New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-17
Approves Defence Coun-
ellis Letter Urging lmme-
date Adjustment
Points Out Danger
Tie-Up Would Cause
CAPITAL Thinks President
VIII Take Over Roads
if Move Is Needed

rotaries Lane and Wilson, Daniel WI
lard. president Of the Baltimore q
Ohio and 20 Samuel Gompers' preS'-
dont ~ tho American Federation OF La
bor requesting them to urge upon the
brotherhoods and the railroad man
ayers the national necessity oil ADJUST
ing the strike situation.
lie sent telegram to the brother
hood chiefs and to Elisha Lee, chair
man of the conference committee OF the
managers. pointing out the urgent duty
of every patriot to avert the threatened
strike.
Statement Given Out
This statement. Incorporating the tel
egram. was given out at the White
Uouse after it had been approved BY
the President;
At the risk Of setting his recovery
back, the President held the usual
Cabinet. meeting this afternoon TO
confer about the railroad situation.
After the meeting he sent the fol-
lowing message 20 L. Z. Sheppard
acting president Of the Order Of Rail
way Conductors: W. G. Lee. presi-
dent Of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmcn: W. >. Stone, grand chief
engineer OF the Brotherhood Of Lo-
comotive Engineers; w. S. Carter,
president of the Brotherhood of Lo-
connective Firemen and Enginemen,
and Elisha Lee. chairman Of the con-
ference committee of managers IN
New York:
/ deem il my duty and my right to
appeal to you in this time OF ma
tional peril to open again the ques-
tions at issue between the railroads
and their operatives. with view to
accommodation or settlement. With
my approval a committee OF the
Council of National Defence Is about
10 seek a conference with you with
that end in view.
A general interruption OF the rail-
way traffic Of the country at tins
time would entail a danger to the
nation against which / have the right
10 enter nv most solemn and earnest
protest. IL is now the duty OF every
patriotic man to bring matters OF
this sort to immediate accommOda-
ton. The safety of the country
against manifest perils affecting its
own peace and the peace Of the whole
world makes accommodation aoso-
lutely imperative and seems TO rem
der anv other choice or action NEON
ceivable ....
Rush for New York
This is q copy Of a letter, upon the
Executive approval OF which, and after
very short Cabinet meetihg' oecIeIi
+aries Lane and Wilson and Samuel
Gomners caught the Congressional
Limited for New York MI Nl'i"Iu
was already there. The letter.;
At meeting Of the council OF ma "a
tional defence. D. was resolved Una" t
,.ou bo requested at once 10 seek an
Interview with repres cntaINes o. 'no
railroad brotherhoods and the rail-
road executives with reference TO the
d;Forences now existing between
tbem and apparently threatening TO
producc a general railroad strike I'D
Inc country: that YOU present 10 the
commemorative of both sides the
crave peril involved In such a sltua-
lion al this time. and that YOU re-
quest theT so 20 ADJUST thelr aineI-
cnces as N any event 20 lead 10 a
nostponemcnt Of any acute difficulty
during the present national emer-
gency.
The Presidents friends say that thes'
noves-the telegram and the sendlnl
OF the committee Of the Board OF Ma
tional Defence 20 New Iork-are mere
~ preliminary and that there ls a
mailed fist underneath the velvet glove
II the brotherhood chiefs are not amen
aole 20 reason and III the railway man
ayers do not show a willingness 70
make concessions, well, then, we snail
see, they add.
The description Of what we shall see
is more or less vague, bat j. is asserted
that the act under which The council
Of national defence was created en-
powers the Gorcrnment 90 deal WIN
lust such situations as te-up OF
transportation would present IL was
aid that the couuciPs complete plans
for dealing with the strike were pre-
sented 20 The President and the Cab
'Hst .n's .. '.i ~ ,ossiblo mailed
e. ~ f,scio-(5 In he argument in
,.ss -ocr. ci~cies tbat tbe President
80 broad poworr under the Constitu-
10" 10. a. 49, one, nv force the lines
e.ot 49,. ~ go coror,erce Grover Cieve-
ia !, ,.es ,oirted ouf. lad used such
,'nrcre
r., - e,.;to
NNP'''
Bot no one boo - position 20 know ex-
meets Woodrow Wilson 20 take any de-