The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-26
Put Up Final Move to wilson
and Employees.
Break Between Operators and
Unions Looks Certain.
STAND PAT ON ARBITRATION
Rail BarOns Demand That OF
Invite Tie-Up.
BrOtherhOOds Probably VIII
Take Action Today.


washington. Aug. 26--The SHOW
down in thte fight between the rall-
roads and the railroad brotherhooos
seemed at hand this afternoon Inc
ouestion whether the countrys Inous-
trial activity was to continue or to be
supplanted by complete stasnatloh
NAV be determined before night.
For hours, in a room at the w ma ma, -
hotel the heads of the American rall-
1yavs argued over the language In
which they should declare to the pres
ident their final stand. They WORKED
over and over thep aragraphs OF
Droposal for settlement Whlch tneS
had little reason to believe the hfoth-
erhoods would accept. but which they
desired 20 be an unansweraole prleI
of their side cf the case.
At the White House the president
deferred meeting with the brother-
hood representatives until TINS proPo5
sition of the executives had reached
him. The word went out that, re
gardless of the belief Of the railroad
presidents in the finality of. their own
action, thep resident was not prepared
to allow the negotiations to drop He
will insist on continuing efforts TO pre-
vent the break, it was said.
Hope Badly Prayed, But
IF the proposal forecast by the rail-
roads is made" an administration Of
ficial close to the president said, tine
situa ton is bad, but it is not final.
The president spent some time today
With Secretary Lane who, because of
his long service OF the Interstate Com
1uerce commission has been one of
presidents most important advisers in
the railroad controversy Lane de-
c,ined to discuss the matter When ne
left the white house. Senator New
lands chairman of the serate inter-
state commerce committee who ear
lter had advised the president that
action could not be taken by the
present congress on legislation desired
by the railroads if they grant any
concessions to the men, also called at
the white house. He left a written
communication but it's contents were
kept secret.
The brotherhood $40 representa-
tives held an hours session, discussing
various phases of the issue and kill
ing time" Afterwards many of them
paid their hotel bills and gave up their
rooms They believed it would be
possible to leave the city tonight. None
Of the brotherhood presidents how
ever. would express such a belief.
Employees Debate Arbitration.
The employees session adjourned
shortly after noon until 2 o'clock. The
brotherhood heads had been closeted
in their hotel during the meeting,
waiting for word from the White
Forthcoming until the president had
received the proposal of the railroads.
The question of arbitration was care
fully considered in the mems session
but no action was taken.
Washington. Aug. 26.-With dram
attic and sinister suddenness a crisis
came today in the negotiati ms to pre-
vent the threatened railroad strike.
break between the railroad brother
hoods. representing 100000 men and
tie railroad presidents, representing
twelve billions of capital, seemed cer-
tain. Sixty executives called here a
week ago by President Wilson have
ignored his peace proposal and decided
L. submit a substitute proposition
which even the most optimistic feel
ttc brotherhoods will turn down. 1t
proves:
That an eight hour day. inasmuch
rs theory and practice on this differ
widely. must not be tried until after
arbitration and investigation.
That the question of wages, overtime
and other collateral being by their
very nature arbitratable an impartial
GARD or commission should be desig-
mated to pass on all these matters.
That the roads will abide by the
decision of such an impartial body
the findi- gs of the board or commits
sion to take effect from the TIME arbi-
lfduOn endS.
Ask No Freight Increase.
The roads in the proposal now
agreed on among themselves request
n" beneficial legislation and no in
ci eased rates. They suggest only that
l. the event of arbitration and investi-
cation of the eight hour working day
an impartial commission do the work
The proposition is less than four hun
dred words long. 1t is the first con-
crete plan that has been voted on at
any time by the executives and met
with unanimous approval It is the
only proposal that will come from the
roads. according 10 one of the leading
executives today and he added:
1t is better than the brotherhood
leaders deserve. If they don't like it,
they know what they can do"
With this action unanimously agreed
upon at a conference last night, the
roads passed the question of a strike
or peace back to President Wilson and
the brotherhoods. Ratification of the
proposition was to be voted by the
executives and managers at 10 o'clock
Ihls morning and Immediately after
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