The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-18
THREE QUESTIONS CONSIDERED

thoritative, it was learned however that three important considerations entered into the negotiations These were:
 Pressure of public opinion
 against the strike.
 The possibility of decision
 Monday by the supreme court on
 the cOnstitutiOnaIity of the Ad-
 amsOn eight-hour law.
 proposal that the railroads
 accept the brotherhootls' fnterpre-
 tntion of the law in the event of
 its being upheld.
 Mir Lee admitted that the possibil- ity of decision by the supreme court on Monday had been discussed as well as the interpretation to be placed upon the law by both sides to the con- troversy in the event of it's being de- clared constitutional.
 It was learned that the question up- permost for consideration tomorrow will be to determine the attitude of the brotherhoods and the railroads in the event of the Adamson law not be- ing upheld by the supreme court In quarters close to both factions 1t was said that tentative agreement al- ready had been reached and that the conference tomorrow would be held to settle the details
 Samuel Gompers is expected to par hcipate in the conference tomorrow The first thing MT. Gompers did after arriv- ing here tonight was to communicate with Secretary Lane and inform him he was ready to go to work The labor leader denied emphatically that he had absented himself Intentionally from the conference.
 EXPLAINS ABSENCE
 People who know me" said MT. Com pers, know l do not run away It was not until 3 D. m. today that T learned the national council of defense, with the sanction of the President had appointed commission of mediation in connection with the railroad situation, and that was a member of that body. T left Washington Thursday afternoon for Atlantic City to get two days rest because of the tremendous strain have been working under My physician not only advised me to go away but ordered me to do so. I stopped at hotel but, because I was recognized by almost everyone, l went yesterday afternoon to stay with private family, not leaving my new address at the hotel until this afternoon when stopped there to in- quire for my mail. I was then informed my office in Washington wanted me on the long distance telephone. CAME AT ONCE "I got in touch immediately with my secretary, who told me about by appoint ment on the commission. instructed my | secretary to advise Secretary Lane would come on here at once, and I took 1 the first train for New York, arriving here at o'clock tonight.
 ! T have made ready to be of any pos sible assistance with my associate media tors in the effort to bring about ar honorable adjustment of the problem and will remain here as long as my associates deem it necessary" l Immediately following the announce ment this afternoon that the strike hat been postponed. the brotherhood chief. | denied themselves to everyone sayins they would have no statements to make and that any information concerning tn, negotiations would have to come iron Secretary Lane. Later, however, War. ren S. Stone head of the engineers. said SITUATION UNCHANGED
 The situation is unchanged. As req sonable men, we did not wish to fly il | the face of the Presidents advisers, ant when they requested a postponement O 1 the strike for 4S hours we made tn concession to enable them to work ou their plans, Unless something intervenes I the situation will be the same Monda might as it would have been at o'clocl tonight"