The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-08-28
PRESIDENT WILSON MAY ASK MEN TO POST
PoNE ACTION IN ORDER THAT CONGRESS
CAN PASS LEGISLATION TO PRO
VIDE FOR SETTLEMENT.

, should so in extending authorities
over the railroads.
Several Of the railroad presidents
and managers left Washington late
! last night for their homes or tor re:
sorts nearby and will NOT return until
early tomorrow. But few Of the others
were seen about their headquarters
today, and several OF them played golf
or spent part Of the day on motor
| trips. There were no conferences nor
meetings OF the committee OF eight
| Among the presidents and managers
here, the opinion prevailed that the
proposal of the men would not be- ac-
ceptable 70 them, and there was no
| concealment Of the feeling that II
| President Wilson has no other suS-
| gestion to make a strike Is coming.
| The proposal may be taken under con-
sidcration If the president asks 1t, but
! little hope is entertained that the view
| tonight will be changed. The railroad
! executives already have formulated
the most careful plans TO take care
! OF the situation should Il strike enSue.
! They declare that strike cannot last
] long aud that their precautions Will
| insure the running vi all necessary
i trains.
Show Grave Concern.
! Democratic senator's who chanced
! 20 be in conference al the capitol on
! the revenue bill tonight when the pres
ldent unexpectedly appeared there IN
search OF Snatnr Kern, were Srarciy
concerned over The prospects and all
conceded tuat the crisis probably
would prolong the session OF congress.
When the president after an auto
mobile trip through the rain reached
! the capitol. be asked policeman At
the door 10 direct hrui 10 the finance
! committee. room. The officer anuOuaC-
ed the presidents arrival and SEN
ator Kern hastily left the room. For
! several minutes he talked with the
president in the hall. but later they
! walked up stairs 10 the president S
room after janitor had been found
; TO turn on the lights. The conference
! concluded. the president left without
! consulting other Democratic leaders.
| Il cannot discuss the subject OF the
j presidents. visit said Senator Kern,
further than 10 say that II concerned
the railroad situation. The affair is so
complicated. one possible Development
depending upon another. mat | cannot
disclose what is III the presidents
mind. OF course, ii the negotiations
to settle the strike fail. congress must
endeavor to solve the difficulty
| Asked if arrangements for the pres
! ident To address joint session OF con-
| gresS had been made. Senator Kern
said they had not. but he would not
! deny that such joint session in the
! immediate future was in contempla-
/ tion. II may be called for Tuesday
! when d quorum OF the house has been
summoned 10 reach Washington.
! Following the presidents unWnced-
! snted night visit the meeting Of the
! fioo0ca de-
waited from the task Of polishing up
the revenue BILL to discussion OF
the prospects before congress relating
10 the railroad crisis.
All agreed that congress must aban-
don all idea Of adjournment as long
! as it might be necessary to aid in
averting a national industrial disaster.
! Adjournment Plans Forgotten.
of course all adjournment plans
! have been forgotten" said Senator
| Simmons, and must wait on the work
! ing out OF this railroad crisis. do
! not know just what is in President
! Wilson's mind for congress TO do.
| Much depends. of course. on the out
come Of further conferences tomor-
! row. | think the first thing congress
should do in event Of failure of nego-
tiations tomorrow, is TO enact some
I
| between the railroads and the men.
| How this may be done do not know.
! but believe definite plans along this
line are already being considered"
Several senators asserted that con-
gress could prevent the strike and
some went so far as to say that it
must prevent it and would. but they
added that public discussion about
The method Of accomplishing this re-
suit should await an actual break in
! pending negotiations.
Senator NewlandS after leaving the
White House today said:
' Il have been discussing the situa-
tion with members Of the Interstate
| Commerce Commission and will con.
| tinue TO discuss it. No meeting OF the
committee to plan definite action is
! scheduled. hut should negotiations
fail the committee will be- called at
once.
! Tn event Of strike the most seri-
; ous immediate problem will be that
Of keeping the railroads in operation
and determining how far The federal
government should go to preven, de-
moraliZation Of business and complete
! Stagnation Of cOUimrrce. \ strike OF
! the dimensions of that now threatened
would be Civil war. II is idle to iS-
more the fact that such a strike could
not b. won without force. It would
be necessary for thc government to
! use force and 10 resort to the military
and every other agency At its disposal
TO offset violence and keep the roads
open. How far the government should
go in the matter Of forcing operation
OF the roads is Il serious problem for
congress 10 consider"
| Committeeman instructed.
All of the brotherhood committen-
men leaving for their homes tonight
(Con1nued on Page Etght.)