Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-14
PROSPECTS OF
STAYING STRIKE
[Continued From First Pagel

dSC4
Garrettson did most of the talking for
the men and he and the PRESIDENT as
cussed the situation thoroughly. MI
Wilson promised to take the demands
up with the managers in an EFFORT 10
find a common ground on which the
two sides could meet. He said he was
anxious to settle the difficulty as quick
ly as possible and was pre-
pared to remain in continuous confer
ence all day if necessary.
The conference was held in the
Green Room of the White House
Large crowds of tourists gathered on
the lawn in front of the White House
to hear news of the proceedings.
President May Head Board
While the President and the Repre-
sentatives the men were conferrins
Mr. Chambers got in touch with the
railroad managers and told them to
be ready to come to the White House
as soon as the conference was over.
The managers waited at a nearby
hotel.
There were some suggestions, purely
informal, emanating from neither side
nor the other, but from sources in
touch with both, that the men were
regarded the possibility of arbitration
with the President himself, as chief
arbitrator.
1t was arranged that the managers
should see the President at o'clock
this afternoon and that meanwhile the
President would keep one or two other
important engagements, including one
with MIR. Chambers of the Federal
Board.
At the White House it was said no
indication could be given of the pro-
| gress of the negotiations until after
the President saw the managers.
After being with the President two
| hours the representatives of the men
left the White House and Mr.. Garrett
son said they expected to see the Pres
ident again later in the day after he
had conferred with the managers.
Mr.Garrettson refused to say whether
the outlook was hopeful.
Confidence Expressed
| AS long as the matter is in Presi-
dent Wilson's hands we will have no
statement to make" said Mr.. Garrett
| son.
The President Immediately sent for
the railroad managers to lay before
them the position of the workmen.
Mr. Garrettson was asked whether
the negotiations were off. He replied:
Absolutely not
| While no grounds for the feeling
was given, administration officials eX-
pressed confidence that the Presidents
investigation would result in averting
a strike.
Expect to Return to New York
The men were expecting to return
to New York for further conferences
with the managers tomorrow, and
had re-engaged the hall where they
nave been meeting for tomorrow
morning. Officially, Mr. Garrettsor
SAID to-day, the brotherhoods had nc
knowledge of Secretary Tumulty's fly
ing trip to New York nor of the mes
sage he carried from the President.
The chief objection to the existing
form of arbitration on the part of the
brotherhoods," said Garretson to-day
centers on the ditficulty that has
been experienced in selecting neutral
arbitrators who could do justice to the
cause OF the men. In the past there
nave been neutral arbitrators of high
standing and intelligence such as John
II. Finley of New York and Seth Low
FORMER mayor. No matter how honest
their intentions, they could not bring
TO bear on the questions at issue the
disinterestedness necessary. Finley's
future relies entirely on the direction
OF corporate influence, while Low, al
though honest, was surely Influenced
by the fact that he is a large owner
of stocks and bonds.
Against Arbitration
The appointments of neutral arbi-
traitors in the past under the provi-
sions Of the Newlands Act have damn.
ed arbitration as practical, PROPOSE
ton in the minds of the men"
w. L. Chambers, of the Federal
Mediators, conferred with President
Wilson early this morning and ar
| ranged for the conferences. There
was a suggestion that the President
might urge an arbitration by a board
of 2 members so that each of the
railroad brotherhoods could be rep
resented. The President, it was indi-
Gated very clearly, would appeal to
both employers and men on the high
est patriotic grounds to meet and
settle their differences without resort
TO a strike. President Wilson can
celled a long list of engagements in
order to give all his time to the
situation.