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Show NATIONAL STRIKE ULTIMATUM IS PRESENTED TO RAILROAD MANAGERS BY BROTHERHOODS Immediate Settlement of Eight-hour Controversy Demanded and Railroad Heads Go Into Separ- ate Executive Session Embargo Orders Are Being Issued. ; new YORK, March 15. Settlement 1 1 of the question whether a nation wide strike of railroad employee will be I called on Saturday will not be reached until late today at the earliest The lour chiefs of the railroad broth, erhoods during an hour's joint conference con-ference at noon today presented to the national conference committee of the railroad managers their ultimatum calling, it was understood, for the) immediate granting of the eight-hour day and pro rata pay for overtime, with a strike as an alternative. The! managers after listening to the arguments argu-ments of the brotherhood executive in favor of their proposition, requested time to consider the situation in sep- j arate session and the joint meeting was according adjourned until 4 o'clock this afternoon when the managers man-agers promised to give their answer. an-swer. The brotherhood chiefs then left the conference and returned to their hotel. No Counter Proposal Made. The managers, after having their luncheon brought in to them, began consideration of their answer, no j counter proposition, it was learned,; was made by them to that of the brotherhoods. They simply listened j to the employes' spokesmen with lit-1 le comment on their part, it was said An impression was gained, however,' that both sides were in a conciliatory mood and were willing to thresh their contro've out. if there seemed el possible chance of reaching an amicable amic-able agreement. It was believed by j some that the managers during their conference would formulate a counter proposition, in which case there was a posibility that the joint conference would go over until tomorrow before a conclusion Is reached. President Awaiting Outcome. WASHINGTON. March 15 President Presi-dent Wilson continued today to keep in touch with the threatened railway strike through the department of labor and the federal board of mediation media-tion and conciliation. He took no steps while awaiting the result of the conference in New York between representatives rep-resentatives of the railroads and the broi herhoods. The mediation board will do nothing at present but is awaiting the outcome of the New York conference. Confidence was expressed by administration ad-ministration officials that a solution would he found to prevent a strike. Secretary Wilson of the department of labor, remained here but kept in close i touch with developments. If a strike should become imminent, it is understood that the president will make a peremptory demand on both sides that they reach a settlement in the public Interest because of the grave international situation. General Embargo Oorder. NEWPORT NEWS, Va . March 15 genera order was issued by the Chesapeake Ches-apeake - Ohio railway headquarters here today declaring an absolute embargo em-bargo on freight shipments in anticipation antic-ipation of the threatened railway I strike. Shipments from all points will bo rejected after the close of business i today. Shipments from connecting lines, including steamship lines will not be received after Friday night. With the exception of fuel coal for the railroad itself, no frieight will be moved. Practically all ships coming into Hampton Roads will be held up by lack of bunker coal. Work on government ships will be I greatly hampered. Critical Situation Ahead. NEW YORK. March 15. The critical criti-cal international situation is the most important factor in the conference of railroad labor chiefs and railroad man-agers man-agers that met today to prevent, If possible, a national strike. Both sides i use it as an argument and it is expect-j expect-j ed that if the conference fails to achieve its purpose, President Wilson i will appeal to the employes and em plovers to settle their differences on I the same ground. I The 400,000 railroad brotherhood men, according to their spokesman, W I Lee, are determined to get the eight-hour day now because, should war come, patriotism would make . them feel obliged to stay at work. Managers Issue Statement. "We feel confident," says a statement state-ment issued by the managers, "that the patriotism and loyalty of our men will not countenance any rash movement move-ment which may seriously embarrass ; the government and give the impression impres-sion outside our border that this country coun-try is torn by industrial strife and therefore is easy prey to any foreign foe." It is too late for them to now pose as patriots, hoping thereby to defeat the Just contentions of their em ployes," says a statement issued by the brotherhood leaders in answer to 'his appeal. The railroad managers entered the H conference today with the declaration H 'hat they would make no bargain un til the supreme court had ruled on the constitutionality of the Adamson law. The brotherhoods insist that the i provisions of the Adamson law be put Into effect at once, as of January 1. They demand ten hours' pay for eight hours' work and pro rata pay for all j overtime. The important differences I between these demands and those submitted sub-mitted last December, when the railroad rail-road situation first reached a crisis fa that the latter called for time and a half pay for overtime work. Position of Employes. The position of the employes when M the conference opened was that if these demands were not granted a strike would begin next Saturday night and extend through the country within with-in the next three weeks. "Our position." said a statement issued is-sued by the brotherhoods last night, "is the same as if there were no Adam- . son law and no decision pending. 1 Whether the decision is for or against I the law, our demands, which we shall present tomorrow, will be unaltered. j It the law Is upheld It would give us j what we will ask for tomorrow. If J it is thrown out we will stand pat and f take no less than the Adamson law would have given us." Compromise Proposition. CHICAGO. .March 15. It was said here this afternoon by one in a po- sit ion to know that the brotherhoods' 'compromise proposition calls for an l ; eighthour day with pay for only nine J 1 hours instead of ten as originally d -manded. It would establish a pro- I portionate rate where pav is based I on mileage made The same authority said that the managers probably would accept he proposition. i Embargo Is Issued. SAN FRANCISCO. March 15 O. W. Luce, general traffic manager of the Southern Pacific railroad, sent the fol- I ; lowing order today to all company agents: Effective noon today, endorse all bills of lading thus: 'Shipment re- j celved subject to delay and loss due i 1 to delay as result of impending j strike.' Similar notices were also sent out j j by the Atchison. Topeka tc Santa Fe and Uie Western Pacific ranroads. 'j |