New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-28
Administration Realizes
Wilson's Efforts Have
Been in Vain.
PRESIDENT DELAYS
FINAL CONFERENCE
Break Nearer as Execu-
tives Await Reply and
Men Start Home.

Il
thrown into panic. After two weeks
of vain efforts, during which The exc
ecutive business of the government has
practically come to standstill, the
President unwillingly has come to re-
alize the vast gulf between the brother
hood demands and the terms acceptable
to the railroads.
He has exerted all the power OF his
Office to bridge that gulf. The only re-
suit is that tonight both sides stand
nearer a break than when they brought
their dispute to Washington fort
night ago. The public. with a wider
of the merits OF the
case, is the only gamer.
For the first time the President yes
terday gave evidence that the situation
had got beyond his control. He evaded
both sides. The brotherhood represen-
tatives demanded action by night lie
knew the railway reply, II presented,
with its refusal to concede a single
point and its reiterated demand for
arbitration, would have closed the last
door. And, failing any counter plan OF
his own, the President took the only
course open to him. He delayed.
Twice when the railway executives
requested an appointment at the White
House the President was out He had
gone golfing. Again in the evening he
pleaded for delay and set the appoint
ment for Monday morning.
To-day a search was made after some
last desperate remedy or hasty make.
shift TO postpone the crisis that seemed
with the morrow. Confer
ences were hurriedly held all day at
the White House and al the Capitol.
Railway Workers Leaving City.
Already the 600 representatives Of
the unions are leaving town, each car
rying an ominous envelope. At the
New Willard the railway executives,
grimly determined, are waiting TO de-
liver their answer at the White House.
Whether it will be final depends upon
the Presidents ability to find some
new plan or new course, considered by
both sides worthy Of discussion, before
tomorrow morning.
Rumors as to President Wilson's next
step were rife everywhere tonight.
They ran from threats of Federal re-
ceiverships for the railroads unless
they yielded to forcing action by Con-
gress to placate the executives and to
make good the Presidents promises to
them. Amendments to the pending
Newlands bill which will create
permanent arbitration board and
pledge of a rate increase are declared
on good authority to be most seriously
considered.
The only plan which is it believed the
President will not consider is referring
the present dispute to arbitration. Al
though commercial organizations and
the press throughout the country have
sided with the railroads, no one be-
lieves the President will reverse him
self in holding that arbitration would
not apply in the present case.
The realization that the situation
confronting the President was one OF
the most critical in his administration
added to the panicky feeling among Of
ficials, weathered as they are to
"crises" in foreign affairs. The Brit
ish blockade or the U-boat campaign
were questions far removed from rail-
way strikes that touch intimately the
lives and fortunes of all citizens.
Voters Will Understand.
Voters might not be qualified to pass
on the merits of diplomatic victory"
but for failure to prevent tie-up
in the movement of food supplies to
the daily table they would be able to
assess full responsibility. No one can
quite determine yet how large part
the strike may play in the campaign,
but as TO its dynamite" possibilities
Administration leaders are fully awake.
Despite the seeming blackness of the
situation, Democrats refuse to admit
any loss of confidence in the Presi-
dents ability to pull through. They
have the utmost faith-an almost child
like trusting faith-not only in his
skill, but in his luck. And for that
reason no serious opposition is ex-
pected in Congress, whatever plan the
President proposes But the expert
ence has been a SOLDERING one.
Instead of the great political capital
which politicians a few DAYS ago were
seeing in the settlement of the strike,
there is realization that whatever
result is finally achieved the President
will get small benefit. Too many dis
cordant factions have already been
stirred. Even should he succeed in
pacifying the brotherhoods. with their
400, 900 vo.ers-not certainty yet, by
any means-other union votes may be
alienated. The President has been put
in the position of seeming to say
Grant these men their demands and
hereafter we will prevent any further
unions from securing the same oppor-
tunity"-an attitude that is already
awakening anxiety and resentment
among other labor people.
Shippers Getting Busy.
The Presidents suggestion OF an in
crease in rates 10 meet the additional
wage burden on the railroads is rous-
ing a storm among manufacturers and
shippers. Already their representa-
tives are descending upon the capital
10 forestall any action of this charac'
ter. Four times they have waged THU
battle before the Interstate Commerce
Commission, and only once did they fail
70 prevent a raise in rates. Shippers
still declare that President Wilson was
instrumental in gaining that, and they
do not wish its repetition. They have
always welded considerable power in
Congress, and il is likely that any
scheme to get Congressional aid fol
an increase in rates would be fought
bitterly.
The Presidents stand against arbi.
tration also had a boomerang effect in
lining the manufacturing interests w
solidiy behind the railroads. They real.
lied that if the unions were successful
in sheir refusal to lay their demand.
before an impartial tribunal industrial
peace as far as the United States wa:
concerned was at AMEND. The present
situation, through the Presidents atti'
tude, thus became something of "tes'
case" involving the whole future rela'
tionship of labor and capital. 1t has
been the increasing realization of thi: