Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-17
brotherhood Leaders Unable
to Make an Agreement
of Binding Nature
SIX HUNDRED AND
FORTY IN PARTY
Conferences Delayed Until
Whole Body Can Reach
National Capital


pre.ident Wilson late today COM
pIeted 4 definite plan for settle
nnent Of the threatened railroad
strike which he will submit TO-
morrow to the general committee
Of the go representatives OF tho
employees and to the general man.
ayers committee.
The plan Involves the aeoeps-
ance of basic eight hour cay
with regular pay for overtime and
an inve stiqatlon by a commission
Of other issues.
The president regards the plan
he has prepared, after confer
ences with both sides, ~ fair
ono which can be accepted. 10
ha. fortified himself with figures
regarding the cost Of an eight
hour day to the railroads In order
to enter fully into discussion
with both sides. a. .... -.
Should either side reject tho
proposal It 10 understood tho
president will turn to public optn-
Ion 70 force 4 settlement. RI.
Il was stated that In case tho
presidents efforts fall action OF
some kind may be taken In con-
arsss to prevent tIeup Of tho
railroad systems Of the country.
Y Washington, D. c., Aug. 16. -Pres1
dent Wilson decided today to postpone
further conferences with the repre-
sentatives Of the railroads and EN-
ployes on the threatened railroad
strike until tomorrow, when he VII
receive the general committee OF 64'
workmen in the east room OF tn
white house.
In the meantime the committee o
managers here and the general com
mittee of employees will meet to dis
cuss tentative plans now before them
The president, through Judge WI
liam L. Chambers of the federal boar
of mediation and conciliation, viii
keep in close touch with the represen
tatives of both sides. No engagement
has been made for the managers com
mittee but it is probable that the pres
tdent will see them tomorrow.
The plan on which the president I
working is to put into effect the e1gn
hour day and have a federal commits
sion Investigate collateral issues. l
was said to be possible today that !
the railroads conceded an eight hou
day the employees will be urged to Civ
up their demand for time and a hal
overtime.
The proposed commission investiga
tion would not have power to enforc'
any decision but would investigate al
questions involved In the controvers.
and make recommendations. The hal
In negotiations has been caused pr
parily by the fact that the brother
hood leaders who have been meetini
with the president have no plenar,
powers and have to refer all importan
questions back to their general com
mittee in New York.
s., Calls Whole Committee.
President Wilson decided tim
would be saved and better result
achieved n the $40 members of tn
general committee were brought tt
Washington and met him directly
Therefore, 1t was decided to hold
general meeting at the white hous'
THURSDAY.
The committee Of managers remain
ed in session almost continuously to
day discussing the conferences will
the president and the tentative sugges
tions outlined. It was stated that tn
negotiations are now In such form
that definite decisions may be mad
by both sides before the end Of tn
week.
administration offlcials would no
predict the outcome of the negotia
tions today because everything de
pends on the decisions Of the man
ayers and the employees. It was statet
that hope for a peaceful settlemen
had not been abandoned.
MEN ACCEPT INVITATION.
New York, Aug. 16.-The invitation
Of President Wilson to the GAO GEL
al chairmen Of the four brotherhoods
of railroad employees to meet him IL
Washington to consider his proposal!
for settlement Of the threatened rail
road strike was accepted by. the mel
here today and announcement made
that they would leave earlythis after
noon on special trains for the nationa
capital.
frnntinred on Page 81