The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-22
BIG RAILROADS
BEGIN TO YIELD
CONTINUED from page l. Z

tically some means for avoiding future
| trouble To this end, there have been
many suggestions, one OF the fore-
most of which provided for the crea-
! ton Of an investigation commission
similar to that under tho Canadian
! disputes act.
| In the discussion of adequate COM
pensation" for yielding the eight hour
day the railway executives are ex-
| pected to urge the president to recon-
ment some congressional action to
unity control of railway operation.
They want the roads placed entirely
under federal regulation. eliminating
state control.
The executives are now said to be
convinced that they can get rate In
creases from the interstate commerce
commission and with this one OF
their principal objections has been
removed.
/ Talk Of violent individual opposition
| to any general acQuiescense to Pres1-
dent Wilson's proposal, was quieted
by Louis w. Hill of the Hill lines who
denied he had insurged against the
others.
1t developed today that the inside
committee of big railroad heads who
met most of last night, we're getting
in direct touch as fast 8 possible
today with their important directors.
They expected to be able to report to-
night or early tomorrow morning to
| the president on their conclusions re-
garding this plan.
| President Wilson held himself In
readiness to meet them as soon as
they were ready and it was said he
had indicated he has no plan to pre-
sent other than that on which he has
steadily insisted.
.T'm in agreement with everybody"
he said today.
Incidentally he and others protessed
not to be particularly moved by Presl-'
dent Wilson's plea for peace in view
of the need for moving crops and
general supplies both for this coun-
try and foreign nations.
"The crop in our country is very
short" Hill said. They're not even
cutting it, much less moving it. A
strike would not affect us as it would
eastern roads. We actually have four
thousand or five thousand cars idle.
The only lines seriously affected
would be those around Pittsburgh,
Transporting steel and IRON"
The last word on the negotiations
win be said by the managers COM
mittee. The executives after confer
ring together, were to call on the
president, explaining the decision
reached and tell him they would con.
fer with the managers committee.
This committee was to formulate the
final question. Therefore it appears
that the turning point in negotiations
might be reached today.
The employees had brief meeting
this morning and found themselves
at loss to size up the situation &C
curately, though inclined to optimism.
Their meeting adjourned until 3
o'clock this afternoon and in the
meantime many of them visited the
capitol as the guests Of Vice Presi-
dent Marshall.
Hanging in the Balance.
by Robert j. Bender, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Aug. 22.-The
greatest industrial struggle in the
history of the country hangs in the
balance today.
The question OF acceptance or re-
lection of the proposals made by
President Wilson in an effort to
avert a strike that would tie up the
railroads Of the country has now
been passed to the men whose money
is invested in the great arteries OF
the nations trade.
AS the situation stands this after
noon the employees have put their de-
mands for an eight hour day and
time and a half overtime in the hands
OF the president. He has put it up
to the heads Of the great systems
and they in turn have passed II on to
the directors. After an all night ses-
sion the select committee OF big
barons" appointed by the two score
executives. failed to reach any de-
cision early today. They then wired
their directors and upon the reply
from the money powers behind the
country's trans portation system large
ly rests the final results.
In the meantime the high salaried
railway executives continued to
wrestle with the various negotiations.
Counting the salaries and expenses of
the various railroad heads and union
officials the negotiations are costing
between $25, 200 and $4,000 day, it
is estimated.
There Is no doubt that a division
exists among the railroad heads.
Against one faction, which favors
trading" with the president in ac-
cepting the eight hour day principle,
is another group violently opposed to
any step that would weaken thei.-
stand demanding arbitration on all
matters.
A short session attended by all the
two score railway residents was
held during the morning, but adjourn
ed at noon until o'clock this even
ing In the meantime it was an
nounced the select committee COM
posed OF eight presidents of the lead
ing roads and headed by Hale Holden.
will continue in session throughout
the day.