The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-08-29
Employees Tel President Wilson
They WillNAwait Reply Of En-
ployers' Before Acting
FUTURE ACTION WILL
DEPEND ON ATTITUDE
Indications Point To Definite
Move One Way Or Other BY
Employees Probably Today
CAssociatsd Press By Federal wirelos,)

ASSOCIATED Press by Federal wireless)
WASHINGTON August 26.-After a
long conference with President Wilson
here yesterday members of a delega
tion representing employees of all the
big railroads of the United States de-
clared they would take no steps to,
wards calling a strike of the 100000
railroad men until the President had
received q reply to his plan for settling
the differences which had been present.
ed TO the railroad executives.
This reply from the railroad head
is expected TO be placed in the handt
of Wilson not later than tonight. "
is believed that on the terms to be of
fered by the employers will depend
whether or not the great transporta
ton lines of the country will be tied
up. From information that has leaked
out through official sources it is be,
heved that the terms to be offered by
the railroad officials, in what is known
as a counter-plan, will not be accept
able TO the men.
No Hope In Counter Plan
The counter plan of the railroad ex.
ecutives, it is said, holds out no hope
for granting the eight-hour day as {
basis Of arbitration as proposed BY
President Wilson. What the railroad
heads appear to want Is to arbitrate
I'll the issues raised by the men. They
have already announced that the grant
ing Of the eight,hour day would in
Volve so great loss to the roads that
t cannot be considered. President
Wilson, suggestion that freight rate
might be increased to meet this defci'
they look upon as impracticable, for
the reason that the Interstate Com
MERGE Commission might not authorize
the increase and that such an increase
in rates could not be put into effect un-
til March of next year. I
Little hone is held out here for. ar
micable adjustment of the difference
md it is believed that unless either tho
men or the railroad presidents yield
'Oint the trouble win reach a crisi.
when leaders of the brotherhOods meet
With President Wilson today.
According TO one railroad official tn.
ountor plan upon which it is propnsef
discuss the grievances "puts the IL
ne up squarely to the men" This
" some. is interpreted TO mean tha'
'he>railroad heads have decided no. tc
yield to the demand for an eight hour
'ay and that they will fight the lssI'
0 finish. ~
Eight Hour Day Is Basis
1t is generally known that the mel
re opposed to any sort OF arbitration
hat is now based on the granting Of
he eight hour day. The 2ampuign 10
n eight hour day has been EIgrd by
nembers of the brotherhood for a long
ime and through many states. The
)rotherhoOds have maintained u corp,
If lecturers who have gone about tn
'ountry advocating an eight day
or railroad men and propaganda liter
tture along this line has been eirSnlrteC
large quantities.
If the railroad executives hold firm
% their decision that they will not ar
citrate the points ut issue on the SaSI
If granting an eight hour day and tn
nen refuse to consider any points I'M
il the shorter working day is granted
here is grave fear felt here that tho
"untry will be tied up by the creates
trike in the history of the Unite,
tates.
President Wilson's conference witt
elegatrs of the brOtherh0ods today ant
he terms Of the plan being PROPOSED
y the railroad executives, which will
'e sent I" the White House tonight, arr
expected t" finally decide the question
# whether or not the men will strik'