Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-03-17
President Is Confident.


 done if his appeal to the patriotism of the men on both sides is futile Legal officers of the government arc studying the problem to determine what measures will be lawful, not onl, in the effort to keep food and the mails moving, but to deal with even moro serious situation, if the coun- try should be drawn into war. The latter phase is being given only minor consideration. If war comes the loyalty of all railroad men could be depended upon, it is felt.
 The text of the presidents appeal is as follows:
 q deem it my duty and right, 70 appeal to you, in this time of na- tional peril, to open again the que l. tion at issue between the railroads and their operatives, with the view to accommodation or settlement.
 With my approval, a committee of the Council of National Defense s seeking conferences with you, with that end in view.
 "A general Interruption of railway traffi> in this country at this time would entail a danger to the nation against which I have the right 10 enter my most solemn and earnest proteE.
 "It is now the duty of every patri- otic man to bring matters of this sort to immediate accommodation The safety of the country against manifest perils affecting it's own peace and the peace Of the whole world makes accommodation abso-s lutely imperative, and at the same time renders any other choice or ac- tion inconceivable."
 On the Verge Of War.
 The action of the president came with dramatic suddenness late in the afternoon. The Council of National Defense, including in it's membership several cabinet officers, had held meeting at the war department, and deciding that the United States was apparently on the verge of war, railroad strike would be a nation Il disaster, proposed sending of media tors to New York.
 Against the advice of his physician, the president, just recovered from a cold which had kept him in bed nearly two weeks, summoned tho cabinet meeting and in a short, de- cisive session, approved the course.
 Prior to taking up the question with the Council of National Defense, the president had been informed that the leaders of the employers and of the employees were waiting in New York to see whether he had taken any ac- tion, and he had also been told of the report that at least some of the brotherhood members were not ready to abide by last years strike vote.
 Both at the meeting of the Council of National Defense and at the cabi net meeting later, the situation from military and economic standpoint was canvassed. With freight traffic just partially recovered from period of unprecedented congestion and with food prices constantly rising, tieup of transportation for a few days would result in terrible suffering. Officials Expect No Strike. All government officials believe that ultimately, through one agenny or another, the railroads will have to accept the S-hour day. They be- lieve that the commission headed by Maj.-Gen. Goethals, appointed by the president under the Adamson act, is fair and will settle equitably the diff ferences over the application of the eight-hour day.
 While there has been no formal ex- pression on the subject, the call If the strike without waiting for the su- preme court to hand down it's decision on the constitutionali+y of the law, has been generally condemned. Attorney-General Gregory and other law officers. including those in the office of the judge advocate gen. eral of the army, were busy seeking authority for the president to take drastic steps, if mediation and ap- peals fail to prevent the strike. So far as any attempt by strikers 70 interfere physically with the opera tion of railroads is concerned, in the now celebrated "Debs case", the su- preme court, in most sweeping terms, and unanimously, declared that the federal government has the widest powers to prevent physical obstruc- tion at least to interstate commerce and the transportation of the mails. JOINS NAVAL RESERVE. :, To enlist in the naval reserve, j.. N. Stang of Pine Bluff yesterday came to Little Rock. He spent sev- eral hours at the local recruiting sta-