Omaha daily bee., 1916-08-19
WILSON MAY ASK
RAIL DIRECTORS
TO THE Meeting
If Necessary to Prevent Strike
on Railroad, President An
nounces Will Make
Another Move. .a.s
MEETS PRESIDENTS AGAIN
Vote of Brotherhood Taken
and Result Told to Chief
Executive.
FIGURES NOT GIVEN OUT
MEETS PRESIDENTS AGAIN
FIGURES NOT GIVEN OUT

Washington, Aug. 18.-President
Wilson is determined, it was said au-
thoritatively late today, to bring the
board of directors of the leading rail-
roads to Washington, if necessary, to
prevent a nationwide railroad strike,
He will endeavor, it was said, to se-
cure an agreement by negotiating with
representatives Of the employees, the
railroad managers and presidents, but
If the deadlock continues, the boards
will be summoned. NJ
The vote of the employees on Presi-
dent Wilson's plan was delivered to
him personally by the chiefs Of the
four brotherhoods. A. B. Garretson,
their spokesman, said it would be
given out by the president, and added
that although the employees had re-
ceived no invitations to return to the
White House they would "tarry" here
to await possible summons.
The four brotherhood leaders were
in conference with the president thirty.
minutes and said no modification of
the plan had been presented to them
as a result of President Wilson's con-
ference with the railroad presidents.
President Back Tomorrow.
The railroad presidents agreed to
return to the White House tomorrow
to further discuss the situation.
II was made clear to President Viii
son that the railroads were not dis
posed to yield the eight-hour day and
that they insisted on arbitration. The
attitude of the railroad presidents
seemed to indicate little chance of the
plan proposed by the president being
accepted. Several declared the prin-
ciple of arbitration in industrial dis
putes was at stake and must be main-
tanned even at the cost of strike.
President Wilson pointed out the dis
aster which would attend strike, but
the officials only answered that they
were willing to arbitrate the questions
at issue. During the conference with
President Wilson details were not
taken UP. s4t
Statement BY Hale Holden.
President Holden Of the Burlington,
as spokesman, pointed out that only
the committee OF managers was au-
thorized to reach definite decision,
as it represented all the roads.
The railroad presidents we're with
President Wilson less than an hour.
As tac left the White House Mr..
Holden said he would have no state
ment 10 make for the present.
Whether President Wilson will
continue to insist on his plan or sug-
gest another to both sides was not
made clear. Administration officials
insist he will continue negotiations
until some settlement is reached. Men
closely affiliated with the railroad
officials said that the managers were
willing to accept any kind of arbitra-
ton, butthat there was no chance Tor
an eight-hour day without investiga-
ton.
The railroad executives told the
president that as before increasing
freight rates they were forced to sub
nit to an inquiry before granting an
increase in pay they should have
similar inquiry.
Stand By Managers.
Thirty-one railroad presidents to-
day told President Wilson they
stood by the decision of their mana
gers committee that an eight-hour
day was impracticable.
President Wilson refused, to take
mo" for an answer to his proposal
that they accept the eight-hour day,
and asked them to return to the
White House tomorrow with their
managers for another conference.
Just after the railroad presidents
left the White House, it became
known unofhcially that the employees
had voted to accept President Will
sons proposition and that some of
the leaders had gone to the White
House to tell him so.
Meet In Blue Room.
While the railroad employees com.
mittee of 640 was thi, afternoon cast
ing secret ballots on President VIII
sons plan to avert the threatened
strike, the committee of railroad
presidents was in conference with
President Wilson in the Blue Room
at the White House.
To the presidents, Mr.. Wilson ap.
pealed to reverse the stand of the
managers committee and accept the
iCantinued ON Para Eve Calunn Onal