Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-08-27
WOULD GIVE ASSURANCES
TO SATISFY ROADS HEADS
Corporation Presidents Await Call to
White House, But Are Forced
to Postpone Statement.
LEGISLATION MOVE DELAYS
Neither Party to Controversy Is Ex-
pected to Take Any Action
q Until Meetings Are Held
Today and Tomorrow.

The railroad controversy still
remains unsettled.
The situation is still very crit
ical. but decisive action-such as
declaring a strike-is not i'm
minent. The chances are strong
that there will be no drastic
at the earliest, until
after noon tomorrow
Both parties to the controversy
have postponed action, the
brotherhoods until their meeting
at 10 o'clock this morning and
the railroad chiefs until after II
o'clock tomorrow.
Desired to Save Time.
dramatic element was given to the
situation yesterday afternoon. when af-
fairs were in a tense state, by Presi-
dent Wilson making an entirely unex-
pected trip to the Capitol to consult
with Senate leaders. It was said by
officials close to the President that he
made this trip himself. rather than
send for the senators he wanted to see.
to save time, as he believed he would b
called upon almost immediately to give
an assurance regarding some phases Of
the controversy and outgrcwing de-
mands of the railroads.
The fact that the railroad Presidents
were not asked to the White House last
night, although they had notified the
President that they were ready to pre-
sent their statement, was believed to DO
because the President wanted to think
overnight on what he might say to
them. Many believed he was not satis-
fed after his visit to the Capitol that
he could give any assurance that would
satisfy the railroad executives.
Wait Until 8 O'Clock.
The counter proposition of the rail-
road presidents, drafted a reply to
President Wilson's proposal has not
yet been delivered at the White House.
After waiting from shortly after noon
yesterday until 9 O'Clock last night for
an invitation to visit the White House,
the railroad executives were notified
that the President would prefer not to
see them until Monday, and they ad-
journed until IL o'clock tomorrow.
Notice was given with authority from
them that as far as they were con-
cerned there would be no action or
statement until after that hour. when
they would reconvene.
Many of the sixty presidents here
and their managers committee of
nineteen left Washington in their spe-
cial cars last night to spend Sunday in
Nay1y nrls nfi ~ fn1l
some other seaside resorts. These off,
cials will return here tomorrow morn
ing.
Adjourn Until Morning.
The brotherhood leaders and the com.
nittee of $40 general chairmen, after re-
naming in session all yesterday after
noon. expecting some word from the
White House regarding conclusions in this
adjourned until 10 O'Clock
his morning.
The men are impatient and have no.
ified President Wilson that they believe
he railroad officials are trif1ing with
hem and purposely delaying. but II was
aid by several brotherhood leaders that
hey would wait patiently over Sunday for
lefinite word from the President. More
han 100 brotherhood leaders left for, their
ZONES last evening.
The next move is expected to come
rom the railway executives, ana mas
oeen unofficially disclosed that 1t will
De a refusal to accept President Will
sons plan as it stands. The execu-
ives counter proposal will carry the
lext step to the doors of the employees
md meanwhile the plan of legislative
action probably will be considered by
10Th sides.
Both Sides Stand Firm.
In no sense could it be fairly stated
hat a strike was imminen, last night.
Llthough the negotiations were in q
,erilous state which easily might lead
O one on short notice. The men ap-
,eared as firm as ever for the unqual-
fed acceptance OF the eight hour basic
lay. The railway executives appeared
nee for arbitration.
Two great forces, apparently inmov-
BILE, were confronting each other, and
appeared that only the injection of
ONE hoped-for new element would
vert clash
Nobody knows the attitude of Con-
ress toward the suggested legislation.
was pointed out tonight that there
re many senators who bitterly op-
osed the per cent increase recently
ranted the eastern roads and crftf-
Ised the commission for it's position
, the ca se and who might be expected
, oppose any proposal that would d.
ect the commission to grant another
lcrease.
Presidents Visit to Capitol.
The threatened railway strike seem.
/ so near late yesterday afternoon
lat President Wilson personally went
, the Capitol and communicated to
leaders the demand Of
le railroad executives that Congress
lsould guarantee them some way Of
lcreasing revenues II they are to meet
le demands Of the employees.
The President told them the .rallroad
Eecutiyes had put 1t up to etm." It