The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-15
COncede Point in Conference
With President Wilson.
But Employers Want Arbitra-
ton on Overtime Demand.
UNIONS FAR FROM SATISFIED
Already Knew They'd Give Us
That, Says Delegate.
Brotherhood Leaders Say Strike
Attitude Is Unchanged.

Washington, Aug 15.-The burden
Of concessions in bringing about an
adjustment of the threatened railroad
strike appeared to have swung around
from the railroads to the employees to-
day.
After the railroad managers had
been in the White House for more
than an hour and a half, it was learn
ed that they have agreed to accept the
basic principle of the eight hour day
but they demand that the question OF
overtime pay be subjected to more
far-reaching investigation
Their acceptance of the basic prin-
ciples of the eight hour day is maze
contingent upon agreement py the
employees to further and more far-
reaching discussion which would in
cIude the question of overtime pay.
Accept S-Hour Day Principle.
According to one of the railroad
managers who attended the conference
the following is their position:
I'VE accept the principle of the
eight-hour day. However the elght-
hour day question is so obviously ana
naturally a part of the overtime ques-
ton, that the two will have to be
handled as one problem
The conference of the managers
ended at 1910. The would make no
nounced the president would see the
employees at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
The investigation Of the application
of the shorter day principle 10 railway
operation as presented to the preSi-
dent TO-DAY would be made thru
board appointed by the president, it is
understood. In accepting the basic
principle Of the eight hour day, the
roads go on the belief that neither the
LresidenC nor the employers would ex-
he Uh n he
into effect until the whole subject his
been inquired into and a working pro-
gram finally constructed.
Complications Arise.
In some respects it might be re-
garded as d step forward in the nego-
tiations. The employees are not ia
Vorable to an out and out eight hour
day, their work to end at the conclu-
sion of that period The question of
whether they would yield on the point
of delaying actual application of the
new program until it has been sub
Jected to thoro investigation remains
t. be seen.
The roads countered with the sug-
Gestion outlined after working most of
the night. At times, it is said, there
was strong feeling among some Of the
managers that the president had at
tempted to place the burden of con-
cession upon them. He had, it is un-
derstood, told them in conference yes
A6IuSN lTdl the elSnI nOuF pr1Gclple
was the one upon which they should
try to work, and suggested they at
tempt to formulate the ground work
of a settlement on that basis.
Brothcrhoods Not Pleased.
A. B. Garretson. spokesman for
the employees smiled a little when told
of the managers proposal, but refused
to discuss whether or not it was sat
isfactory to the men.
II have given the pledge of silence
to the president and therefore cannot
say directly or indirectly whether the
propositions are acceptable" he said.
AS long as the matter is in the hands
of the president l shall follow this
rule"
AAnother representative of the en-
ployes was sarcastic regarding the
managers proposals.
That will be very nice" he said,
but there is nothing new about that
idea have known about that for
week They were talking that propo-
sition before We ever came down
here"
Garretson and his associates appear
ed to take the managers idea lightly.
The men say there is no reason to
chahse their attitude thus far.
Puts 1t Up to Railroads.
Mhile the managers were at the
nile House the brotherhood leaders
conferred among themselves and
aNoileu tne call Tor their conference
Ihe general opinion among them was
mar the president was putting the
'urceh or averting a strike IN TO the
lallroads and that the prospects for
settlement were good.
Having agreed practically to tho
principle of arbitration the brother
mood leaders incline to the view that
the controversy could be settled by the
railroads granting the basic eight hour
udy ana arpltrating the demands for
time and a half for overtime: or bv
eliminating the double compensation
feature and having the railroads
make flat agreement to nut in the
eight hour day. The attitude of the
managers as they went to the White
House was said to be one of yielding
something They had spent most of
the night deciding whether they
should eliminate all their contingent
proposals or some of them.
Guard Conference News.
Secretary Tumulty issued the fol-
lowing statement:
The president spent an hour and a
halt this morning with the represen-
tatVes of the railway management.
After the conference he said it was
impossible as yet to report on the re-
suits. All that he could say was that
very candid and honest discussion
was in progress about practicable
bases OF settlement"
to prevent a strike by the four great
railway brotherhoods. even If he has
Continued on Page Two.1