Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-29
President Has Not Yet Lost
All Hope of Averting
Railroad Tie-up
MAY ASK CONGRESS
FOR LEGISLATION
Seeks to Force Eight Hour
Day BY Law; Commission
to Probe All Difficulties

Washington, D. c., Aug. "a
The railroad presidents commit
tee Of eight conferred with Presl-
dent Wilson an hour and after
ward Hale Holden, az spokesman,
said that a statement would be
given out by the executives inside
an hour but that it would not be
q final statement. ~
Mr.. Holden indicated that the
plan Of the executives to present
the president a written statement,
practically turning down his plan,
had been changed. Mr.. Holden re-
fused to state whether the execu-
tives planned to see the president
again or to Indicate their plans In
any way.
w. g. Lee, head Of the train
men, today Issued statement de-
clarina that the brotherhoods had
no intention Of arbitratlng tho
eight hour work day.
Washington, D. c., Aug. 2s.-Presi.
dent Wilson's negotiations for avert.
ing the threatened nation wide rail
way strike are in the last stage with
Z break or settlement apparently not
far of.
With the railway executives stand
ing firm against conceding the eight
hour day and the brotherhood leaders
still standing out against arbitrating
It, the hope Of preventing a tieup Of
the country's transportation systems
seemed to lie with congress.
Just exactly what can be done none
Of the congressional leaders them
selmes seem to know. Conferences
among them and with President Will
son, which began last night, were con.
tinued today. The president postpon-
ed his engagement with the railway
executives from 10 o'clock this morn
ing until 2:90 o'clock this afternoon
to give him more time for conference
with leaders in congress.
The situation was viewed on all
sides as the most perilous since nego-
tiations began two weeks ago.
President Wilson's plan for break
ing the deadlock between the railroads
and their employees, as discussed in
conferences today, was as follows:
An eight hour law for railroads
% become effective at date far
enough In tho future to give the
railroads opportunity to prepare :
for 1t.
A law patterned after the Can
o%fav, ~ Vrph{nH
mission Of investigation and pre-
vents lockouts or strikes while an
industrial dispute is being investi-
gated. 81
TO Refuse Plan.
This plan was discussed by the
president with his party leaders In
congress as the basis for the next step
after the railroad managers have for
mally announced their refusal to ac.
cept the plan of settlement the presi-
dent previously proposed. They were
expected to do this at $3.50 o'clock
this afternoon at white house con-
ference.
Meanwhile congressional leaders
gave up hope of adjournment this
week. Senator Newlands and Com
missioner Chambers Of the federal me-
diation board conferred today with
Acting Attorney General Todd about
the legislative program but all denied
that any legal measures for preventing
4 strike had been discussed.
To Go Before Congress.
While the president has not finally
given up hope of bringing about an
agreement through direct negotiations,
he is going forward with his prepa-
rations for going before congress with
bis plan of legislation.
It was understood today that many
of different form have been
presented to the railway executives
through the white house but that they
have all been met with the statement
that the railroads stood for arbitrating
the whole controversy.
II TlsssR /(sonfio,,nI ~, po