New Britain herald., 1916-08-25
TALKS LEGISLATION
 WITH BROTHERHOODS
Labor Leaders Say They Know of No Reason Why They Should Be In yited-"No Concrete Proposition Rendered." Says Garretson, on Leav- ing-Roads Accused of Spreading False Sentiment.

Washington, Aug. 26.-President Wilson summoned representatives of the employers and employees involved in the threatened railroad strike to the White House today for confer ences to discuss proposals which have developed out of his original plan of settlement.
 Arrangements were made for the representatives of the employers la ter.
 The four brotherhood heads said on entering the White House that they did not know why they had been called by the president. It was un- derstood President Wilson wanted to get their views on legislation under consideration to prevent controversy in the future.
 The four brotherhood heads re- mained with the president an hour and a half but would make no state- ment on leaving. The president kept the cabinet waiting an hour to con- tinue his conference with the railroad men.
 Situation Unchanged.
 "The situation, in so far as we are concerned" A. B. Garretson, spokes- man for the employees. later said, "is absolutely unchanged. No complete concrete proposition to which the railroads will agree has been rendered us Our position is exactly as 1t was when we accepted the presidents plan. We have deviated from it In no way whatsoever
 The brotherho ood leaders went from the White House to report to meet ing of the men but insisted they had nothing particular to communicate.
 W. G. Lee, of the Trainmen, gave out copies of an order which he said had been sent by the Northern Pacific to station agents directing them to get local interests to send telegraph1c protests to President Wilson against settling the controversy by means other than arbitration. The telegrams MT. Ice declared. were to be paid for by the railroad, and were evidence ot what the men characterize as a prop uganda against the presidents plan.
 The negotiations resolved them selves today, outwardly at least, into more or less confused state.
 Expressions of optimism from bot1 sides were not so free as they were yesterday and feeling heretofore gen eral among the managers that pla, to 1nCludo the elgnC hour Oay WOult be found was not so evident. Some O the railway executives reverted t their prediction that 1t never woul1 be conceded
 The railroad executives conferre among themselves during the day.
 For them this statement was issued
 "The executives are understood t be studying the form of a conA1nunica ton to the President"
 Some of the more optimistic sti had hopes of final decision bein reached before tomorrow night
 The executives and managers dt voted practically no time today consideration of freight rate increase or settlement of future strikes bl centered on the length of the worl ing day and paS Many executiv are willing to concede an eight hot day with the understanding that shall not only be the maximum wor day, but also the minimum, in oth Words, that the present practice which an employe may get pay for day and a half or even two days Whe he works only ten or twelve hours w be eliminated.
 The brotherhood heads declare they were standing on President Wi sons plan and had not changed the ] attitude a particle.