South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-17
Of
STRIKE IS URGED
PreS't Wilson Sends Message
to Both Employees and
Workers.


Pres't Wilson Friday called upon
the railroad managers and chiefs of
the employees brotherhoods as pa
triotic men to reopen the questions
at issue between them and prevent
a general interruption of railway
traffic lin this time of national per
H."
The presidents message, an APP
peal for adjustment of differences
and a solemn protest against a
strike. was sent after he and the
cabinet had approved a proposal OF
the council OF national defense that
it send a committee to New York
to undertake mediation between the
railroads and their employees. AZ
the same time three of the fouI
mem bers of the committee, Sec
Lane and Wilson and Daniel Viii
lard. president Of the baltimore &
Ohio railroad. started for New York
representatives of both sides. Sam
uel Gompers also is one of the medi-
ators.
Expects No Strike.
The president is confident that
there will be no strike. However
he already is considering what may
be done if his appeal TO the patriot
ism of the men involved is futile
Legal officers of the government are
studying the problem TO determine
what measures will be lawful not
only in an effort TO keep food sup
plies and the mails moving. but 70
deal with an even more serious sit
uation If the country should be
drawn into war. The latter phase
is being given only minor attention
however. as officials are satisfied
that if war came the loyalty of al
the railroad men could be depended
upon.
The action Of the president came
with dramatic suddenness late Fri
day afternoon. The council of ma
tional defense, including in its mem
bership several cabinet members
had held a meeting at the war de-
partment. and, deciding that with
the United States apparently on the
verge OF war a railroad strike would
be a national disaster, proposed the
sending Of mediators.
Approves Course.
Against the advice of his physi-
clans, the president, just recovered
from a cold which has kept him in
bed for nearly two weeks, sum
moned a cabinet meeting and. in a
short, decisive speech, approved the
course.
The president then sent his mes
sage to the representatives of the
railroads and of the four brother
hoods.
Formal word that they had been
selected to carry on the mediatory
negotiations was contained in a
message sent by Sec'y Baker, as
chairman of the national defense
council to Sec'ys Lane and Wilson
and Mr.. Willard and Mr.. GOmpers
Prior to taking up the question
with the national defense council,
the president had been informed
that the leaders of the employers
and employees were waiting in New
York 10 see whether he would take
action. and had also been told of
reports that at least some of the
brotherhood members were not
ready to abide by last years strike
vote.
In the formal communications the
government did not seek to lay
blame for the present situation eth
er on the railroad officials or on the
brotherhoods. 1t is kncwn, how
ever, that the president believes
from his intimate knowledge of the
situation gained while trying to
mediate himself last year that there
is no good reason why a compromise
is not possible.
Both at the meeting Of the coun-
ell of national defense and at the
cabinet meeting afterward the sit
uation from a military and econom-
ic standpoint was canvassed. With
freight traffic just partially recov-
cred from a period of unprecedented
congestion. and with food prices
constantly rising. a tieup of trans
portation facilities for only a few
days would result in terrible suffer
ing.
All government officials believe
that ultimately, through one agency
or another the railroads will have
TO accept the eight-hour cay. They
believe that the commission headed
by Maj. Gen. Goethals. appointed
by the president under the Adamson
act, is fair and will settle equitably
differences over the application OF
the eight-hoUr day. While there
have been no formal expressions on
the subject, the calling of the strike
without waiting for the supreme
court TO hand down its decision on
the constitutionality Of the law, has
been generally condemned.
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