The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-13

The local leaders came for a con- ference tomorrow preliminary to the meeting of brotherhood and railway officials to be held in New York Thursday. Similar sectional confer ences will be held in other cities, and the brotherhood heads insist that they cannot forecast their course until the locals from all parts of the country have reported the result of their de- Alterations.
 There were distinct indications, how ever, that there might be more truth in strike reports than appeared on the sur face. An impression prevalent among some of the local officials was that a general walkout probably would follow quickly If the roads refused to accede to the unions demands at Thursdays conference. Saturday was the day most persistently mentioned as likely to see a climax of the long controversy between the roads and their men.
 To all questions the brotherhood heads replied that there was nothing to be said as yet; that sentiment among the men the country over would have to be sound ed out before a general strike could be ordered; and that many locals still were to be heard from. Neither from them nor from any other authoritative source could be gained any confirmation of the stories that definite strike plans had been made.
 COULD STRIKE QUICKLY
 It was pointed out, however, that very little time would be required to put a strike order into operation if decision were reached to take that course. All of the machinery used to prepare for the big strike narrowly averted last fall could be put into service quickly now if the need came.
 The present controversy, like that of which it is the outgrowth revolves around the eight-hour day, and more than one of the local leaders here tonight declared the brotherhoods had waited too long already while the supreme court denberated on the consttutionality of the shorter basis day. They argued that if the roads decline at Thursdays confer ence to put an eight-hour day into effect forthwith the unions would have full justification sfor strike.
 WILL NOT EMBARRASS NATION
 The union men were unanimous in de- cla1ing that in case of a strike care would be exercised to embarrass the govern ment as little as possible in the inter- national crisis. The government is watch ing developments closely, however, and probably would itself take a hand should a deadlock seem assured. If a strike ap- pears to be actually threatened President for settlement.
 About 200 brotherhood men from the roads east of the Mississippi and south of the Ohio are expected to attend the meeting here tomorrow. Men from south western roads will meet in St. Louis to- morrow, those from eastern roads in New York Wednesday and those from western lines in St. Paul Wednesday. The central states representatives con ferred at Cleveland Saturday.
 Mr. Lee head of the trainmen broth erhcod, tonight said that the men had made no important changes in their de- mands presented to the railroads last fall
 Other brotherhood heads here to at tend the conference were Warren S. Stone of the engineers, w. s. Carter of the fire men, and L.. E. Sheppard of the con- ductors
 REPORT IN NEW YORK
 New York, March 12.-Persistent reports were current in railroad circles here to-