The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-03-17
President 10 Hopeful.

| President 10 Hopeful.
[By Robert ]. Bender, United Press
! S.Afr Correspondent
! WASHINGTON, March 17.-Presi-
dent Wilson believed today there will
be no railroad strike tonight
On the contrary, he thought that
the mediators be sent postha6ts to
New York Yesterday afternoon. would
prevail upon both sides OF the I'M
pending trouble to adjust their differ
encas peaceably.
This confidence did not lull him into
| inaction. He is studying means OF
action to prevent railroad and bust
ness paralysis with its consequent
sufferings for thousands and thous-
ands of citizens.
Legal presidents, presented by his
advisors, have been carefully studied
and it was the white house impress
sion that the presiden. would be en-
abled to take strong steps to check
the strike. Whether he would be
able to put the roads under full mar
tfal law was uncertain, though the
precedents showed he has power to
do that in event Of any violence on
the lines.
In any event, his friends said, the
president does not propose to let any
railway strike drag along into bit
ter warfare with attendant high food
prices, shortage OF supplies and gen.
era crippling OF business.
Aside from the probability that the
presidents mediators may draw
satisfactory settlement in New York,
there is the possibility that the SUI
preme court Will hand down its
Adapoaon Ia decision Monday
Should this decision be favorable,
! the trouble would be swept aside and
] the railways compelled to comply
with the eight-hour statute.
! The fact that President Gompers,
OF the American Federation of Labor
had not joined the mediators last
leyening. came to light over night,
but it was said that he would serve
with the others today.
The navy department with keels
about to be laid for sig new scout and
| four battle cruisers, as the first step
| in the execution OF its great speed up,
naval building program, today faced
complete suspension OF work through
the rail strike called Tor tonight.
The best government authority to-
day held the department stands alb
solutely powerless, to force delivery
of vital materials for continuance OF
the work.
Provision for national emergency"
is apparently lacking.
1t was realization Of this, officials
said, which prompted President Will
sons urgent request for action on the
remedial legislation which failed at
the close of congress. Under this,
the president, proclaiming national
emergency to exist, would have been
empowered to seize forthwith and
operate the country's transportation
system.
Authority is found in last years
army bill for forcing the railways to
accept government shipments despite
freight embargoes and to give pref
erence to government supplies.
Provision for acting in event of
strikes or lock-outs, however, except
in the time OF actual war, was found
lacking.
Some officials were disposed to
feel the president, in the absence of
specific authority, should take the
matter into his own hands and decide
the legality of it later
Preparations In the West.
SAN FRANCISCO, March IL
Picking up the preparations made
against strike last August, railroad
company officials here are centering
efforts on making possible the con-
tinuaton of service in the event of a
railroad strike.
| The strike, if started tonight, is not
| expected to reach san Francisco be-
fore Wednesday. The embargo orders
on perishable freight have been ex-
tended. allowing the acceptance of
shipments west of Portland, Ogden,
Demning and FL Paso, If they can
reach their destination by Tuesday
night
Inc Key Route ferry system today
announced that it will put on extra
trains and boats to the Oakland side
! OF the bay to handle the commuter
. sa'hc, and win honor Southern Paci-
nc Communication tickets in the event
the Southern Pacific suburban elac.
Ic trains are tied m OFFICIALS n,