Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-15
PRESIDENT DECIDES TO
AVOID CONTROVERSY
IF POSSIBLE
WILL ACT IN CRISIS
EXECUTIVE TO TAKE STAND IN
DELIBERATIONS ONLY WHEN
SETTLEMENT LOOMS AS M
POSSIBLE.

New York, Mar 15-President VIII
son will not again intervene in the
railroad strike controversy until ne
becomes convinced that only his Ie-
entrance will avert the threatened tie
up of the nations industries.
Washington so notified the railroad
executives and brotherhood chiefs as
they went into conference here today
in final effort to reach an amicable
agreement concerning the S-hour lay.
After short session the conference
recessed until four o'clock this after
noon Elisha Lee, chairman of the
railway executives committee, and l..
G. Lee, head OF the trainmen both in
dicated that matters were progress
ing satisfactorily.
President Wilson, thru third party,
has urged both sides to strain every
effort to reach settlement While
the full purpose of the Washington
| administration was not permitted to
become public, it is believed that the
attention of both sides was called to
the seriousness of the nations inter
national affairs and that now, of all
times, the country should not be torn
by fractional strife.
As a result OF the foreno0n's devel-
opments, the railway executives en-
tered into the final conference with
the brotherhood ladrs in a more con.
cilatory mood.
Washington, T. c., March l5-Presi'
dent Wilson will present all of the
facts covering Germanys submarine
actions to Congress when 1t convenes
in special session next month. This
will include the record Of all assaults
upon American rights.
The report will deal with every sin
gle instance in which German ruth
lessness has endangered and cost lives
of Americans and loss of American
property. The crowning assault, the
sinking of the Algonquin flying the
American flag will be detailed. It
also is possible that the list OF out
RACES will be increased before April
1G, when Congress reconvenes.
,,,,t xtybn 0A.
ditional steps shall be taken. 1t alone,
Of course has the power to declare
war The Presidents power is limit
ed to the maintenance of armed neu.
traity That he is now doing. 1t can
safely be stated that no American
merchant men will enter the barred
zone from now on with the consent
OF Administration officials unless
armed with powerful guns and with
men at their points ready to protect
them The Algonquin, officials say
very likely would not have been sunk
had she been armed
In the opinion Of many officials the
sinking of the Algonquin under the
circumstance already reported was
"An act of war" However, until the
President defines his position when
Congress meets it is not expected that
any official expression regarding 1t
will he made. The State Department
has made it plain that the facts
sneak for themselves and there Is no
effort made to excuse the action OF
the German submarine commander
Captain Nordgen made the simple
statement that the Algonquin was
: completely topped when the first shot
bit her three previous ones havinp
missed and that the firing continued
II until the vessel was abandoned i
y characterized here as highly signlh
cant" II shows concmsively that the
u reports from certain Scandinavian
n countries that Germany actually hao
y modified her submarine campaign Is
& untrue 1t also shows officials mere
"a say, that no American vessel Wheth
e. or a freiphter or passenger liner
a can hope 70 make q British or
French port unlese prepared to de
fend it's right to sail the open seas.
The State department today wnr
the preliminary report Of Ambassador
=. Gerard before It, and with full knowl
5 edge Of what was transpiring In Ber
lin available through the Swiss MINIS
4. ter, again made Il plain that al ne
~ timc has 1t received any word ina
" Germany contemplated any change II
~ It's submarine policy. Reports ina
ir Count Won Bernstorfr was 10 throw hi
A. influence on the side of a return u
H. former methods of cruiser warfare n'
submarines is generally dscreate'
,r. hero. OlHcials say that while IN
MS count might desire to do SO the az
re yocates of "Ruthlossness" are so firm
to " ontrenchcd in German otfeial con