The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-08-26
EIGHT HOUR DAY
MUST. Be GRANTED
President Wilson Attempts to
Find Common Ground for
Railway Factions.
GIGANTIC PROBLEM ON
HAND SAYS RAIL HEAD
Most of Executives Now Believe
Shorter Hours Must Be
Conceded.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24.-In an
other effort to aid the presidents of
the country's railroads to find some
way in which to accept an eight hour
day for their trainmen and avert the
threatened strike, President Wilson
tonight conferred for an hour and a
half with Presidents Hale Holden of
the burlington. Daniel Willarl of the
Baltimore & Ohio. and r. S. Lovett
of the Union Pacific.
Neither White House officials nor
the presidents would discuss the con-
ference. It was said on authority,
however, that the :hree executives
went to the White House to receive an
answer to the suggestion they made to
Mr.. Wilson last night that he give
them more specific information as to
how the railroads may get the addi-
tional revenue necessary to take care
of the greater payrolls that will come
with the eight-hour day.
IndOrse President.
Earlier in the day President Wilson
discussed the railroad situation at
length with Senator Newlands and
Representative Adamson, chairman
of the two committees in congress in
charge Of legislation affecting inter-
state commerce. Their visit was the
consequence of that of the railroad
men last night. The two chairmen
are said to have agreed that the
Presidents position in the present sit
uation was right, and to have said
that every effort could be expected in
congress to put through any legisla-
ton which might help solve the pres
ent difficulty and pro ide for the fu-
ture. y
One of the means TOR recoupine
suggested by the President to the rail-
roads in his public outline of his posi-
ticn was through an increase in
freight rates. It was pointed out to-
night that the President cannot di-
rectly ask the interstate commerce
to grant Increases to the
railroads. Congress, however. m111iSh1
pass q resolution directing The com
mission in view of what it considers
an unprecedented situation to grant
higher rates.
Congress Might Act.
congress also might pass resolu-
ton directing the commission to in
vestigate all matters involved in the
present controversy, and the whole
subject of the relations of railroads
and their employees. One result ex-
pected from today's conference is an
early effort to pass the bill introduced
several months ago to increase the
commissions membership from seven
to nine.
It became evident tonight that most
OF the railroad executives have come
to believe that there can be only one
way Of preventing strike, and that
is by accepting the eight-hour day
plan. The chief effort in their own
conferences today was to find some
scheme by which an eight-hour day
may be put in operation on all the
railroads at the least added expense.
Many suggestions along this line have
been made by the presidents, but no
one of them has proved feasible when
submitted to the acid test of operat-
ing officials.
Holders Statement.
AT the conclusion of their confer
ence tonight with the presidents and
managers, Hale Holden, president of
the Burlington and member of the
committee of eight, gave out the fol-
lowing statement:
THE railroad executives, who have
met at the request of President Will
son. are proceeding as rapidly as
practicable with their work. It must
be understood. however, the problem
with which these men are wrestling is
the most important and gigantic ever
presented to any body Of men in the
industrial history Of the country.
"They cannot therefore, consis-
tently with their, duty to their Sc
curity holders, their employees, or the
public, reach final conclusion re-
garding what action they should take
without much discussion, study and
thought. These deliberations partici-
pated in by practically 100 men sud
denly called together from all parts
Of the United States require time.
Duty to Public.
IF our deliberations seem to pro-
ceed slowly it is due to the facts that
I have mentioned. For us to act
hastily would be q betrayal of the
great responsibility we owe to all the
parties concerned, and most Of all the
public" r ~- IL
AS the conferences continued today
it became. more evident that the prin-
cipal difficulty of the situation is to
work out plan Of action acceptable
to all the railroads. Many suggestions
have come from the so or more presi-
dents here and have been Laid before
the managers. In every instance they
have been rejected as impractical and
the executives take the position that
no plan which the managers do not
declare sound can be- taken to the
White House as the basis for settle
ment. E~Gs@ 49, =. = ,5s.ss,s - T.
=. Must Concede Eight Hours.
J, It is we'll understood that most Of
the executives now are convinced that
the eight-hour day IN !. some form
must be conceded and that they can-
not expect President Wilson 70 recede
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