The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-17

president of the Seaboard Air line;
w. H. TruesdaIe, president Delaware,
& Western: l.. F. Loree,
president of the Delaware & Hudson;
E. J. Peatison, vice president of the
New York, New Haven & Hartford;
& o.; r.. S. Lovett, chairman of the
Union Pacific: julius Kruttschuitt,
chairman of the Southern PacifiC, and
F. D. Underwood, president Erie.
Daniel Willard, president of the Balti-
more & Ohio, who has often been
spokesman for the railroad presidents
on other occasions which have taken
them to Washington, is understood to
be on his way. The railroads eXecu-
tives mentioned have already had in
formal conferences on the situation in
this city.
Ripley Considers Invitation.
Chicago, Aug. 17.-Western railroad
heads invited to attend a conference
with President Wilson at Washington,
were out of town today. with the ex-
ception of e. P. Ripley, president of
the Santa Fe. Ripley said he had not
made up his mind as to whether he
would accept the invitation. A. J.
Earring of the Chicago, Milwaukee and
st. Paul was reported in California and
Samuel FELTON, of the Chicago Great
Western was "out of town." Later
President Ashton of the. Chicago T g.
Northwestern was handed Presidentl
Wilson's invitation when he arrived at
his office from his home at Evanston
Two hours later he was on his way to
Washington.
John M. Glenn. publisher of the
Manufacturers News. today directed:
an appeal to manufacturers to mes
sage President Wilson, UNFOLDING the
attitude of the railroads.
To Fight for Principle.
1.-The unions took advantage of the
situation existing at the time of the
breaking out of the European war
and were given concessions, and they
now take advantage of the peculiar
conditions which our country faces
Right must be maintained. The issue
is a principle. 1t may cost something
to enforce it, but it must be enforced
sooner or later" the appeal reads
See Politics in Farley.
The presidents action resulted from
the attitude taken by the railroad
managers in statement leIt at the
White House last night by Elisha Lee,
chairman of their committee. In this
they strongly indicated they would not
concede the eight hour day principle
even for the proposed trial period and
that the strongest concession they
would make would be to submit the
whole matter to arbitration, the preSi-
dent to name the arbitfators. To-
day the managers showed no DISPOSE
ton to recece from this position. Sew
eral of them declared they saw politics
in the presidents effort since accept
ing this plan would mean putting the
whole matter over until after the cleo
lions. The committee could not ac-
complish anything tangible before
next spring, they said.
The managers apparently are un-
moved by arguments of the president
that his proposal would result in a
system that would probably enable
them to avoid sudden strikes in the fu-
| ture.
Three ballots have been tafen in the
past two days, it was said today and
each time the managers have voted
down the presidents proposal.
Managers Stand ssPat.'
One of the foremost leaders of the
! employees said:
'It appears very much as though the
managers intend to stand pat. We are
| perfectly willing they should do that
as long as the president stands as
! judge between the parties. One little
statement from him placing the respon-
| sibility for any failure to get together
would be something that neither side
| can afford to face. AS for US. we ca me
here with the idea of accepting what
President Wilson regard as fair"
The employees will accept no tenn
| 5clllciHeHl Oh iIldJOT- issues, an
| other leader said The question of the
eight-hour day, he said, must be de-
termined finally. though he admitted
! that perhaps a board of investigation
| or other subjects of less Importance
| would be acceptable to the men.
| When informed that the president
had summoned the railroad presidents
to appear, one of the employees lead
| ers said:
IT had been expecting that"
meeting of the district chairmen
was held at o'clock this afternoon at
the Bijou theater. In this meeting
they planned to consider very fully the
presidents position
/ Go to White House.
The $40 men were in their secret
meeting a little more than an hour
| and then they marched in a body to
the White House. The day was hot
and the men, many of them stripping
! off their coats, took the shady side of
PENNSYLVANIA avenue. They made
quite a column as they marched along
to the treasury, where they assembled
in military order and then proceeded
! to the White House, where they went
to the east room They planned to