The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-08-19

officials that he had drawn up the plar
because he thought 1t tar, ant
believed a way must be tnuna loI
avertinC a strike. He urged ihem u
demonstrate spirit at concession, ah'
TO assist him in setting me cohilp
versy. Tonight the railroad officials
had annther long conference al theil
hotel.
Employees representatives held TWO
meetings during the day, one OF sever
al hours for speech. making and ballot
ing on the Presidents pian ana lht
other, a short one, for announcement
OF the result of the vote.
Some of the Presidents expressed
the conviction tonight that the neGtn
tiations with the White House woult
not be concluded in few days. ant
that each point involved would b.
thoroughly considered by the eXecu
tive heads Of the roads before any
definite position is taken. While tht
presidents have kept in touch win INT
situation as it developed here. IL wa:
said tonight their attention hau peer
largely perfunclory and they dld n"
have first hand comprehensive lntnr
nation on the status Of the negotla
lions until they reached Washington
As one railroad head pointed out
tonight the questions in issue involve
the operation of 250,000 miles OF rail
road one-fourth that Of the entire
world and their solution may have d
tar-reaching effect on laboring condi'
lions throughout the United States,
With 100000 railroad men assured OF
and s hour basic working day, some OF
the presidents fecl'it would be ques
lion OF only short time until laborlng
mon in some of the great industrial
concerns OF the country would be max
Ing demands for an 8 hour day also
Echoes of this feeling are expected 10
reach the White House as this view
is spread throughout the country.
Majority Vote Binding.
The presidents realize that If II
comes to a matter Of break with
the White House some executives may
be inclined 10 subordinate their con
'ytctions to President Wilson's wishes
and it has been planned 10 have votes
taken on each proposal made ny MIN
with the understanding that major
ity vote shall bind all.
Railroad men present at today's con
ference and White House officials de
clared tonight that The PreSidcn, had
not talked Of government ownership
of railroads as possibility in the III
ture in case there is a strike.
A person in position to he familiar
with the attitude Of the executives
outlined the position Of the railroads
tonight as follows:
The position Of the railroads at
this time is that they are standing out
for the great principle of arbitration
and that they cannot surrender inns
principle under the threat OF sttrlk'
or under pressure from any other
quarter.
There never was a time during the
day that the Presidents proposal
could not have been rushed through
the employees meeting by big ma
jority. Brotherhood leaders were in
no hurry TO have a vote taken fol
several reasons. They wanted the
railroad presidents to meet with The
President before submitting their an
swer, they were DESTROYS that the
brotherhood men who had speeches It
deliver have the fullest opportunity
10 talk and besides they did not want
to be put in the position of graspint
eagerly at a plan which was not eX
actly The one they had demanded OF
the railroads, though il was highly
satisfactory TO most OF them.
Opposition to the plan, which wa;
scattered, always was good natureC
and most of those who objected dis
cuSsed effects on their Immediate 10
califies rather than probable genera
results. A few Contended that accept
ance of the Presidents plan. failing II;
it would to provide punitive overtime
measure, would arm III" railroad:
with the argument that the primary
purpose of the proposed strike VA!
to obtain higher wage instead OF eS
tabishing the shorter work day rs
the men contend.
Rousing cheers greeted the final ap
prevail Of the plan.
Great Secrecy Employed.
Even greater secrecy surrounded
tho movements of the employees tn-da
than Yesterday, when it. seemed thai
they had taken every possible prccau
ton to safeguard their deliberations
All connected with the meeting r."
fused ut first upon leaving The hal
shortly after noon. even TO commit
themselves rs TO whether Il vote had
been started. Finally, one of the
Brotherhood officials said thr vote
was under way. but uncompleted
Half an hour later III" Canvassing
board, which had been loft in the hall
finished its count and reported TO The
four Broth erhnOd heads at their hotel
The result WAS announced in the gen
eral meeting when it rec0nVened al
2:30 o'clock. The Brotherhood Off
Gals then slipped out through Il rear
door Of the hall. carefully avoiding
everyone. and hurried 10 the White
House with A solitary typewriter re-
port Of the decision. and handed il
10 the President Before leaving they
again assured him that any news re
garding the negotiations must CONF
from him. and upon returning 10 their
hotel declined positively Ia discuss
the result of their deliberations.
The President was preparing to &c
golfing when the representatives Of
the brotherhood arrived.
Il hope you don't f02Zlc the ball.
A. B. Garretson, head of the conduct
ors' Brotherhood. said. as The quartet
left.
The Brotherhood meeting adjourned