Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-20
PRESIDENT PLEADS Y
FOR ACCEPTANCE
OF HIS PROPOSALS
Urges Railroad Officials to
Abandon Insistence on
Arbitration.
IMPOSSIBLE TO APPLY
THIS PRINCIPLE NOW
Declares if Strike Comes, Public
Will Know Where Respon-
sibility Rests. (
SITUATION is AT sTANDsT1LL
Serious Consideration Given to Pos
sibility of Government Oper.
alton Of Roads.

WASHINGTON. August lo-President
Wilson appealed to the railroad officials
to-day to abandon their insistence on
arbitration OF the dispute threatening a
nation-wide strike. and to accept his
plan Of settlement, already agreed to
by tho employees, because. in his opin-
ion. the railroads are contendIng for
a principle which 1t seemingly is i'm
possible to apply to the present situa-
ton.
In one OF the most dramatic scenes
known to the White House in recent
years. the President declared to the
heads of $1,000. 100000 worth of prop-
critics. assembled. at his summons:
'If 4 strike comes. the public will
know where the responsibility rests.
1t will not be upon me-"
4 few minutes later he issued a
statement, saying "the public has the
right to expect" acceptance Of his plan.
Refusing acceptance for the present.
but not giving final answer, Hale
Holden, president of the Burlington
road. and spokesman for the thirty,
three railroad officials, urged the Presi-
dent to uphold the principle OF arbitra-
ton, and declared his plan would place
in peril all that has been accomplished
In the peaceful adjustment of labor
controversies by methods of arbitra-
ton"
ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVES
CALLED TO WASHINGTON
At the close OF the conference Presi-
dent Wilson summoned to Washington
additional railroad presidents from tho
West and the executives already here
told him they would confer among
| themselves and return next week, prob.
ably on Monday. In the meantimet
representatives OF both the roads and
the employees Will remain here for in
formal conferences.
The situation tonight was described
by Ii railroad president as mot hope
less. but grave" 1t will be at n stand
still until Monday at least. Discus
sion of counterproposals and compro-
misses. were current, and serious con-
sideration was given to tho possibility
OF government operation of the roads
in case Of Il strike.
1t was said good authority to-
night, however, that many OF the road
presidents looked upon the possibility.
of Il strike as more remote than at any
time since they came to Washington.
II still was considered possible that
some of the powerful directors of the
Both among the employers and the en-
ployces talk of arrangements for a
strike continued, and for different rea-
sons each side thought if it came 1t
would last less than week.
While President Wilson still was adj
dressing the railroad executives, telling
them they faced "a condition, not a
principle" his statement TO the coun-
try reviewing his plan and characterize
ing it "a thoroughly practical and
fair program" was given out at the
White House. In the statement, he
urged the adoption OF the eight-hour
day because he believed the conces-
sion right" suggested the creation by
Congress of Il small body of men to
investigate the results, and urged the
abandonment of the demand for time
and half overtime pay by the men.
and the contingent" proposals by the
railroads.