The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-08-15
STRIKE SITUATION
STILL HANGS IN BALANCE--PRESI.
DENT HOPES TO FIND BASIS
FOR SETTLEMENT.
Representatives Of Both Factions In
Long Conference at white House
Two Meetings Are Arranged
For Today.

Wilson conferred today with both par
ties to the threatened countrywide
railway strike and tonight 1t appeared
that sufficient foundation had been
laid TO furnish a working basis for a
settlement of the differences Of en-
ployes and employers. The President
will meet both sides again tomorrow.
At the conclusion of the days con-
ferences, the President issued this
statement:
II have met both sides and have
gone over the case with the utmost
frankness. shall not be able to
Judge until tomorrow whether we have
found feasible basis for settlement"
Counter Propositions Requested
The formal questions are what shall
be arbitrated, IL arbitration is to be
resorted to, and what form Of. arbitra-
ton shall be adopted. Representatives
OF the employees maintain that their
demands for an eight-hour day and
time and a half for overtime is the
only concrete proposition under dis
cussion. They insisted to the Presi-
dent in their conference today that
the railroads make some definite coun-
ter proposal. II the railroads submit
ted some proposed form of settlement
they said, they would be ready to dis
cuss negotiations further.
The employees are understood TO be
ready to consent to the principles OF
arbitration IL the contingent prepos-
ais of the managers, which the men
claim involve rights they have won in
thirty years efforts. are eliminated
from consideration, and If arbitration
is conducted by board on which all
four brotherhoods are represented.
Leaders Optimistic
Immediately after learning the en-
ployes' position, the President sum-
moned the committee of managers
and held a long conference with them.
They left the White House to confer
among themselves throughout the
night, II necessary, and the general
understanding was. that they discuss
ed the advisability Of withdrawing
their contingency" proposal and sub
hitting proposition without strings"
as demanded by the men.
While representatives of the en-
ployes insisted that they had not yet
agreed to arbitrate any feature of
their difference, there was a growing
impression that arbitration or some
form Of compromise would be agreed
on. At no time, 1t was said, did the
representatives of the men indicate
that unless their demands we're
granted unqualifiedly they would go
on strike.
Both sides refused absolutely to
discuss their meeting with the Pres
ident of venture any forecast on the
probable outcome Of the negotiations,
but leaders OF the two factions were
optlmitic tonight that a strike would
be avoided.
President Makes No Proposal
The President, 1t was declared,
made no compromise proposition to
either side today. He merely listened
to the employees representatives and
then talked with the managers and
suggested that some concrete working
basis be agreed on before proceeding
further.
Indicative of his desire to learn
what result came from the railroad
managers meeting tonight before TAX
Ing any further step, he arranged an
other meeting with them for o'clock
tomorrow morning and a conference
with the representatives of the en-
ployes for 8 o'clock tomorrow after
noon. Tmorrow's cabinet meeting
mas been cancelled 80 the President
may devote most OF his time to the
railroad problem. He cancelled sew
eral engagements today that he might
have the fullest opportunity to talk
with the two sides.
Newlands Act Is Barred
A. b. Garretson. president of the
Order of Railway Conductors and
spokesman for the employees repre-
sentatives. made it clear today that
under no circumstances will the en-
ployes agree to arbitration under the
Newlands Act
Reports that the President had noti-
fed the managers that unless some
agreement could be reached with the
men. he would invoke his power with
Congress TO pass an eight-hOur law,
were circulated, but discounted by
those in close touch with the sltua-