The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-08-17
Pending Their Arrival He Does
Not Plan to See the Conn.,
mittee of Managers.
MANAGERS THROWN OVER
Flat Refusal on the Part Of the
Railroads to ConCede the
Eight-Hour Day.


WASHINGTON. Aug. l7-Presi-
dent Wilson today invited the pres-
dents Of the principal railroads oil
the country to come to Washington
Immediately to confer with him on
the threatened railroad strike. Pend
ing their arrival he does not plan Ia
see the committee Of managers with
whom he has been meeting.
The president sent the following
telegram to the leading railroad
Presidents
Discussion OF the matters involv-
ed in the threatened railroad strike
has reached a point which makes It
highly desirable that l should per-
sonaly confer with you at the EARL
est possible moment and with the
president of other railways affected
who may be Immediately accessible.
/ hope you can make it convenient
TO come to Washington at once"
The presidents action is inter
pretOd to mean that the managers
committee has finally refused to con-
Cede the eight-hour day as the presi-
dents plan proposed, and the ques-
tion is now to be taken up with the
heads of the railroads themselves,
The situation as it stood today was
this:
The railroads fatty refused to con-
cede the eight-hour day but are will
ing to arbitrate that question and all
Others before any tribunal that may
be decided upon.
The men are willing to arbitrate
some questions under certain condi-
tions and are unwilling TO arbitrate
Others.
At 5 o'clock this afternoon the
president will present his plan TO
the full committee OF $40 employees
in the hope of getting them to ap-
prove it. The result will be present
ed to the railroad presidents later.
EARLY this morning Secretary Tu-
multy telephoned to Daniel Willard,
president of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company, regarding the in
vitatIOn to the railroad presidents to
come to the White House, and Mr.
Willard said he would do everything
possible to arrange a conference.
May Invite FinanCiers.
Among the managers it was point
ed out that the president had been
constantly advised of the negotiations
with President Wilson and that the
feeling prevailed that the attitude
of the railroad heads was now the
same as the managers committee, al.
though no one could forecast what
effect a personal conference with the
president would have. The railroad
presidents are expected to make a
strong plea for preservation of the
principle OF arbitration and will en-
press their fear that il the present
difficulty cannot be settled without 1t
there is little hope that it will ever
be successful in the future.
In case President Wilson finds that
any Of the railroad presidents can
not speak absolutely for their roads
he may invite to the White House
the 1nanciers who control them. 1t
was said today that the president
wants to Zeal with the ultimate au-
thorlties on both sides in order that
negotiations may be conducted here.
The $40 brotherhood men held a
secret meeting this afternoon and
Just before 8 o'clock marched in a
body to the White House. The day
was hot and many of the men, strip
ping off their coats, took the shady
side Of Pennsylvania avenue They
, made quite a column as they marched
! along TO the treasury, where they as.
sembled in military order and then
proceeded to the White house.