OF the nation
and to it's success in arms, as well
as to its whole industrial life: but
/ wanted, nevertheless, to express
my deep personal interest in the mat
ter and to wish you Godspeed.
The last thing ! should wish TO
contemplate would be the possibility
OF being obliged TO take any unusual
measures to operate the railways and
/ have so much confidence that the
men you are dealing with will ap-
preciate the patriotic motives under
lying your efforts that I shall look
forward with assurance to your sue
cess.
Cordially and sincerely yours.
Woodrow Wilson"