The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-28
Executives to Accept Nothing
Short of Arbitration.
CONGRESS- TO PASS new LAWS
Wilson Sharpens Last Weapon
Government Control.
q. S. to Keep Trains Moving IL
Strike Is Called.


o'clock the subcommittee of eight exc
cutives composed of the Messrs- Hold
en-, Ripley, willard, Smith. Atterbury.
Harrison, Trumbull and Lovett went
to the White House to confer with
President Wilson. 1t was not then
certain that they would present the
formal reply to his plan they had pre-
pared.
The committee of eight conferred
with President Wilson an hour and af-
terward Hale Holden as spokesman.
said that a statement would be given
out by the executives inside of an
hour but that it would not be a final
statement.
Mr. Holden indicated that the plan
of the executives to present to the
president a written statement prac-
tically turning down his plan had
been changed. Mr. Holden refused to
state whether the executives planned
to see the president again or to indi-
cate their plans in any way
Washington. Aug. 2S. - President
Wilson today presented a new proposal
to the railroads of the country by
which he hopes to avert the threat
ened final break between the roads
and the railroad brotherhoods. and
the inevitable industrial crisis that
would follow.
1t was this new plan of the presi-
cents it became known this afternoon
that resulted in deferring the confer
ence with the railway presidents
scheduled for 10 O'Clock at the White
House 1t was likely to defer this
in IA n
2:3o. the new time set Il was indt-
Gated. 1t has become apparent the
president did not intend To hear the
So-calIed final terms of the railway
a possibility of obtaining radical
changes in the terms. If the present
effort fails, the president will appeal
to congress, and if possible secure the
passage of two laws that will delay
and possibly avert the threatened
strike and prevent a recurrence of
such a situation.
Won't Give Up S-Hour Fight.
The president still stands pat on his
demand for concession by the rail-
ways of the principle of the eight hour
day. He is willing. however. that suf-
ficient time should elapse before IL
is put into effect to enable 2 commis-
sion of five men to investigate and
crk out all the details regarding the
application of the shorter hour day
to railroad operation--a year IL nee
essary.
From the first the president has
been insistent on the eight hour day,
but the proposition communicated to
the railroad executives today promises
them all the time necessary to allow a
thoro investigation of the short days
operation. The president has been
willing-and in this it is learned to-
day he has been supported by the rail-
10 LAT oil dnfa lie f1f f1fa
dispute with the exception of the
eight hour day. be left to arbitration
Thus far, however, the roads have not
accepted this, or any other OF a score
of suggestions submitted 20 them.
Rail Heads Won't Yield.
Thus 1t appears probable according
to those in immediate touch with the
negotiations that the railroads will not
yield to today's suggestion. The presf-
dent has determined, il negotiations
fail. to recommend the passage by this
congress of the following measures:
A law similar to the Canadian dis
putes act, which averts all strikes and
lockouts for one year, pending the in
vestigation by commission Of all de-
tails incident to the dispute.
An eight-hour law for railroad en-
ployes-probably an amendment to
the present sixteen-hour law-with
features covering matters of overtime
and other collateral details.
1t was learned today that the pres
ident feels keenly disappointed that
the two sides of the pending dispute
have been in the city more than two
weeks and within a few blocks OF
each other, and that there have been
no conferences between the railroads
and the brotherhoods in an effort to
a assist him in arriving at some satisfac-
tory plan of settlement The pres
ident, from the first. expressed will
ingness-even anxiety-to pass on any
fair proposition either side might pre-
sent to the other, in an effort to bring
them together, but that thus far no
such proposition has been made.
Puts Congress to Work.
Washington. Aug. 28.-President