The Washington herald., 1917-03-17
WOULD BLOCK STRIKE
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
two contending parties would look upon
It's proposals.
Last night the fact that the President
had chosen to move. through the mill
tary establishment. to deal with the strike
situation, was accepted in Washington as
Significant. The defense council media
tors were given their instructions by Sec
retary of War Baker. as chairman Of
the council. in a letter which directed
that you present to the representatives
of both sides the grave peril involved In
such a situation at this time, and that
YOU request them so to adjust their dif-
ferences as, in any event. to lead TO
postponemel Of any te4ifhculty dur
ing the PRESENT national emergency"
Pored Over Statutes.
The Department of Justice pored over
the precedents' connected with the raii-
road strike of 1919. when President CleVe-
land used the regular army TO prevent
Interference with the malls and with IN
terstate commerce. The Attorney Gen
eral reviewed the proceedings by which
the then Attorney General, Richard Olney.
succeeded in securing inJunctions re-
straining the strikers from halting mail
trains or interstate trains. II was 10
hack up these injunctions that the army
was called.
The Attorney General likewise looked
into the possibility of prosecutions under
the old common-law provision as to con-
spIracies. Under the recent clayton
laws. the antitrust laws cannot be IN
voked against labor unions, and the At
torney General sought to find means OF
meeting the situation outside OF the re-
cent enactments. No announcement as
to possible legal proceedings was forth
coming last night. but it was stated that
~ 70
ragement in its researches.
The clear determination Of the Prest-
dent to prevent a railroad tie-up led to
serious discussion of the possibility or
his taking over the railroads and operat-
ing them under government control. II
was stated that by eXerting the full scope
Of his constitutional authority the Pres
ident could go to almost any lengths
without legislative authorization to pre-
vent the choking of the channels of in
terstate commerce. Some members OF
the Presidents cabinet even suggested an
announcement by the President to the
effect that he would take over the roads
unless the strike was called OF.
Wilson's Views Strong.
Tho viCor Of the Presidents views on
the situation were made clear in his tele-
gram to the heads OF the brotherhoods
md the railroad managers. It was ad-
dressed to President Stone. Of the Eng
ineers: President Carter. Of the Fire
men. Acting President Sheppard. OF the
Conductors: President Lee. OF the Train
rrrn. and Elisha Lee. chairman OF the
conference committee OF railroad nan-
a~ars and said:
Il deem it my duty and right to APP
! al 10 you in the midst of peril tc
oven again the question at issue between
tIr railroads and their operatives with
w<gNNN
With my approval a committee OF thu
Cornell of National Defense Is about
to seek a conference with that end In
virw. The general interruption Of tho
railroad traffic of the country at this
time would entail a danger to the nation
AGAINST which I have n right to enter
M solemn and earnest protest It Is
row the duty OF every patriotic citizen
TO leave matters OF this sort to NADIA
rion for accumulation. The safety Of the
country against manifest perils affecting
it. own peace l. nd the peace Of the whole
wnrid makes accommodation absolutely
Imperative. and seems to me to render
az c.Fcr choice of action inconceivable. y
The President last night waited
arxiously for word from Secretary Lane
in New York The administration was
determined to have some definite answer
to its demand for a settlement of the
strike before morning. in order that
definite and drastic steps to meet the
strike might be ordered. If it could not
be averted by negotiations.
In reply to his telegram Of protest
President Wilson received the followine
telegram from Elisha Lee. chairman OF
tho National Conference Committee, OF
the railways.
In harmony with the spirit Of your
message. the National Conference Com
mittee Of the Railways will cooperate
with the Committee of the Council OF
National Defense in an earnest effort to
avert the national calamity which would
result from an interruption Of railway
traffic