Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-19

acceptance.
, surface the danger of n general strike
seemed very much greater today than at
| any time since the negotiations reached the
| critical stage. the men closest to the Pres
| ident who reflect his views were supremely
| confident that there would be no strike.
They declared that the great financial in
terests in the country would not back the
railway heads to the point Of strike that
would utterly upset business. and that the
| basis of settlement eventually will be that
proposed by the President
II the railway men now here decline to
make any concessions whatever the Presi-
dent will go ahead with his announced plan
TO call on the financial chiefs of the country
to aid him. Meanwhile 1t is admitted that
the defiant attitude of the railway men has
not helped conciation in any way. The
railway presidents have let it be known
that they resent the action of the President
in going over the heads of the managers,
who had complete authority to act, and
this has not aided good fellowship between
them and the White House.
That tho railroad presidents were cer-
tain that the negotiations would go over
until next week was indicated when all Of
them made arrangements this morning to
remain here over Sunday. 1t was agreed at
their conference today that they would make
another appeal to the President not to force
them to accept his plan.
RAILROADS POSITION.
The position of the railroads was to be
presented to the President at today's con-
ference by Hale Holden the chosen spolSes-
man, about MS follows:
The railroads consider that acceptance
of the Presidents demand would end
for all time the settlement of disputes
between capital and labor through ar
bitration and would leave the big COM
mercial industries of the country at
the mercy OF labor unions.
The companies are willing that all
matters in dispute be settled by arbltra-
ton. but they declare that the action
OF the President in deciding the big
issue off.hand and then suggesting that
collateral questions be put over for
settlement by n commission authorized
by Congress is an attack on the very
fundamentals of arbitration.
The question OF expense and dis.
cipline are so closely allied in the pres
ent situation that the railroads be-
leve that all should be settled by an
impartial tribunal.
The companies do not want strike
any more than the President does
but they believe that strike would not
disrupt their organizations very much
more than would the acceptance of the
ADMINISTRATORS plan.
Although the men were plainly angered
over the delay caused by the roads their
chiefs were holding them in check, and 1t
was Sdlu lNal tHey nau promised the IreSl-
dent that they would take no further ac-
ton until they had definite word from him
that his efforts to get concessions from the
roads had failed They opposed adjourn
ment over Sunday, but admitted that they
could not help themselves. The position OF
the railway presidents and managers was
that, as long as they showed q desire to
keep up the negotiations, the President
could not afford to serve them with an
DENIES U. S. CONTROL PLAN.
The railroad executives denied positively
the President had at any time threatened
Government ownership of railroads as a
possible result of their refusal TO accent
his proposal. He declared, they said. that
he was heartily opposed to Government
ownership OF railroads and sincerely hoped
i never would be necessary in the United
States, He said. however, that in some
foreign countries situation, such as are
threatening the railroad industry today had
served as stepping stones TO Government
ownership and operation when peace other
WISE had been found impossible.