Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-03-22
Bic RAIL STRIKE
BELIEVED AVERTED;
DECISION TO-DAY
Supreme Court Expected to Hand
Down Opinion.
w. q. lee, Spckesr an Eor the Railroad
Bfotae~hoods Der ares That Agree.
ment spiil Sc Reached Which
Gjll Avert WaIkout

N5v Fora. Nara Conferences
on the rallroad ea situation were
resumed here 81 ea nope Of reaching
sona agra emeut .oGipg toward Z set
Element OIL the eaae-n conuoHe rsy
ln .he evenr thns the Adauson act is
pet apheid bg rbe United States SUI
Htehe court on i'm me event that no
decision IL, handed down today.
the FEDERAL mediate IS. Secretaries
sran6lH X Lane aud William Wilson
and h.1Gel Willard ami Samuel Com
PEERS. after meeting among themselves
conferred with the railroad managers
committee.
Ihe HarH~ planned to meet t'ra
o1the s3oa nuefs laget
Tenstty Relieved.
The pasGty 0f Jhe situation mean
Willie LEA been relieved by Saturday
nights postponemtut OF the strike IN
til y. m. Monday, and developments
yesterday were few. pending a possible
decision by the Supreme court.
Both s,,>eS have agreed it is under
stood. that a the Adamson act is de
clared unconstitutional the law will
be applied on Il basis Of concessions
by each, providing in effect an eight
hour day and pro rata for overtime
in freight and yard service.
Labor Chief Believes Strike Averted
W. q. Lee. spokesman for the four
railroad brotherhoOds, declared:
Il believe that by Monday we shall
reach an agreement which viii avert
Il strike"
The hrotherhoods agreed to the de,
lay in response TO the appeal to their
patriotism made by President Wilson
and the committee of the council OF
national defense, headed by Franklin
X. Lane, secretary of the interior. Al
the same time they assured the peace.
makers that If the roads do not reach
an agreement with them today, the
strike will begin Monday night.
Argument of Mediators.
In urging the brotherhoods to con.
sent to the truce it has been learned
the mediation committee used three
First, they urged on the men the
pressure Of public opinion against the
strike.
Second, they pointed out the prob
ability of Supreme court decision
Monday on the Adamson law which
may settle the difficulty amicably
Lastly, they put forward the sug
gestion that the railways will accept
the brotherhoodS' Interpretation OF
the eight-hour law if it is upheld.
Strike Order Rescinded.
The moment the agreement for 8
truce was made the brotherhood lead
ers sent kilograms and telephone mes
SageS to local chuirmen on the line;
on which the walkout had been Sched
uled to take place, notifying them OF
their action. In some instances the
word failed to arrive in time, but only
a few men quit work before the post
pOnement order was received. accord
ing to w. q. Lee, brotherhood chief
All were back at work by midnight, h'
added.
ton until today, which is decision da!
IN the United States Supreme court
Whether the court hands down rul
ing on the constitutionality of tn,
Adamson eight-hour law will have ;
vital bearing on the situation. If tn,
court does not act the situation Thu
afternoon will be most acute, will
the chances against the mediators' OBJ
tanning another delay to await a de
ciSion, for the court hands down rul
ings but once a week.
It was learned that. besides gainin:
the two days delay. the net result o
the conferences on Saturday We're tina
both sides have agreed on what vii
be done if the Adamson law is upheld
1t has been agreed that it will be pu
into effect and dated back to Januar,
! on the terms outlined by Presiden