South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-26
international News Service


WASHINGTON, u. c.. Aug 90
An atmosphere of gravity today
surrounded negotiations for the set
Element OF the impending nation
wide railroad strike. as the discus
sions shifted to the basis of the
counter propositions evolved by the
railroad heads. The situation was
described as serious but by no
means hopeless. as the railroad
presidents and managers submitted
their new settlement proposal TO
Pres't Wilson for consideration 10y
the representatives of the four rail-
way brotherhoods
Both sides had made hnal prep
arations for a strike emergency to-
! day. The representatives of the
brotherhoods had drawn up the
formal notice Of strike. to be served
on the railroad executives at the
very moment II appears that a
| peaceful settlement is impossible.
| They were likewise prepared with
| formal strike orders TO be carried
! back 10 the men by the Gao district
| Representatives now in washington.
The railroad executives. through
! their general managers. had taken
every precaution to meet the strike
order. They prepared 10 appeal
/ from the brotherhood representa-
| tives here to the men in the ranks
! and to make a direct plea 10 the
| loyalty of their employees. An inn
posing circular letter, setting forth
| the attitude of the railroads. and
urging all of the employees TO re-
main at work until a peaceful ba-
| sis Of settlement can be found was
prepared by the managers. This
! circular is in the hands of the
| headquarters OF all the railroads
involved To be distributed just as
, soon as it becomes apparent that
the negotiations here have col
lapsed.
Wilson is Hopeful.
| Despite the strike preparations.
| Pres't Wilson and administration
officials generally were hopeful that
| the negotiations could be continued
through the present crisis and am
/ ultimate settlement reached. The
president was determined TO make
every possible effort. with every
| possible federal power behind him
I 10 prevent an open break.
The railroad executives COM.
/ pleted their consideration Of their.
counter demands and prepared
| them in writing The proposal
| would recognize the eight-hour day
as a basis of pay. by implication. IT.
/ would propose th.t the accountius
| departments of the roads at once
/ begin compiling the pay of the men
on the eight-hour basis. II would
( insist. however, that the difference
I between the present pay basis and
I the proposed new plan should be
| impounded in the custody OF the in
| terstate commerce comTni ssion. or
some other federal authority. pend
/ ing the permanent settlement of the
dispute by arbitration If the ar
| bitrators awarded a permanent
| eight-hour day basis the fund
would be distributed. 70 the men.
/ If they refused am eight-hour day.
the money would go back 10 the
railroads Meantime an arbitral
/ commission is TO he named by the
president or in any other equitable
way and would take charge of the
entire dispute. includine the various
contingent controversies attached
20 the eight-hour day demand
Eliminate TWO Plans
In the final consideration OF the
plan the executives decided o. eIm-
mate two proposals brought in by
their committee They decided
that no formal agreement could be
made TO an increase in frei-ht
rates 10 meet tine wage increase and
determined 70 make that matter the
subject OF gentleman's agreement
with the president and other federal
officers. They likewise determined
10 allow the president % handle
on his own responsibility the pro-
posal for the creation OF perma-
nent wage commission
While no formal statement was .
forthcoming IT. was plain today that
the railroad proposal was FAR from I.
satisfactory 20 the brotherhood rep
resentatives They planned 90 for
mally consider the proposal how
ever. after Sc had been submitted 10 /