Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-03-22
Lane, Secretary Wilson, Viii.
ard and Gompers Will Meet
Representatives of Both
Sides for Conference.
CABINET MEETING CALLED
Council for Defense Joins in
Discussion of How to Avoid
a Nation Wide Strike on
Eve. Perhaps, of War.

S!iiilSlOl, l.. -, Marcl l i-'lt Is
not only the right but the duty of the
president to keep the highways Of COM
merce open. This means not simply to
keep the mails open and to keep mail
rains moving, but to keep trains NOV
ing for the transportation of goods. I
nave no u the president has the
power to take control of trains and see
to 1t they are operated This was the
declaration today of Senator Newlands,
chairman Of the Senate committee on
interstate n foreign commerce.
council of national defense, including
several cabinet members. at a meeting
here today took up the threatened ma
ton wide railroad strike.
The action decided upon was to nave
Secretaries Lane and Wilson and
Daniel Willard and Samuel Gompers,
members Of the advisory commission OF
the council on national defense, IN
fer at once with representatives of both
sides. This action was expected by the
president and his advisers to avert the
strike.
Secretary Baker announced after the
cabinet meeting that the council of ma
t1onal defense with the approval of
President Wilson had decided upon this
step. arrangements for conferences
with the representatives of the two
sides will be made at once.
WIS IGCe1Vcu ny tIle ldllONol
conference committee Of the railroads
this afternoon that the president had
called a cabinet meeting TO get advice
on the question of running the rail-
i Ioads on the basis Of military necessity.
/ Consideration was given by admins
steps which might be taken to force
the operation of the railroads in case
he strike actually comes One means
suggested was for the government to
ask for receiverships if necessary for
I the roads and undertake their oper-
tative, however.
BOTH AWAIT OVERTUREs.
New York, March 16.-There were
no surface indications this afternoon
of any move, either by chiefs of the
J brotherhoods OF railway employees or
the railroad managers to prevent the
strike, which threatens to paralyZe the
transportation system of the country,
scheduled to begin within less than 80
hours.
Both groups were in separate con-
ference here today and each was ap-
p~arently in readiness to receive over
lures from the other. but waiting foF
the other to make the first move.
Expect President to Act.
Both We're expecting some action by
the administration at Washington II
were eager to hear the result OF the
cabinet meeting. which President VIII
son called to consider the situation.
A number of railroads today declared
freight embargoes and more were eN-
pected to follow suit. The national
conference committee of managers aa-
vised all the roads to declare empar-
goes on perishable freight.
w. G. Lee, spokesman for the broth
erhoods, declared his belief that not
more thar one out of every II en-
.1.,... x.,,]S yof1Ca To .nheV the strike
order,
After the cabinet had been in SEES
sion IS minutes Secretary Wilson SAID
that Secretary Baker would issue a
statement shortly on the railroad STRIKE
situation.
Hone was expressed that a strike,
paralyzing the of the ountry
could be averted. Secretary Wilson
said that the action decided upon met
with his entire approval.
The mediators, speaking Tor Presl-
lent Wilson, will ask the brotherhoods
and the railroads to postpone the strike
if they cannot avert one, on the grounc
Of national emergency.
New York. March 17-Both sides ir
the threatened railroad controversy eH.
pressed a Willingness today to noe
further Joint conferences. although the
situation this morning was devoid OF
any suggestion that a compromise
would be reached which would aver
a nation wide transportation tie up,
Indications were, unofflclally, tina
both the railroad managers and the
brotherhood chiefs were marking time
pending possible action by Presiden
Wilson, and each group prepared tt
respond to overtures from the otneI
side.
The sixth floor of the Grand Contra
terminal was being fitted up by tn,
New York Central this afternoon Wit
cots and other facilities for strik
breakers and men who do not go OF
strike. 1t was learned that other east
ern roads were making similar prepa