New Britain herald., 1916-08-24
OPTIMISM STRONG
 AMONG MEN FOR
 AVERTING STRIKE
Renewed Indications That Rail- roads Will Agree to Include
 Eight Hour Day
SIGNS OF UNREST ARE
 LESS APPARENT TODAY

LESS APPARENT TODAY Commissioner Chambers of Federal Mediation Board Confers With President Wilson and Then Talks to Employes-Five Courses Open to
 Congress-Santa Fe Official Calls Plan PrepOsterOuS.
 Washington, Aug. 24.-Renewed op- timism on the prospects for averting the threatened railroad strike pre- vailed today among the representa- lives of the employees and at the White House.
 Commissioner Chambers of the fcd- eral mediation board, after conferring with President Wilson, carried a mes sage to the brotherhood leaders.
 Signs of unrest among the men, so apparent yesterday, disappeared today and there were renewed indications that the railroads would agree on some proposal to include the eight hour day in a manner satisfactory to the employees committee and then bring about investigation of all the collateral issues.
 Railway heads who continued today their efforts to meet President Will sons plan for averting a strike prob- ably had for their guidance informal tion on the administrators attitude toward legislation or other govern mental action looking toward recom- pensing them for a possible cOnces- sion of the eight hour basic day.
 A definite statement of this atti- tude, it is believed, was the object sought by committee of three rail- way presidents who called on MT. Wilson at the White House again last evening, following conference during the day between the president and Senator Newlands and Representa- tive AdamsOn, chairmen of the con- gressiOnal committees having in charge interstate commerce legisla- ton.
 Possible Courses by Congress.
 Courses which might be taken by congress affecting directly the present railway situation, it was pointed out, are these:
 Direct the interstate commerce commission by resolutions to investi- gate the entire subject of the rela- tions between railroads and their em- ployes.
 Pass the pending bill to increase the commissions membership from seven to nine in anticipation of additional duties to be imposed.
 Exact a measure compelling arbi- tration of future disputes similar to that pendipg..
 Establish the eight hour day prin- ciple by legislation.
 Pass measures clearing the way for government ownership of railroads.
 The first two proposals were receiv- ing most serious consideration, it was said.
 Statements given out by the railway presidents showed no relaxation in their opposition to the eight hour principle, and there was no direct in- dication of when they might give final answer to President Wilson. Many te1egrams from industrial and commercial interests protesting against granting the eight hour day were displayed by the railway heads.
 Chambers Sees Employees.
 Commissioner Chambers of the fed eral board of mediation held an early morning conference with President Wilson and then met the representa- tives of the railroad employees It was reported that he carried some proposals made to President Wilson by a subcommittee of the railroad executives last night.
 Administration officials expected final answer from the railroad execu- lives today or tomorrow. President Wilson made no engagements in an- ticipation of receiving the executives While no definite information was forthcoming, administration officials expressed optimism over the outlook
 The executives had a meeting to hear the sUb-committees report of the conference last night with the presi- dent. The men also had a meeting.
 Walter D. Hines chairman of the executive committee of the Santa Fe, issued statement today attacking President Wilson's plan and charac- terized it as preposterous. He de- clared the president apparently had made up his own mind without hear ing, 'as to the concessions he will
 Continued on Eleventh PageD