The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-08-30
No Statement Yet Has Come
From Lengthy Confer
ences Gornpers and Other
Executives.
RAILWAYMEN STRIKE
THOUGHT CRUMBLING
Conference Between Presi-
dent and Mr.. Gompers
Followed Confab of La
Dor Executives.

Washington. Aug. 2s-After two
uays of conferences with other offic-
ia1s or the American Federation. OF
Labor. Samuel Gompers today dis
cussed the labor situation with Pres
ident Wilson. No announcement was
made, but il became known that the
president was asked to intervene in
disputes between the United States
Steel Corporation and employees.
Washington, Aug. 29.-Labor unrest
over the country was the subject of
further conferences today between
President Samuel Gompers and the
members of the executive committee
OF the American Federation of Labor.
After these conferences. Mr.. Gompers
was to discuss the general labor situa-
tion with President Wilson at the
White House.
Matters understood to have been
considered today by the labor officials
included the threatened strike of stee.
workers and demands of railroad en-
ployes for increased wages unless iiv
ing costs are reduced.
President Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor was expected to
meet again today with the executive
council OF the federation 10 discuss the
pressing labor problems which have
arisen during his absence I'm Europe.
Having declined to make any state
ment yesterday, after being closetcd
all day with the council, il was be-
Iieved the federation chief would have
a definite announcement to make to-
day as to the course that will be pur-
sued i'm handling the present situation.
ione element of which is the presidents
request that pending the outcome of
the governments campaign against
the high cost of living labor accept
"A postponement of wage issues.
San Francisco. Aug. 29.--The strike
OF railway men in the extreme west
and southwest. from indications was
crumbling today.
Warned by Walker ID. Hines, direc- |
tor general of railroads that If they /
did not operate trains by o'clock
Saturday morning the railroad admin
istration would undertake to do 50, !
sentiment among strikers swung to- !
ward a return to work in many in |
stances.
San Francisco yardmen, after having |
been out about thirty-six hours agreed !
TO return to work at s o'clock this
morning. Virtually normal conditions /
had been restored at San Jose. Tracy
and Oakland. important points in the 4
handling of trains to the south and
east, strikers having returned to work
last night.
AT Los Angeles the question of re-
turning awaited the approval of the
meeting Of union officers today and
second meeting of the locals repre-
sented by those officers.
Washington. Aug. 29.-Although IL
was thought that the drastic action
by Director General Hines.
with the supporting stand
taken by officers of the brotherhoods
involves, would hasten the return to
conditions. developments today
I'm the railroad strike situation in Cal
fornia and other western states werel
being awaited with keen interest here |
Even before MIR. Hines yesterday is
sued his uitimatum that unless the
strikers return to work by o'clock
Saturday morning, the government
would undertake to restore full SER
vice on the roads affected in Cali
ornia. Arizona and Nevada, reports
showed that some OF the strikers were
,beying the orders of their interna-
ional chiefs and We're returning to
work.
Mr.. Hines in a statement addressed
O public officers. railroad officers and
employees and citizens generally" in
he three states, served notice that
IN striking employees who failed to
eturn 10 work by the time limit set
would find their places filled and that
my one who interfered with or i'm
'eded the use of railroad property
would be prosecuted for having COM
nitted an offense against the United !
states. /,
His action was considered the most
irastic ever taken by a government
'Eency in dealing with a labor situa-
ION IL followed an announcement by |
ne chiefs OF the four principal BROTH !
srhoods that unless the illegal strike !
vas terminated, the brotherhoods
would assist the railroad administra-
'ion I'm operating the lines affected.