Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-21
Heads of Western Railroads
Gather at Capital for
Conference.
WILSON HOLDS FIRM
Railroad Presidents Said to
Be Considering Counter
Proposal in Dispute. =

WASHINGTON, Aug. 21-President
wilson today reiterated to the rail-
road executives, including the new
arrivals from the west, his demand
that they accept his plan for the
settlement for threatened raiIrOad
strike. The executives then began
the ilrSt OF "A series of meetings I'm
which they will frame their reply.
The president pointed out to the
railroad executives that the rail-
roads play an important part I'm
the military preparedness of the
country and that as they are n
vital part of the Industrial Frame
work OF the nation and il was abb
s0lutely necessary to keep them
running at the present time.
the railroad executives for fighting
theraIlrOad executives for fighting
for the principle of arbitration,
but that he believed under pres
emit circumstances they should ac-
cept the S-hOur day and leave the
working out of the principle of
arbitration until later.
Washington, Aug. 21.-The rail.
road presidents and their commit
tee OF managers worked steadily
today to devise some means OF
aYertlng the threatened strike
which would in the main accent
President WILSON'S plan but at the
same time preserve the principle
of arbitration.
Leaders of the railroad executives
declared they were united against the
presidents plan as it stands and hoped
to agree on some form of counter pro-
posal.
The railroad presidents were con-
sidering under what circumstances
they could find a way to accept the
eight-hour day basis and still con-
serve the principle of arbitration
which has become the crux of the
whole fight.
NO conference between President
Wilson and the railway executives is
expected before tomorrow afternoon.
The men, after a brief meeting today,
adjourned until tomorrow awaiting
developments and meanwhile sent
delegates to congressman to acquaint
them with details of the controversy
The situation continued, as both
sides expressed it, serious but not
hopeless.
President Wilson toward noon sent
word TO the railway presidents who
are now here asking them to call on
him at the White house at 2:30 this
afternoon. The railway presidents
who were discussing the situation
agreed to confer with the president,
but it was thought they would make
no statement unless he requested it.
Washington, Aug. 21.-The western
railway presidents summoned Satur-
day began coming in this morning.
Louis w. Hill of the Great Northern,
principal heir to the vast properties Of
the late James j. Hill, and E. p. Ripley,
the veteran president of the Santa Fe,
were among the first. Neither had any
statement to make.
The incoming executives conferred
with those already here and with the
managers committee to familiarize
themselves with negotiations so far.
All the western presidents are expect
ed before tomorrow noon. BY that
time it is expected about 100 railway
heads, representing properties valued
at about ten billion dollars, will be as
sembled for the next conference with
the president.
The brotherhood representatives
held "a brief meeting in their hall to-
day, but transacted no business. Mes
sages approving their stand in the
were read, and adjournment
was taken until 10 o'clock tomorrow
Important Developments Ahead.
Washington, Aug. 21.-With the ar
rival here today OF Louis Hill OF tho
Great Northern and other western rail-
road executives in response to Presi-
dent Wilson's summons, important de-
in the threatened nation
wide railway strike situation were
looked for, although no further gen
eral White house conference was ex-
pected before tomorrow. President
Wilson. however. made no engage
ments for today and stood ready to
negotiations with the railroad
executives.
While the railroad officials have ten
tatively refused to accept the settle
ment plan proposed by President Will
son that they grant an eight-hour day
with pro-rata pay for overtime and
submit other issues to investigation by
a federal commission. they are said to
be considering a counter proposal Ii
Is said 10 include arbitration OF some
Of the points in dispute, with the grant
ing of others.
The committee OF the Gao railway
brOtherhOOds' representatives who al