Evening star., 1917-03-19
RAILROADS GRANT
BASIC 8-H0UR DAY;
STRIKE is AVERTED
CONTINUED from First Page.)

clearing the situation and restoring the
country to normal conditions in so far as
its transportation facilities were con-
cerned was conceded by all. The railroad
managers who, until a late hour last
night had held out against the brother
hoods, had been dismissed temporarily
by the presidents mediators, who made
no secret of the fact that they viewed
the outlook with pessimism. Secretary
Lane short time before word came that
the managers had yielded issued a state
ment that the conferences would be re-
sumed today, but intimated that he was
none too hopeful Of a settlement.
The railroad managers and the brother
hood chiefs had been told of the serious
ness of the international situation, but
the warning had apparently fallen on
deaf ears 1t was evident that the strike,
which originally had been set for Sat
urday evening at O'Clock, but had been
postponed to permit of further negotia-
tions. undoubtedly would become effective
unless something more intervened than
the mere suggestion that the severance of
diplomatic relations with Germany might
lead to open hostilities.
The Presidents mediators again COM
municated with the railroad managers,
said to have voted unanimously to yield
to the demands Of the brotherhoods in
order "that neither at home nor abroad
should there be fear or hope that the ef-
country will be hampered or impaired
Statement Of Mediators.
The mediation negotiations and their
result are summed up in the following
ing by the committee from the council of
national defense:
I'VE desire to express our appre-
ciation of the large and patriotic
action of the railway managers
committee. which has put beyond
peradventure the possibility Of a
nationwide railroad strike. The
railroads have met the full demand
of the Adamson ,eight-hour law.
This concession was secured as the
elimination Of two days and nights
of negotiation.
Our first effort was to secure a
postponement Of the strike, which
was fixed for Saturday night. This
poStponement was secured by pre-
senting to the railway managers
memorandum agreement drafted by
the brotherhoods, which with some
particularly expressed the pro-
visions of the Adamson law. We
asked the railways to agree that If
the Adamson law was held to be
constitutional this construction
It. The railways agreed to this at a
Joint session between the brother
hood chiefs and the managers. And
with much difficulty the chiefs stay
ed the strike, an act that was vital
to the success of our efforts at
further mediation.
Next Sought Adjustment.
I'VE next sought some adjustment
that would be effective should the
law be held to be unconstitutional.
Tn this regard many Dropositions
were made to both sides until the
railroads expressed willingness to
place the whole matter in the hands
of the committee. This action pro-
ceeded, as the letter of the railway
managers states, from a desire to
demonstrate to the country that the
railroads would not allow their own
conception of railroad policy to
stand in the way of the fullest use
of the roads at time Of severe ma
tional strain. The committee con-
sidered the matter and decided that
in view of the action of Congress in
passing the Adamson law and the
necessity for immediate action it
memorandum agreement of the
previous day as applicable under all
conditions. Then the provision of
the eight-hour law, by agreement
between the roads and the men. be-
came the basis of the settlement.
and whether the Supreme Court
holds for the validity of the law or
against 1t, there will be no strike.
(Signed) '.FRANKLIN K. LANE.
''W. B. WILSON,
~ DANIEL WILLARD,
SAMUEL GOMPERS."
z, avoided National Calamity"
q The committee sent the following
latter to Elisha Lee. chairman OF th'
y