Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-03-19

you have avoided a national
calamity.
We would be delinquent in a
true sense of gratitude if we fail
ed to express our sincerest ap-
probation Of the action you have
taken. We trust that il promises
a long period of hearty cooper
alton between the railroad man
agements and their employees.
Cordially yours,
Franklin X. Lane,
w. B. Wilson,
Daniel Willard.
Samuel Gompers.
Moved BY Patriotism.
Sunday had been a day Of doubt
IN the conference rooms Of the medi
ators. The fate OF the administra
TONS attempt to avert the creates
labor war in the history of the Unite,
States had stood in the balance al
day, ready to be pushed either wav
hallway managers. Brotherhood chief.
and mediators had been i'm conferenc,
through the day and most of the pre-
vious night. Messages had flowet
back and forth in a constant stream
There was an open wire betwee,
Washington and the mediators' head
quarters.
Then came word Of the sinking
the three American ships Half al
hour later the Brotherhood chiefs
committee from the managers and th,
mediators were in Joint session
Debate and earnest pleading could h,
heard issuing from the little room il
tho Fillmore.
Then word was passed IN waifjni
neWspapermen at 1.45 a. IN. that the
managers would send their dehnit,
answer to the situation in a few min
utes. The message came. guarded
and minutes turned into hours be
fore 1t was announced.
Shortly after the brotherhood
chiefs arrived. An hour and a hall
later the message came that the man
ayers had Internationally surrender
ed and placed the settlement in tho
hands OF the four men who had post
pOned and then overted the calamity
we have been negotiating all day.
Secretary Lane announced. AS a re-
suit regardless of a decision by the
supreme Court the eight-hour basic
day will go into effect"
Then he made public this letter tc
the mediators from the railway man
ayers:
In the national crisis precipitated
by events OF which we learned this
afternoon, the National Conference
Committee OF the Railways Joins yor
in the conviction that neither at home
nor abroad should there be fear or
hope that the efficient operation of tho
railways of the country will be ham
pered or impaired.
Therefore, you are authorized r.
assure the nation that there will bt
no strike; and as a basis for such as.
surance. we hereby authorize the
Committee Of the Council Of National
Defense to grant TO the employees who
were about to str Ike whatever adjust
ment your committee deems necessar,
to guarantee the uninterrupted and ef.
ficient operation of the railways as ar
Indispensable arm OF national de-
Tense"
/ At $50 this morning tho Joint com.
lmittee that was to work ont the de
tails went into session. They recessed
at o'clock, announcing that the ful
terms Of the Adamson law had beer
granted the railroad men.
Worn and haggard by their tryinl
experience with practically no sleeI
dur ne the two days and two nights
they hurried to their rooms for few
hours rest. By noon the entire mat
ter was to be cleared from the ma
TONS states. while tie now moro ON
linous international situation IS beins
| handled.
President Wilson was kept in con
slant touch with the proceedings
I Three Washington calls passed
through the hotel within an hour ar
ter II became known the three Amerl
can ships had been torpedoed.