Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-22
Outspoken Opposition by
Employers to'Plan Heard
on Every Side.
COMMITTEE NAMED
TO SEEK NEW BASIS
Railway Managers Hope to Submit
Counter Proposition Which Will Be
Acceptable to Observation-Disclosures
Executives Oct in Touch With Their
Boards Of D1rectors-Taken az Hope
fuI Sign by Administration Circles.

Washington, Aug. 22.-The answer
of more than sixty railroad presidents
including those Of western roads, new
ly arrived, to President Wilson's pro-
posed plan for averting the threatened
strike was formulated today. Every
utterance Of the railroad heads dis
played opposition to the presidents
suggestion, but it was considered pcs
sible counter proposal acceptable to
the employees would be made on the
basis for further negotiations.
A committee had in charge the
framing OF a reply and it appeared
doubtful that 1t could be finished to-
day. The employees committee Of $40
continued to mark time.
At 10 o'clock this morning the men
went into a meeting which was at
tended by leaders of all four brother
hoods. A statement in reply to the
arguments Of the railroad executives
ON the question Of arbitration was be-
ing prepared by the leaders and prob
ably will be issued for publication to-
morrow. The brotherhood officials de-
scribed the situation as unchanged.
WiIson Still Hopeful. 80
The railroad executives made an
announcement that consideration Of
the situation had been turned over to
clusions had been reached.
While the sub committee -as work
ing the executives got In touch with
their boards OF directors. In -dminis-
tration circles it was said there was
hope for settlement The exact ma
ture OF the proposal to be sumbitted
to President Wilson was not revealed.
bat from the fact that the sxecutives
wsre in communication with their
boards OF directors the conclusion was
drawn that 1t concerned the concession
Of the eight hour day.
HI The brotherhood meeting did moth
ing and adjourned to meet at 8
o'clock this afternoon.
An invitation from Vice President
Marshall to all representatives to ri It
the senate today was accepted.
AS the railroad executives were not
ready for another conference this
morning. President Wilson called the
cabinet to dispose of business which
has accumulated during the confer
ence.
President and Managers DeadIooksd.
President Wilson and the unions, on
the one hand. and the railroad execu-
tiyes. on the other, are deadlocked to-
night in the railway wage dispute.
Events within the next forty eight
hours. it is expected, will determine
whether there is to be general rail-
road strike on the 225 transportation
lines OF the country,
Roads See Public Support.
The railway officials departed from
the White House yesterday afternoon
without expressing any opinions to the
president and after protracted con-
ference among themselves issued a
public statement which while voicing
objections to the terms proposed by
the president does not reject them. The
executives contend in their statement
that public opinion will indorse their
stand on the principle of arbitration
which the president has set aside.
Public Must Determine.
The railroad managers, no less de-
fant than the president, assert:
That the railroads should grant, un-
ucI LIlTcdL Ol d udIlOuSI SITlhc, d $OU,.
10000 wage preferment to a small
minority Of their employees without a
hearing before public tribunal, is
inconceivable in democracy like
ours"
THE weight Of public opinion" the
managers add, must determine this
issue. We cannot believe that it is the
judgment of the country that we
should sacrifice the principle Of abri-
'tration in Industrial disputes under a
threat to tie up the commerce of the
country"
Believed Roads Will Yield.
The president, 1t Is learned. intends
to bring further pressure to bear upon
the railway officials within the next
twenty four hours, and he Is confident
that they will capitulate eventually.
Few OF the executives deny that the
president can WELD his vast power in,
: manner to compel them to acquiesce
in his demands or suffer the conse-
quences of political enmity in the fu-
ture.
1t is regarded as probable that the
carriers, after attempting to obtain
easier terms, will yield, after commit
ting the president definitely to an in
crease OF freight rates which will re-
quire the consumers of the country to
foot the bills for the increase in wages,
estimated by the railroads at $4,000
900 year.
Appeals to Patriotism.
In the conference with fifty Of the
leading railway presidents of the coun-
try Mr.. Wilson did practically all OF
the talking. He appealed to the car
riers to accept the union terms from
motives of patriotism and concern for
humanity.
& II will not allow passion to come In
to my thought in this solemn matter"
the president said. we are both act
ing AZ trustees of great interests. /
am willing to allow this matter to 90
to the great American jury and let
tham assess the responsibility. The