Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-08-23
Heads of Big Systems Seek Presidents Ideas on Max
 ing Up Revenue.
>TRAINMEN NOT TO
 WAIT MUCH LONGER
Repre- of BrOtherhOOds, Re. coming Restless, Told They Will Not Have tO Wait "MOre Than IS
 Hours" More.

dents of important railway systems, who have been designated to draft the railroads reply to President Will sons appeal that they accept his plan for saving a nation wide strike, were in almost continuous session today and tonight without solving their prob lem.
 Late tonight three of the commit tee, Hale Holden of the Burlington, R. s. Lovett of the Union Pacific and Daniel Willard of the Baltimore & Ohio, discussed the situation with President Wilson. They were at the white house for more than an hour, and on leaving declined to talk about their visit, except to say they had asked for the conference to "discuss the general situation" and expected to see the president again.
 Although some of the 60 or more presidents are showing a disposition to prolong the negotiations in the hope that the sentiment of business men of the country will be shown to be op- posed to the idea of an eight-hour day, there was a general feeling to- night that definite answer to Presi- dent Wilson's demand cannot be much longer postponed.
 The president is understood to have indicated that he desired his proposal to be fully debated by the executives, but their conference among them selves has failed so far to develop any concrete plan likely to win approval. So far as the presidents would dis cuss the situation tonight they still are insistent upon an arbitration of the eight-hour day and all other issues with the employees. As the conference continued, there was less talk of action which would lead to a strike, but some of the executives are expected to fight to the last ditch any plan which would force an eight-hour day upon the railroads without some form of arbitration.
 It was understood at the white house that the conference did not de- velop any actual plan, but that the three members of the committee wished to get President Wilson's views on various phases of the mat ter, so that they could be outlined to the rest of the committee tomorrow. The executives are said to realize that MT. Wilson cannot recede from the position he has publicly taken, and some of them are convinced now that all they can hope for is to come out with some concessions.
 Among the more than 600 repre- sentatives of the railroad brother hoods in Washingtn there was evil dent, today a feeling of restlessness. and there were many inquiries of leaders as to how long they must re- main. 1t is not expected that this feeling will lead to any open revolt unless the conferences between the president and the executives are pro- longed. Some of the leaders told in- quirers today that they would not have to stay in Washington more than AS hours.
 The railroad executives, who were counting upon winning the president to their position in the negotiations, say that the case after all is to be decided by the public opinion, and that this will be found to support arbitration and condemn the eight hour day. They made public tonight several telegrams from commercial organizations, upholding arbitration for the settlement of labor disputes and opposing an eight-hour day such as the employees desire.
 The cabinet discussed the situation ana Tn Cne OplnlOn or some OI CHe members danger of a strike has been greatly lessened. It is understood the chief object of the visit to the white house by the committee was to ask the president to state specifically how he expected the railroads to make up the millions of dollars which the man. agements say it will cost to put into effect the eight-hour day they have been asked to grant.
 What the president said in reply none of the committeeman would re- veal. Heretofore, according to the railroad men, MT. Wilson dealt with this phase only in the most general terms. Besides, Messrs. Holden, Lovett and Willard, the committee of railroad presidents, include Fairfax Harrison of the Southern railway; W. w. Atterbury of the Pennsylvania; E. P. Ripley of the Santa Fe; A. H. Smith of New York Central, and Frank Trumbull of the Chesapeake & Ohio.
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