The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-08-29


The proposition OF the railroad ex.
ecutiyes was that an Investigation OF
all issues be conducted by commits
sion to be named by the president. the
Investigation to last for a period OF
three or four months. no action TO oe
taken by either side in the meantime
and at the conclusion Of the lnqulr!
II the situation be what 1t now IS, ,the
employees having the choice or eltner
arbitrating or striking.
The brotherhood heads promised a
reply tomorrow morning ana tnere
was every indication 1t would be un-
favorable.
When the railroad brotherhood heaos
went to the White House tonight the
president not only laid before tneni
The plan of the executives, but strong
Iy urged the withdrawal OF tenta-
tive Strike order sent out yesterday
subject to release, calling for a walk
out of the 10000 brotherhood mem
bers at a. NJ. Labor Day. Sept I.
This request was fatty refused, tas
leaders saying only the committee ol
$40, which left Washington YESTERDAY
had power to recall the order.
Copies Of the strike order were
brought to the presidents attenIoli
after they had gotten into the posses.
sion of the railroad executives. II
had been known that the members OF
the committee of $40 carried, nome
with them a tentative order, but no
one outside the brotherhood councils
had suspected that date had oeen
set. and the president is said TO nave
been greatly perturbed by the informa
lion. After the refusal TO Wlthdra"
,he order, he communicated with tue
cailroad presidents who held meet
ing that lasted until late in the nlgnt
In spite OF the apparent 1lnal talc
Ire of his efforts 10 bring the t"o
sides ogether, the president was req,
resented tonight as being Still Aopelu'
Of arerting the strike.
The Legislative Program:
The legislative program prepared
for congress includes the following
An eight hour day law for railroad
employees so framed as to give tns
railroads time to prepare for 1t; ana
A law patterned after the Canaolau
industrial disputes act QroYlolnS loI
investigation Of industrial disputes on
railroads by commission ana pro.
hibiting strikes or lockouts penu!ns
the outcome of the investigation,
In addition to these measures there
to increase the revenues OF the rail-
roads In case the expenses are lncreas
ed, and a law creating authority Iof
the operatioa Of the railroads under
the federal government in event OF q
strike. The plan tonight was to nave
the first two measures introduced as
amendments to the bill. which mas al
ready passed the house, increasing the
Interstate Commerce COMMISSION
from 7 TO 9 members.
Although on the surface nation
wide railroad strike was nearer 70
night than it had ever been. coRo'
dence was expressed in Official quart
ers that the steps under contempla'
tion would have the effect OF prevent
ing the walkout. The President. realiz
ing the disaster which would come tc
the country if the railroads are tied
up, was said to De determined 10 pre-
vent a strike at any cost. IN DIS con'
ferences with the executives he strong
Iy urged that they change their hither
to unyielding attitude, and. when ne
saw the employees he urged that al
suggestions from the executives
should be given most careful consid
Grafton.
Final arrangements for the appear
ance OF the President before congress
discussed the question fully with the
Democratic steering committee OF the
Senate, and they agree with him that
he should address joint session.
The time Of his appearance depends
largely upon further conferences 20
morrow with the executives and the
employees.
At today's conference the railroad
presidents did not formally present
the statement agreed on by them last
Friday night. which amounted to
fiat refusal Of his plan Of settlement
This statement has been signed by al
the executives, but its presentation
was withheld IN the interest OF peace
President Wilson was informed verb
ally Of Its terms.
Possible Agreement
Throughout the day there appeared
to be some possibility that an agree
ment might be reached on a plan
which would include concession Of the
8 hour day but postponment Of its ef
Sectiveness until the railroads had had
IN opportunity to prepare for 1t. Hope