Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-08-25
RAILROADS. ACCEPT
WILSON'S PROPOSAL
PRESIDENT WINS THEM no HIS
PLAN TO AVOID NATION
WIDE STRIKE.

Convinced that they must accept
President Wilson's suggestions as a
basis for the settlement of their dis
pute with their employees, in order to
avert a nationwide railroad strike,
the presidents of 60 of the railroads
of the United States are now striving
to devise a plan whereby the eight
hour day may be put into effect on
their systems with the least possible
additional expense.
The crux of the presidents sugges-
ton is acceptance of the eight-hour
day and the settlement of allied ques-
tions, such as wages, freight rates,
overtime rates and the like, by an
impartial commission authorized by
congress to conduct an investigation
after the eight-hour plan has been in
operation some months to determine
what changes may be needed. The
railroad presidents fought hard for
their argument that all the questions
at issue should be submitted to a
board of arbitration, but the presi-
dent has insisted from the outset
upon the acceptance of the eight-hour
day, for reasons advanced in his first
statement, and the railroad execu-
tives have come to realize the impos-
sibility of pressing their claim any
further.
Several conferences have taken
place this week between the president
and the railroad chiefs on various
points at issue and the president also
discussed the situation at length with
Senator Newlands and Representative
AdamsOn, chairman of the two COM
mittees Of congress in charge of leg
islation affecting interstate commerce.
They are said to have agreed that the
presidents position in the present sit
uation is right and to have said that
every effort could be expected in con-
gress to put through any legislation
which might help solve the present
dificulty and provide for the future.
First Proposal Saturday.
The presidents first direct state
ment of his views on the situation
and his first proposal of basis for
settlement was made last Saturday
when he appealed to the railroad OFF,
cials to abandon their insistence on
arbitration Of the dispute and to ac-
cept his plan of settlement, already
agreed to by the employees, because,
In his opinion, the railroads are con-
tending for a principle which it SEEM
ingly is impossible to apply to the
present situation.
In one of the most dramatic scenes
known to the White House in recent
years, the president declared to the
heads Of five billion dollars worth of
properties, assembled at his sum
mons:
III q strike comes the public will
1t will not be upon me-"
A few minutes later he issued q
statement, saying:
THE public has right to expect"
acceptance Of his plan.
While President Wilson was still
addressing the railroad executives
and telling them they faced "a con-
dition, not principle" his statement
to the country, reviewing his plan and
characterizing 1t as "a thoroughly
practicable and fair program" was
given out at the White House. In
this statement he urged the adoption
of the eight-hour day because he be
Neved the concession right" suggest
ed the creation by congress of a small
body of men to investigate the re-
suits, and urged the abandonment OF
the demand for time and half over
time pay by the men and the "contin-
gent" proposals by the railroads.
The Presidents Statement.
His statement Is as follows:
II have recommended the conces-
sion of the eight-hour day-that is,
the substitution of an eight-hour day
for the present ten-hour day In all the
existing practices and agreements. l
made this recommendation because l
believe the concession right. The
eight-hour day now undoubtedly has
the sanction of the judgment OF So
ciety in its favor and should be adopt
ed as basis for wages even where
the actual work to be done cannot be
completed within eight hours.
Concerning the adjustments which
should be made, in justice to the rail-
roads and their stockholders. In the