Evening star., 1916-08-18
The Presidents Proposition.

II
rate for overtime.
To refer all other collateral issues
to n small commission to be created
by Congress. on which the employees.
the railroads and the public would be
represented.
1t was understood that. under the
Presidents plan. the eight-hour day
would go into effect pending the out
come of the investigation.
Attitude Of Railway Chiefs.
The railroad presidents. it is under
stood. justify their stand upon the
broad ground of maintaining the prin-
ciple of arbitration. which. if sacrificed
IN this instance. they intend to tell the
President. will be destroyed as factor
o the settlement of industrial disputes.
IF the railroad presidents persist in
that view and are supported by the
financial powers only the future can
tell the outcome.
with the growing seriousness of the
situation Congress began paying more
real attention to the crisis today. There
were many Indications of Intervention
to prevent nationwide tie-up.
Delay May Be Asked.
The general expectation is that the
railroad officials. after seeing the
President, will ask that they be given
eeveral days. perhaps a week or more,
to consider their course. 1t was en-
phasized that all of these plans were
tentative.
: While the railroad presidents would
not make any predictions until after
the White House conference there was
more than one indication that it would
take strong appeal to induce them
to reverse the attitude that has been
taken by their representatives on the
managers committee.
Asked whether the managers would
be backed up in their decision. Presi-
dent Daniel E. Willard of the Balti-
more and Ohio said:
Il assume they will be-"
Railroad Presidents Here.
Tho railroad presidents who arrived
here from New York last night in
Guided:
W. W. Atterbury. vice president of
the Pennsylvania; Hale Helden, presi-
dent. Chicago. Burlington and Quincy;
Ralph Peters. president. Long Island;
W. H Truesdale. president. Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western: Frank
Trumbull, chairman of the Chesapeake
and Ohio: T. n. Schumacher, vice presi-
dent. El Paso and Southwestern; b. F.
Bush, receiver Missouri Pacific: E. J.
Pearson, vice president. New York, New
Haven and Hartford; r. s. Lovett
chairman, executive committee. Union
Pacific system; w. J. Harahan, presi-
dent, Seaboard Air Line: Daniel E. Will
lard. president. Baltimore and Ohio; G.
W. Stevens. president. Chesapeake and
Ohio: j. kruttschnitt. chairman. South
ern Pacific, L. F. Loree, president Della
ware and Hudson; ]. L. Lancaster, vice
president. Texas and Pacifc3 George NJ.
server; vice president. Baltimore and
OHIO: H Carroll. general attorney, Chi
cago. Burlington and Quincy; A. T. Dice.
President. Philadelphia and Reading: A.
H Smith. president. New York Central.
Fairfax Harrison. president of the
southern. Joined the officials here; John
q Peyton. president of the Nashville.
Chattanooga and ST Louis. came
through from Nashville and L. E
Johnson. president of the Norfolk and
western. arrived today from Roanoke
Among the railroad executives who
arrived this morning from Chicago
were X II. Ashton. Chicago and North
western; c. H Markham. Illinois Cen
tral' II. X. Kurrie. Monon: w. j. Jack
son. chicago and Eastern Illinois; NJ. j
Carpenter. Chicago, Terre Haute and
southeastern. and NJ W Potter, Caro-
Hna, Clinchheld and Ohio.
Several other railway executives are
expected TO arrive from st. Louis this
afternoon.
Men Expected to Acquiesce.
Acceptance of the Presidents pro-
posal by the employees was forecast by
expressions of their leaders after they
left the Presidents conference last
evening. One of them declared: TT
Is fair and just proposition. The men
would be fools not to accept it."
The conference between the Presi-
dent and the general committee of $40
employees at the White House. lasted
about an hour. After the members OF
the committee had assembled in the
east room they were introduced to the
President by A. b. Garretson, their
spokesman.
In a short speech Mr. Garretson
pointed out that the Presidents posi-
tion in summoning representatfyes ot
large number OF workinsmen to tba
White House without others presen,
TOR q discussion of a labor problem
stood unparalleled
:.rh;,v. the e%pioyss a1e;r. rel remained undemon.
9arretson and the President. AT the
conclusion of the meeting they formed
In line and shook hands with Mr.. vii.
son. Many smiled broadly as the,
left the White House.
President Explains Attitude.
In his talk to the men the President
explained his feeling that a strike mus
be avoided at any cost because of tn,
l1sastrous effect on the country. H,
than said that after reviewing IN,
situation thoroughly with the small
committees representing the employer,
and employees he had drawn up a plai
which he thought was fair to botl
sides and which he hoped would be &C
6spted by both.
The President declared he believed 1,
the principle Of the eight-hour day
and that he thought the greater par
Of the people of the United States hel,
q similar view. He also sought to i'm
press on the men that he knew what 1
meant to work for living. He said h
bad learned early in life the trials o
making both ends meet"
Regarding the collaterai Issues tn