Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-08-18
NOW SUGGEST LAW TO
Prevent Rail STRIKE
Confined From First Page. ]

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dents, Of itself, is the biggest Of its
kind ever held. Never for any pur-
pose Of their own did so many OF them
ever assemble The railway presi-
dents insist that the principle Of arhi-
tration Is at stake II il is eliminated
in the present case, they say, It will
mean that every time a dispute arises
between employers and employees the
employees will rush to the White
House with II and demand settlement
favorable to themselves with the inn
piled threat that the President must
take the consequences If he refuses.
They were prepared to argue to the
President that his plan to submit the
eight-hour question to investigation
after it has been granted as impracti-
able
The brotherhoods never have given
up anything they once have obtained,
they say
The President was up at an early
hour and In his study preparing the
appeal he will make to the railroad
presidents today in conjunction with
the proposition he will offer for
settlement. He called off the regular
cabinet meeting in order to give his
full attention to this.
About the hotel where the railroad
presidents and managers are stop
ping. there was an atmosphere OF
! seriousness throughout the morning.
Elisha Lee, spokesman for the man
ayers went to breakfast at o'clock
He would say nothing about the sit
uation
Il have not had breakfast yet.
Please don't talk TO me until l have, -.
is the full text of an interview with
him.
The railroad managers we're not to
see the President today. I'VE are
not invited" one of them explained.
The managers have the actual au-
thority In the present case, hav-
ing been duly authorized TO act,
The presidents can only speak their
individual views. However. Il Is as
sumed that any agreement made by
the group OF presidents would be
ratified by the committee of mana
gers.
The meeting Of the railway employees
was not an altogether harmonious event
At times as many rs fifty men were on
their feet demanding recognition and
attempting to explain their views.
each division chief seems to be TAX
ing the plan and applying it 10 his par
ticular road and DIVISION" one of the
subcommittee who left the hall for a
few moments, said. There are almost
as many viewpoints as there are rail
road divisions
He expressed the belief that the end
Of the general discussion would he &C.
ceptance of the Presidents plans.
, During the day the President pre-
pared a statement for the people of the
country, outlining In detail the course
he has pursued in attempting 10 bring
about n settlement Of the threatened
/. strike He planned to make this public
after he has conferred with the railroad
+. presidents this afternoon.
, When he has received the answer
from both sides to his proposition, he
viii make public the result OF his Of
! fort with a discussion OF Il.
Many Of the employees speakers
urged that while Wilson's proposition
was liberal. the brotherhoods ought
to hold out for the principle of their
original demands-the eight-hOur day
with ten hours pay and time and a
half overtime.
The main argument was that n the
men accepted the present proposal.
the managers could reply that the de-
mands had in reality been only for
money, and not for any principle.