The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-08-22
Presidents Of Transportation
Systems Declare That They
Cannot Accept Even Temporar-
lily Eight-hour Day Demand
WOULD INCREASE WAGES
FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS
Benefit Would Go Only To Pre-
ferred Class of Labor and
Could Not Be Allowed Without
Appealing to Public Sentiment
lAssoeiated Press by Federal Wirelessl

ASSOCIATED Press by Federal Wireless)
wv ASHINGTON, August 22-The
" presidents of the railroad
systems affected by the threat
encd strike of the members of the four
railrOad brOtherhoods are practically
united in their stand against the pro-
posed plan of President Wilson, to
waive arbitration for the time being
and accept the eight.hour day proposal
of the men.
Following their prOtracted confer
Rnce with the President at the White
House, yesterday, the railroad heads
withdrew to confer among themselves,
before making any statement for the
public.
Conference Results Guarded
The nature and results of these
minor conferences were kept well con-
ccaled, but it was learned that the
sentiment Of the men present for the
most part was against the suggestions
made at the White House, at least in
their present form, although it was
hinted that with some alterations they
might prove acceptable as a basis upon
which the negotiations might be
brought to satisfactory conclusion.
Indeed, there MAS considerable talk
of a counter. proposal which might
solve the problem and break the up.
parent deadlock, and in certain quar-
tiers there was hope expressed that such
counterproposal might be made to-
day.
Getting Away From Wilson
Following the conferences held by
the railroad president, Blewitt Lee,
spokesman and chairman of the con
ference, said that the trend of opin,
ion was away from the President =
plan.
at is inconccivable, he declared
"thnt the railroads should be called
upon to grant demands which would
mean the payment of $50 1000 900 addi.
tionnl wages to a preferred class of
their employees, and n class that is in
the minority, and that the demands
should he granted under the threat of
strike such as this, which would
paralyZe the entire industrial and com
mPrcial activities of the nation. Ger
tainly it is impossible to conceive that
such action should be taken by the
railroads without appealing to the last
court in this country, public opinion.
Public Opinion Must Decide
In continuing his statement Mr.. Lee
intmatod that the lines are prepared t.
take whatever course the country de
sires for we realize that public opinion
must decide this controversy.'
President Wilson put the railroad
crisis squurely up to the big gathering
of railroad presidents who met him AT
the white House in conference yester'
day.
lie reinforced his previous argu
ments for adjustment of the cOntrO
versy, involving some concession now
by the employers, pointing out the i'm
Inrtancr of the railroads for military
preparedness, and declaring that the
roads are the vital industrial frame
work of the nation and that it is abso
Iutely necessary to keep them running
Roads Are Not Blamed
He said he did not blame the roads
for fighting for the principle of arbi
tIation, but that he believed under
present circumstances they should ac
ccpt the eight hour plan demanded by
the men, urbitrating later the working
out Of harmonious adjustment.