The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-25
OBJECTIONS DELAY
ANSWER TO WILSON
FROM RAIL HEADS
NOW IN CONFERENCE
CONTINUED From Page One)

would be reached tomorrow Assurances
from their leaders after the visit paid
them by Judge Chambers early in the
day with a message from the White
House that the outlook was favorable
cheered them. The men maintained they
received no details Of the judges COM
munication, but they were satisfied with
their leaders optimism. The leaders de-
clined to comment. but all Of them wore
broad smiles and said they believed that
the negotiations soon would end salts
faotorily.
Brotherhood leaders maintained tonight
that the full plan of settlement to be
suggested by the railroad heaGs, wn,ch
is said to contain some amendment to
the Presidents proposal already accepted
by the men, had not been outlined TO
them officially. They knew of it in a
general way, they said, but had no def
mite information regarding it.
eve have our ears to the ground listen
ing" was the way "A. B. Garretson
summed up the situation That, save for
his statement earlier in the day that
the message conveyed by Judge Cham
bers certainly was not depressing" was
the only comment he had to make
throughout the day Other leaders were
equally silent. A stage in the negotia-
tons had been reached. they declared,
where none of them could say anything.
WILL OPPOSE INVESTIGATION
1t is known, however, that if the rail-
road heads insist upon the formation
of federal commission for the invest1-
CATION of labor differences BEFORE a
strike is called, as reports have it they
will, vigorous opposition will be voiced
by many members of the brotherhoods.
This plan, which has been freely dis
cussed among the railroad heads, has not
been suggested to the motherhood lead
ers officially to determine how they
stand on It, it is understood, but several
of them will oppose it if it is proposed
Fear of embarrassing the President as
we'll as injuring their own cause today
queted the "insurgent" brotherhood ele-
ment.who yesterday for a time threatened
to disrupt the calm daily meetings of
the employees with their demands for &C
ton. AS a result the gathering today
was peaceful and adjournment was taken
until tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock
without a sign of protest.
LEADERS ARE CAUTIOUS
The leaders had pointed out to the in
surgents that thus far the weight of the
Presidents support has been with them
and that to make any move which would
emtarrass would be extremely unwise.
Furthermore word came from the rail-
road headquarters that the managers and
presidents heard with unconcealed salts
faction that some of the employees were
clamoring for an immediate strike. Only
by remaining calm and exercising
patience at such a delicate stage of the
negotiations, the men were told, could
the support of that share of the public
now in sympathy with them be main
tanned.
There were no capitol conferences re-
garding the threatened strike today, the
members of both houses awaiting the re-
suit of the negotiations by the President
which they hoped would prove success
full. At the capitol 1t was said that while
no specific legislation had been agreed
upon yet. In event of failure of the ne
gotiations to avert the strike, both sides
would be surprized at steps that would
be proposed in Congress-,