South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-25
Heads of Trainmen'S Organ
izationS Tell PreS't Wilson
They Cannot Consider
Any Other Agreement.
RAlLWA PRESIDENTS
DIFFER RADICALLY
Difficulty is Being Exper-
fenced in Getting General
Consent to Accept
Wilson's Plan.
International News Servlce :

International News Service:
WASHINGTON. Aug. 25-The
brotherhoods' representatives now
in Washington comforting with
Pres't Wilson and the presidents
and managers Of the various rail-
roads of the country in an effort to
prevent a general strike will not
recede from their acceptance of
Pres't Wilson'S plan TO end the con
troversy. But under no circum-
stances will they make any further
concessions to the railroads.
Pres't Wilson was so informed by
the grand officers OF the brother
hoods at the conference in the white
house today which lasted for one
hour and % minutes. While his cab
met members cooled their heels
outside his study the president dis
cussed the entire situation with the
brotherhood leaders. seeking TO find
whether there was not some other
compromise plan that could be
agreed upon which would force a
speedy settlement.
The brotherhood men told the
president that they and their asso-
ciates had accepted his plan of an
eight-hour work day on a 1O-hour
basis of pay in good faith. abandon
ing all collateral considerations. in
Guiding the demand for overtime,
and that they must now stand pat
If the roads will not yield, they
said. there was nothing for the men
10 do but order a general strike.
Held Secret Conference.
While the brotherhood men con-
ferred with the president the man
ayers and executives of the rail-
roads held their first secret confer
ence in their headquarters in the
Willard hotel
The conference between the pres
ident and the railway union chiefs
was reported 10 have been some
what animated. All of the brother
hood representatives united in tell
ing the president that the railroads
had gone 10 the most unfair
lengths to manufacture apparent
sentiment throughout the country
against his proposed basis of set
tlement. In proof Of this charge
". @. Lee president of the Brother
hood of Trainmen. filed with the
president copies of a telegram from
f.. r. SAVOY of Spokane, Wash. de-
claring that j. L. Derorce, superin-
tendent OF the Northern Pacific had
sent all agents Of that road a mes
sage ordering them 10 have as many
60 = esr.rn
and merchants in their district wire
the president demanding that he
insist that all of the questions now
i'm dispute. including hours and wa
ges. be settled by arbitration and
that ne abandon his own proposal
of settlement.
To Pay for Messages.
The message also said:
These kilograms are TO be Asid
for from station funds and state
ment sent me for voucher 10 your
credit Might be well TO have some
OF the prominent signers send mes
sage 10 their congressman and sem
ators in Washington in addition to
those sent TO PRIEST Wilson. This is
very important and must be given
preference over normal business. ~
Lee told the president that this
proved Conclusively in his opinion.
that the MESA ges reaching Wash
ington endorsing the position Of the
railroad heads were "manufactur-
ed. He also said that all or the COM
mitteemen were receiving demands
from their locals either to stand
pat on the presidents c4Eln&
proposition or to break Off negotis-
lions If the roads viii not WELD
and go through with the original
program
submits Proposal.
The president made no sugges-
tons 10 the brotherhood chiefs. but
sounded them out on a proposal
that had been made 10 him by GER
tain Of the railway executives which
would provide for acceptance of the
eight-hour day. but would make the
basis for payment the present COM
pensation for nine hours instead of
10 as at present This would have
the effect Of splitting the differ
ence" and would save the railroads
half OF the amount it was figured
that the presidents plan would
CONTINUED or PAGE FOUR