The Prescott daily news., 1916-08-25

Washington, Aug. 24.-After con tinued conferences today between President Wilson and the select com mittee of railroad executives the situ- ation surrounding the threatened strike was described as having mar rowed down to the following:
 The railroad presidents, at least the subcommittee of eight, are willing to accept the eight-hour day insisted upon by President Wilson and the trainmen.
 In return they ask that they be as- sured as fully as possible that all proper support be given and proper means be used to assure them freight rate increase for the Inter- state Commerce Commission.
 They ask also that Congress create a permanent board or commission similar to the Canadian commission to handle future labor difficulties.
 A commission of this character would be empowered to investigate when labor troubles threaten and no strike could be called or strike vote taken pending its investigation, full report of which would be made public at its conclusion.
 At the end of the investigation ar i bitraton would be suggested but if mot accepted opportunity would be given to the men to take a strike vote. The balloting would he secret
 These proposals were communicate. today by Commissioner Chambers of the Federal Board of Mediation to the Representatives of the men, who ap- parently regarded them favorably. Judge Chambers then reported to President Wilson and the subcommit- tee of the railroad executives was summoned to the White House
 Encouragement Felt.
 None of them would say afterwards whether President Wilson reported the men would accept the proposals, but it was said that some encourage ment was felt as a result of the nego- tiations.
 President Wilson is understood to feel some sympathy with the counter demands by the railroads and not averse to having the men accept them. A vote by the labor representatives here will probably be necessary fo" irdorsement In the meantime the executives will continue their confer ences among themselves and another White House visit may be made later.
 Signs of unrest among the men, so apparent yesterday, disappeared to- day, and there were renewed indica- tions that the railroads would agree on some proposal to include the eight 1 hour day in a manner satisfactory to the employees committee and then bring about a deep investigation of all the collateral issues.
 Higher Pay Object.
 l.. F.. Johnson, president of the Nor folk X Western, today gave out statement in which he says
 "The conviction of the railroad pres idents that their stand in favor of ar Ibitration is sound has been greatly intensified today by the receipt of hundreds of telegrams from all over the country, and from every class of business and industry supporting their position and demanding that the principle involved be maintained.
 Ut has been made plain as daylight that the men are not agitating for eight hours of work and no more. Their real purpose is to secure higher pay
 "The brotherhoods have charged the railways with failure to put into effect the awards of boards of arbi- tration. It is true that there have been delays caused by differences of opinion as to the technical application of general award to varying sched ules of different railroads, and it has sometimes been necessary to refer such controversies back to the arbi- traitors for a decision, but the points on which there have been such dis putes have been comparatively few in proportion to the total number in-