The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-08-22
PRESIDENT APPEALS
no RAILROAD HEADS
.aanagegs, However, Refuse to Concede
Eight Hour Day Without Arbltratins
Whole Question-Wison Then
Goes Step Higher.

Washington, Aug. 17.-President
Wilson today laid his plan for aVert!ng
the threatened railway strike before
the employees committee OF. $40 AMI
having found the managers commit
zee adamant on his proposal that they
accept the eight hour day, he appeal
cd to the railroad presidents and ask
ed them to come to the White House
for conference.
There is every indication that If tn !:
presidents sustain their managers
President Wilson will appeal finally
tn the financial powers which control
tat. roads.
The presidents plan. which is ex-
pected to be formally accepted by the
employees committee at a meeting at
9 O'Clock TOMORROW morning, pro-
posed:
An eight hour day as the basis for
computing wages.
Regular pay at the eight hour day
rate for overtime.
To refer all other collateral issues
so a small commission to be created
oy congress on which the employees
the railroads and the public would be
represented.
A Fair Proposal.
The acceptance of the proposal by
the employees was forecast by express
sions Of their leaders after they left
the presidents conference. One OF
them declared: "The men would be
fools not to accept it,
The attitude Of the railroad presi-
dents is not so clear. They began ar
irving tonight; all are expected to be
here tomorrow. No one can say what
will be the effect OF an appeal such as
a president of the United States speak
ing in the name of the welfare OF a
nation, can make. But from such In
formation as can be gathered it ap'
pears that the railroad presidents, II
the managers committee understands
them are unalterably opposed to con
ceding the eight hour day or any
sbiney else out of hand, but are quite
ready to arbitrate anything and every
ching in almost any form of arbitra-
ton upon which the emploes and the
committee may agree.
Stands for Arbitration.
The railroad presidents, it is under
stood, justify their stand upon the
broad ground of maintaining the prln-
ciple of arbitration which, if sacrificed
In this instance, they intend to tell the
president, would be destroyed as
factor in the settlement Of industrial
disputes.
If the railroad presidents persist IN
xnat view and are supported by the
financial powers, only the future can
tell the outcome.
With the growing seriousness OF 1he
situation, congress began paying more
real attention to the crisis today ana
there were many indications OF inter
o,-o,+ o no+iorwi6e iieuD
The gener Al expectation is that the
railroad offs ials after seeing the pres
ident tomorrow will ask that they be
given several days, perhaps a week
or more, to consider their course. A
score of the officials who arrived to-
night went into session with the man
agers' committee and it was said that
one of the possibilities under con-
sideration was the preparation OF /
statement to be given before their
visit to the president, putting IheT
position before the country.
To Back Up Managers.
The conference tonight between the
railroad presidents and the managers
committee developed further ind1ca"
eions that the managers were to be
backed up by their chiefs in the aStl-
cude they had adopted toward the
presidents proposals.
'qWe have gone over the situation
shoroughly,'' said one Of the presl-
dents as he left the conference, and
we agree thoroughly in every partic-
ular with what the committee mas
done"
Asked if the managers would De
backed in their decision President u.
e. willard of the Baltimore & Ohio
sa.u: "I assume they will be-"
Two plans are being considered TOT
.l.o ,,alxo711, of the proposed commit