The Sentinel=record., 1917-03-18


 Lee. We knew they would--every- one of them"
 l l. was agreed with the railroads, he added, that in the event of the men fatling to receive word Of the change
 n the situation and going on strike. the railroads should not attempt to discipline then in any way. Mir. Lee l said he was confident the misundar. standing would be straightened out before midnight tonight and that those who had left their places would have returned 10 work by that time.
 The decision late today 10 postpone ! the strike for IS hoNs was reach eG only after three of the presidents n1tdiators-Secretary of the Interior lane, Secretary of Labor Wilson and 1 Daniel Willard-had labored almost necessarily since early last night with the four brotherhood chiefs and the conference committee Of railroad man. aFere.
 Samuel Gompers, president o' the ] American Federation of Labor, who also was appointed a mediator. did not arrive in this city until tonight, explaining that he had been at Allan tc City and did not learn that his presence was desired here until this afternoon.
 Whie it was generally understood that a tentative agreement had been reached, all who participated in the 1 conference maintained silence until 1 Mir. Lee made his statement tonight. The head of the trainmen's brother hood intimated that concessions had been made by the railroads that prob. ably would be accepted by the em- rloyes. He declined to outline these. saving
 'I believe that by Monday we shall reach m agreement which will avert strike"
 [ From other sources regarded as au- thority 1t was learned, however that three important consideration entered into the negotiations. These were:
 Pressure of public opinion against the strike.
 The possibility of a decision Mon day by the supreme court on the con stitutionality of the Adamsen law.
 A proposal that the railroads accept tEe hrotherhoods' interpretation of the law in the event of its being upheld.
 MT. Lee admitted that the possibil- fly of a decision by the supreme court on Monday ha been discussed as well as the interpretation to be paced upon the law hy both sides to the con, ] Itroyersy iii the event of its, being de Clared constitutional.
 It was learned that the ques.;1n lupnarmost for consideration tomorrow vas to dc 'mine the attitude Of the hrotherhoods and the railroads in the event of the AdamsOn law being up- held by the supreme court. In quar- ters close to both factions 1t was said a tentative agreement already had been reached and the conference to- morrow would be held 10 settle the details.
 Samuel GOmpers is expected to par ticipate in the conference tomorrow. Mir. Gompers upon his arrival here tonight. denied emphatically that he had absonted himself Intentionally from the conference.
 Ut was not untl 3 pm. today that | earned the national coGncil for de .ense, with the sanction of the presi. dent, and appointed a commission of mediation in connection with the rail road situation and. that l was a mem Der of that body" he said
 'l left Washington Thursday after noon for Atlantic City to get two days rest because or the tremendous strain I have been working under. | My physician not only advised me to go away hut ordered me 10 do so. ] "I stopped at q hotel but because l was recognized by almost everyone ! went yesterday afternoon to stay with private family. not leaving my new address at tho hotel untl this after room when | stopped there to inquire for mail. I was then informed that my offices in WasAngton wanted me or the long distance telephone
 'g got in touch immediately with my secretary, who told me about my Appointment on the commission took the first train for New York, ar irving here at o'clock tonight
 T have made ready to be of any possible assistance in the effort to bring about an honorable adjustment ot the prob em, and will remain here as long as my associates deem it necessary"
 Some time after the announcement this afternoon that the strike had been postponed, Warren z. Stone, head of the engineers. said:
 The situation is unchanged As reasonable men we did not wish 10 fly in the face of the presidents ad- Y sers and when they requested a posiponement of the strike for 4s hours we made the concession to en- able them to work put their nlane I'm