Evening star., 1916-08-26
ns for time while their back fire"

ing for time while their back nre"
campaign gains headway.
The railroad executives are under
stood to have completed their counter
eight-hour day question is in reahty
one of increased wage and therefore
should be arbftrated.
'It puts the issue squarely up to the
men," said one of the executives
Prospects of a strike being called
doomed larger today than at any time
during the last month, and yet leadeIs
of all parties concerned in the eHorts
to adjust this controversy hope to
hnd a way to avert 1t in the interests
of the loo, ,GO0, 900 people of the United
States.
Work on Counter Proposal.
On the way this proposal from the
railroads is received by the railway
brotherhoods' committee of $40 depends
largely whether the Presidents per-
sonal efforts to mediate shall fai
Heretofore the brotherhood leaders
have stood firmly against any plan 10
arbitrate their demand for an eight
hour day basis in determining
wages, although they have consented
ito arbitrate all contingent issues, IN
Award to Be Retroactive.
The railroad chiefs propose that If the
arbitratIng board-which might be the
interstate commerce commission. or
some other public body to be created
finds wage increases should be granted
the order would be considered effective
from the time arbitration begins, and
"a ba 10 h
roads to insure such back payments
The employees would be bound not 10
make further demands nor to strike,
pending investigation.
Some members of the brotherhood
committee, although still hostile to ar
bitrating the eight-hour demand. were
said to favor taking the railroads pro-
posaI under advisement and continuing
negotiations next week
Men Desire to Leave.
Heads of the four railroad brother
hoods went to the White House yes
terday afternoon and informed Presi-
dent Wilson that under no circum-
stances could they hold their committee
of $40 here after tonight Inc men,
they said were demanding that they
obtain some definite answer from the
railroad heads on President Wilson's
plan already accepted by them. or that
they be permitted to go home and pre-
pare for a strike Everything was de-
clared to be in readiness Tor waih-out
whenever the committee of $40 gives
the word
The President is understood to have
given the men no definite promise as
to what he would do. He made an ap-
pointment with them for noon today
Shortly after they left the White House
he sent for the select committee OF
three railroad presidents to advise them
of what had happened.
The railroad presidents and manas-
orS held conferences yesterday and con-
tinued their sessions until late last night,
working on their reply to the President.
1t has been well known since the
presidents came here that many OF
of them have pointed out that in their
opinion submission in the present
crisis would weaken discipline on their
lines. and that 1t would only be short
followed by similar ones of other en-
ployes. Many of them feel that
strike could last only a few days at
the longest. and the more important
handling the mails and milk trains and
supplying the larger cities with food
stuffs
Statements by Presidents.
Statements were issued last night by
President Howard Elliott of the New
Haven and r. H. Ashton of the Chi
cago and Northwestern. Mr.. Elliott |
said he hoped real solution would be
found for the situation. rather than |
that it should be settled ofshand and |
solely in the interest of the 100000 |
who are now pressing their demands |
President Ashton said that in 1900 |
the amount of wages paid train en-
ployes for each 1000 tons Of freight
moved one mile was 56.4 cents. while |
in 1914 1t was 81 cents. an increase OF
23 per cent.
The conference committee of man
ayers made public several kilograms |
from commercial organizations and In |
diyiduals supporting their insistence |
upon arbitration of labor disputes.
W. @. Lee, head of the trainmen's
brotherhood. gave out carbon copies Of
one Of the so-called ''backfire" kilograms, |
which had been forwarded here from |
brotherhood member in Spokane. II was
signed with the name of Northern
Pacific superintendent and addressed to
one OF the roads agents. Besides urging
the agent to have citizens telegraph the
President In favor of arbitration. the mes
sage said the cost Of the kilograms would
be taken from the station money, and
charged to the railroads account.
Later A. b. Garretson produced tele-
gram from one Of the brotherhood men
In SrdnG OTSS, y. u, which. he said, de-
clared a Great Northern agent there had
received instructions not only to obtain
ba ckfire messages. but also to urge
upon prospective signers that arbitration
not only would mean defeat of a strike,
but also prevent an increase in freight
rates.
One of the leaders said that in the event
OF a strike being called crews hauling
trains with supplies for soldiers on the
Mexican border. a limited number Of pas
senger ana express trains and possibly,
some milk trains. would be permitted to
continue work.
At Least Five Days Notice.
IL the $40 chairmen of the employees
leave the city without peace being de-
elared, each will take a sealed envelope
containing the strike order. with the
hour 1t is TO begin written in. He will
open this envelope upon the receipt of a
single code word from the brotherhood
leaders, who would be in New York