The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-08-25
WILSON AS CITIZEN
APPEALS FOR PEACE
Calls on Railroad Heads to Appreciate
Import of Disastrous Strike.

Wilson today appealed to each Of the
executives of the country's principal
railroads on grounds of patriotism to
accept his plans for averting the
threatened disaster of nationwide
strike. He emphasized the necessity
Tor keeping the railroads in service as
a part of the national defense, and to
r1ake possible preparations for meet
ing conditions that will exsist after
the European war.
On leaving the White. House the
railroad presidents, augmented dur
ing the day by arrivals from the West,
held conference at which sentiment
vas said to be against agreeing to the
presidents proposa4 in its present
form. Hope was expressed, however,
that some satisfactory counterpropo
sition might be advanced, and it was
decided to turn over to a committee
the task of drafting a final reply to the
president. With more than go men,
most of them with their own ideas
about what ought to be done, the ex-
ecutives found it difficult to ''get down
to brass tacks,' as one of them ex-
pressed it. Tomorrow another meet
ing will be held, and every effort will
be made to reach decision promptly.
Asking Toe Much?
The railroad heads still insist that
President Wilson is asking then to
sacrifice the principle of arbitration.
Elisha Lee, chairman of the national
conference committee of railways, is
sued a statement tonight in which ne
said:
THAT the railroads should grant,
under a threat of q national strike,
a s5o,00O,OoO wage preferment to a
small minority of their employees with
cut q hearing before public tribunal
is ineonceivable in democracy like
ours. All questions at issue
-::ages, costs, operating conditions
are submerged by the greater issue:
Shall arbitration be abandoned in the
settlement of industrial disputes?"
The statement suggests, however,
sl.at the railroads stand ready to take
whatever acion the people of the
country desire.
While the officials were listening to
President Wilson and later conferrnig
at their hotel, the general COMMITTEES
OF $40 representatives of the employees,
who already have accepted the presi-
dents plan, held a perf~nctory meet
ing and marked time awaiting the de
cision of the employers. They said
they would wait until President Will
son dismissed them, but stood ready
SC call a strike should the negotia-
tions fail
Urges His Plan.
Although a few Of the railroad
executives invited had not arrived
this afternoon, it Was decided that
those already in Washington were
representative, and therefore the
president called them to the White
House and earnestly urged that his
plan of settlement be ratified.
"I will not allow passion to come
into my thoughts in this solemn mat
ter he said. eve are both acting as
trustees of great interests. am will
ing to allow this matter to go to the
great American jury and let them as
.sume the responsibility. The respon-
sibility of failure will not rest with
ne.
"I wish YOU to consider the conse-
,quences as affecting the people OF the
uities ald ccuntrys;des o. fail1re to
agree. The country can not live III
.he means of keeping alive its vitality
are interferred with. The lives and
fortunes of 1OO,OOO,0cO men, women !
Ind little ones-many of whom may
upon what may be done
in this room. I appeal to YOU as one
! merican citizen to another to avert
this disaster"
The president spoke in more init
mate fashion than he has in any 'F
the previous conferences. He referred |
to the disastrous effect which strike |
would have respectfully at this tims
when every ounce Of American energy
and initiative has to be modified to I
n eet the extraordinary situation
which will emerge out of the Euro