Evening star., 1917-03-14
Brotherhood Chiefs Meeting
Eastern Labor Officials 1c~l
day in New York. =
RAILWAY MANAGERS SAY II
THEY ARE UNABLE TO ACTs
Insist Their Hands Are Tied by Case
Pending in United States J
Supreme Court.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, March IA
Strict secrecy was thrown about
the meeting here today between
the national chiefs of the brother
hoods of railroad employees and
eastern brotherhood officials to
discuss plans for the strike which
may be called Saturday if the
chiefs at the conference with the
railroad managers here tomorrow
fail to attain the desired results.
Three Hundred at Meeting. .
The brotherhood heads arrived here
today from Washington and went to a
meeting hall. where were assembled
500 Of the chairmen of the brotherhoods
of trainmen on lines entering New York
and chairmen of the locals OF the four
organizations. Announcement was
made that if any statement was made
as to the action taken 1t would be given
out tonight.
Representatives Of the railroad man.
ayers said today they were still with
out information as to the nature OF the
proposition which the railroad chiefs
would submit to them. and reiterated
their position that their hands were
tied until the United States Supreme
Court renders a decision on the consti-
tutionality Of the Adamson act.
To Ratify Strike Order.
The brotherhood chairmen. after
hearing from tho chiefs a statement of
the questions at issue with the man.
ayers, were to be asked. IT was under
stood. to ratify their proposition and
the calling Of = strike in case the man.
ayers refused 1T. The chairmen were
Of detailed instructions.
General instructions. It was learned.
were issued some time ago to the local
chairmen as to their duties in case Of a
strike. They were informed they
would be expected Jointly to supervise
the prosecution Of the strike in the
territory over which they have juris-
diction, keep in close touch with the
situation. use every honorable effort
to further the cause" and make daily
reports to their general chairmen as to
conditions
While the chairmen were holding
their meeting the national conference
committee of the railroads was called
together preparatory to the joint ses-
sion with the chiefs tomorrow.
Railroad View Of Demands.
While protesting not to know what
the brotherhood chiefs would demand.
railroad representatives said just be-
fore the national conference went into
session that they would not be sur
prised IL they demanaed that the pro-
visions of the Adamson law be put
into immediate operation. together
with q provision for time and half
for overtime, or, in substance. COM
nJete compliance with the original de-
mands which began the controversy
year ago.
II was expected that the eastern rep
resentatives would follow example OF
the employees conferences. held yester-
day at Washington and st. Louis. and
ratify plans for a general strike If the
railroads refuse to grant their de-
mands.
Strike orders to take effect first in
the east Saturday night, already have
been issued, an6 the organized en-
ployes await directions to be issued
here after tomorrow's conference.
There is no expectation on the part
of the railroad leaders here that Presi-
dent Wilson will take any action prior
to an announcement of the results OF
meeting. w. g. Lee, head
Of the trainmen's organization. declared
that he and his associates would go be-
fore the railroads representatives with
their entire membership united DenlnQ
their demands.
"No Strike" Promise Claimed.
While the national chiefs of tlle.four'
railroad employees brotherhoods were
discussing with the eastern brothers
hood officials the plans for the threat~
ened nation wide railroad strike, reps
of the railway managers
made public what they declared was a
promise not to strike made by the
brotherhood heads in secret meeting In
January 13. They quoted from
The text of the statement passage
saving. NO radical action would be
taken until the decision or the Supreme
Court had been handed down in con-
nection with the eight-hour law"
". G. Lee, president of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen, was asked
a bout this statement after the brother-
hoods meeting had recessed with an
announcement that no action had been
taken at the forenoon session. but that
The meeting would be resumed this
afternoon
Mr.. Lee said he would not discuss
,nybody's Interpretation of the Chicago
statement. 1T was right then and 1t is
light now" he declared. land ] am not
going to say anything about it
He was asked il the present confer
,nces looking toward strike might
lot be considered a violation of the
chicago statement.
I'VE never said we were just going to
lit still and do nothing indefinitely" he
.epIied. ''Our position has been to wait
reasonable time, and who is to be the
udge of what a reasonable time is?
We already have been very severely
criticised by our men for doing noth-
ng.'
Vice Presidents Await Orders.
CHICAGO. March 14.-Six vice presi-
ents of the four brotherhoods OF rail-
Dad employees are here today awaiting
rders from their superior officers in
he east, which will depend on the re-
ult of the conference in New York
omorrow between the brotherhood
hiefs and the committee of railroad
managers.
The whole situation depends upon