Evening star., 1916-08-17
PRESIDENT CALLS
RAILROAD CHIEFS
NTOCONFERENCE
$40 Chairmen of Bio Brother
hoods Indicate Recep.
tive Attitude.
READY TO CONCEDE
ALL THAT is FAIR
Invitation Extended to Men Who
Operate Roads to Talk
It Over.
TRANSPORTATION MEN COMING
White House Seeking Direct Word
With Those in Authority and
May Call on ]. Pierpont
Morgan.

Admittedly in very receptive
mood" the $40 committeeman,
comprising the chairmen of all
four big brotherhoods on all the
225 railroad systems. filed into the
east room of the White House
this afternoon to hear direct from
President Wilson what terms he
advises they should accept to
avert the threatened strike, for
the general good of the country.
William G. Lee, president OF
the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen, voiced their attitude
and disposition to concede all
they believe right in an effort to
reach an agreement with the
railroads when he said: 4.
when the President tells us
what he believes just, as result
of his investigations at this time,
he will find us ready to give the
utmost consideration to his prop
osition." -. 4
Managers Attitude Doubtful.
. 1nafcAtion that. while the employees now
seem to be disposed to accept the Presf-
dsut,s proposals. the railroad managers
either feel unwilling or that they have
not sufficient authority, was given whom
President Wilson today invited the presi-
dents Of the principal railroads Of the
country to come to Washington imme-
diately. He wishes to present his views
and suggestions directly to them, as he
is, this afternoon, presenting them di-
rectly to the entire committee who hold
power Of attorney for the 100000 employees
concerned in the controversy.
Pending the arrival of the railway presi-
dents Mr.. Wilson does not plan to confer
again with the managers COMMITTEES OF
nineteen. They are holding sessions to-
day behind locked doors.
In answer to the Presidents kilograms
a number of the railroad presidents are
leaving New York at O'Clock this after-
noon Others are coming in special
trains from Chicago.
May Call in J. P. Morgan.
.Ihtimations were dropped by a well
informed man today that President
Wilson may finally call in J. P. Morgan
il he finds the railroad presidents as
strongly set against granting the
eight-hour demand as the committee of
managers who are here. What the
President is aiming at now, it is said.
is to get in touch with the last au-
thority over the big railroads, and Mr..
Morgan is recognized as a real COM .
mander -in-chief of these forces, aided
by other high fnanciers in New York.
Such a move by the President would
give sensational turn to the White
House efforts for settlement
Another indication OF the delfcacy OF
the situation was seen in the decision
at the White House not to make public
the Presidents remarks to the men, at
this time at least. 1t was first intended
to publish the Presidents statement
and then his statement to the managers.
thsu laying the case before the high
court of public opinion. 1t was believed
that while there was hope Of moving
the committee of managers by appeal to
the presidents or the financiers the ne
gotiations would be kept confidential
The President sent the following tele-
gram to the leading railroad presidents:
discussion of the matters involved in
the threatened railroad strike has
reached a point which makes it highly
desirable that l should personally con-
fer with you at the earliest possible
moment, and with the presidents of any
other railways affected who may be i'm
mediately accessible. Hope you can
make 1t convenient to come to Wash.
ington at once.
Railway Presidents Sent For.
President Wilson's invitation was
sent to the following railroad presi-
dents;
Daniel willard. Baltimore and Ohio;
Samuel Rea, Pennsylvania; Fairfax
Harrison Southern railway: Samuel
NJ. FELTON,, Chicago and Great West
arn: George W. Stevens. Chesapeake
and Ohio: William Sproule, Southern
Pacific: E. E. Calvin. Union Pacific; l.
F Loree, Delaware and Hudson: w. J.
Harahan, Seaboard Air Line; Howard
Elliott, New Haven; B. F. Bush, Mis-
souri, Pacific: A II. Smith, New York
F. D. Underwood. Erie; VIII
ia nj H. Truesdale, Lackawanna; E. p.
Ripley, Santa Fe: r. H. Ashton. Chi
ago and Northwestern; A J. Earling.
Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul
President Willard Of the Baltimore and
ohio. who has often been spokesman for
-ailroad presidents on -other occasions
when they have come to Washington. was
elephoned to early this morning by Secre-
ary Tumulty regarding the invitation to
he railroad presidents. He promised to
10 everything possible to arrange as large
/ REPRESENTATION as possible.
In response to one sentence in the Presi-
lent.s telegram a number Of railroad
residents who did not personally receive
he telegram are included in the delegA-
ion.
Railway Chiefs on Way.
Those who will leave from New York