Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-23
CONTROL over
EMPLOYEES MAY
NOT LAST LONG
Men Grow Restless, Charging
Executives Are Playing
for Time
PRESIDENT AND TWO
C0NGRESSMEN CONFER
chairmen of House and Senate
Commerce Committees Dis
cuSs Situation With Wilson
BULLETIN

(Associated Press By Federal WireIessl
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 23.-l;
10 definitely understood that the rail.
road executives, after long and repeat.
ed conferences, have decided to act
as unit In their attitude. The pro-
gram they will insist upon first deals
afterwards with discussion Of the
mems demand for an eight-hour d.y.
The Indications are that the railroads
will eoneede the eight4hour day on
condition Of an assurance that future
disputes be arbltrated.
The employees charge that the exec.
utives are playing for time, but are
apparently willing to give President
Wilson the opportunity to settle the
controversy.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. %
The railroad strike crisis was more
tense today with the acknowiedg.
ment by leaders OF the brotherhoods
that II 10 getting difficult to hold the
men, who are demanding action In
ccnsonanee with the strike vote which
they took. The negotiations with the
QIQI-
pectlve Of 90 much delay that the uni
on leaders are finding the men rest
less as the days pasa
Union men say that the railroads
are disposed 70 disregard the sacrifice
by the employees Of their demand for
. time and half for overtime.
The railroad operators, on their
side, maintain that the increased ex-
penses involved IN accepting the eight
hour day demanded BY the men must
be met BY lncreased charges, other
wise the roads Will be forced into a
reeelvershlp.
President Wilson, Chairman New
lands Of the senate Interstate COM
n1erce committee, and Chairman
Adamson Of the house committee on
interstate and foreign commerce, con-
ferred today on the strike situation.
A reply from the railroad men to the
statement Of the president at the con-
ference on Monday ls still awaited.
Hale Holden, president of the Chi
cago. Burlington. Quincy Railroad;
Robert s. Lovett, head of the Harri-
man system, and Daniel Willard, pres
ident Of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail-
road, held q lengthy conference with
Mr.. Wilson at the White House yes
terday. II is understood that they dis
cussed general conditions with the
president, going over some OF the diff
ficulties in the way Of granting the
demand for an eight-hour day and
time and half for all overtime, made
by the members of the brotherhoods.
Expect Nation 70 Intervene.
While no authoritative statement
was issued from the headquarters of
the railroad presidents. yesterday. ii
is understood that they are disposed
TO prolong the negotiations in the
hope that the business men of the ma
ton will come to their support and
voice a strong opposition to the eight !
hour day demand. It was asserted |
that 1t is this that is causing the an
swer to the presidents proposal to
hang fire fer so long, but 1t was also |
asserted in some circles last night
that the reply cannot be delayed much |
longer, and may be looked for within |
a short time. possibly today.
The members of the railroad broth |
erhood committee here issued state
ment last night in which they asserted |
that the plea for arbitration made by /
the railroads is only scheme to gain
time and to deceive the public.
The statement insists that the roads
have, on several questions and at diff
ferent times in the past, flatly re-
fused to arbitrlte, and that they are
even now excluding negro firemen and I
brakemen from the benefits of the me-
gotiations under way.
The statement also points out that
the demands of the men were known
in general to the officials some
months ago, but they did nothing to
meet them until forced to do so.