The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1917-03-15
RA|LW0RKERS ARE:
READY TO STRIKE
IF DEMANDS FAIL! |!
Final Meeting Held To-
day Before Big Thurs
day Conference.
STRIKE WILL GO
Into Effect in East Saturday
Night if Demands Are
Not Complied With.

Washington, D. C.-President Will
son is amazed at the proposal for a
nationwide railroad strike at this
juncture of international affairs. 1t
was stated authoritively today that
he expects the railroad managers
and men at the conference in New
York tomorrow to consider the state
of the country's foreign relations and
to make every possible effort to
agree.
1t is possible that the president
may appeal to both sides on the
ground. The president is being kept
in touch with it through Secretary
Wilson of the department. of labor
Labor Leaders Reticent.
New York City.-Strict secrecy
was thrown about the meeting here
today between the national chiefs of
the brotherhoods of railway en-
ployes and the eastern brotherhood
officials, to discuss plans for the
strike which may be called Saturday
if the chiefs at their conference with
the railway managers tomorrow fail
to attain the desired results.
The brotherhood heads arrived
here today from Washington and
went to the meeting at the hall
where were assembled 800 chairmen
of the local branches of the four Or
ganizations. Announcement was made
that if any statement was made as
to the action of the meeting it would
be given out tonight.
Representatives of the railway
managers said today they were still
without information as to the nature
OF the proposals which the brother
hood chiefs would submit to them
atid reiterated Eleir contention that
their hands were tied until the SUI
preme court renders decision on
the constitutionality of the Adam
son law.
Labor Leaders in Conference.
New York City.-Chiefs of the
four great brotherhoods of railway
employees came here from Washing
ton today for a final conference with
the local chairmen of the unions in
the eastern territory, before meeting
the members of the national confer
ence committee of the railroads to-
morrow to present their demand for
an eight hour day
1t was expected that the eastern
representatives would follow the ex-
amples of the employees conferences
held yesterday at Washington and
st. Louis and ratify the plans for a
general strike if the railroads refuse
to grant their demands.
Strike orders, to take effect first
i'll the east on Saturday night, and
organized employees await the orders
to he issued here after the Thursday
conference.
The railway managers will meet
tonight. They maintain that there
cannot be any compromise at. ehls
time, pending the decision of the su-
preme court on the constitutionality
of the Adamson law at this time.
Plans Like Last Fall.
Washington, d. c. - Complete
plans of the four railroad brother
hoods for nationwide strike to be
inaugurated next Saturday evening
unless the railroads grant their eight
hour day demands were ratified here
Tuesday by local union leaders from
southeastern territory, and by a
similar conference of representatives
Of the southwest held at st. Louis.
The brotherhood heads will tell
the railway conference committee IN
New York Thursday that if an agree
ment is not reached this week for
the establishment OF an eight hour
basic day with time and half for
overtime, strike orders already 1ssu-
ed to local organizations will become
effective. The demands are just
what they were last fall when Presi-
dent Wilson averted astrike after
the call was out by inducing Congress
to pass the Adamson law, which new
er has been put into effect, pending
a decision on it's constitutionality by
the supreme court.
There is every indication that the
president is prepared to move again
if it becomes apparent that the ma
tion, facing the grayest international
crisis in its history, is about to have
3 it's transportation facilities paralyz-
ed. Although still confined to his
bed with cold, the president heard
reports during the day from Secre-
tary Wilson on the plans of the
brotherhoods. There was no state
ment as to what action he was CON
templating, but it is understood tc
be probable that his first step may
be an appeal to the employers and
employees to reach an agreement as 8
patriotic duty.
-O
BIGGEST BUNCH OF Laws.
n q r IN Ia ~rv1&n 4