New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-17

forever lost. They believe releot'on =,
arbitration in this case would pVt"''
IL in other industrial controversies
The railroads, as represehVcu ~
their managers. openi! Vna.eN -
president is nlaying politics. Inc 0tva-
.;or ~ a commission to investigate me
controversy would probably. carry tne
srisis beyond November, and therefore
strike would be averted untli hlte.
The Presidential campaign, they po'"'
Tbcv contend the President has
,ston sides with 10000 voters, mem
hers Of the four railway brotherhoous'
Ready TO Defy Wilson.
The political aspect Of the case was as
c,,nhasized to-day by conference VI
Democratic Senators and kepreSS'Sn'"
tivcs on a bill introduced IN thS Il'"SS
Nav II by Representative OHHop', m
Indiana. amending the siNteeh-noui &C., ,".
,,ot rork more than eight hours. IL Is
nronosed 10 widen the amendmen, 10
inclrde engineers. fremen, conductors
cd trainncn. If the President does n. nov
succeed with his settlement plan, lne
President. however, has not peeh V0"
suited about the plan. Ion.
president Wilson devoted only re"
hours 10 the strike situation TO-DAY
he kent appointments postponed a FV,"
Monday and played golf Judge WI
lam l.. Chambers, one OF the reuei"i
Mediation Board, kept HIM iniormeo
OF the progress Of strike negotiations
The managers were in session AT inc
New Willard Hotel nearly all day. ! heN
have taken several ballots on the eight
bour day proposal, and always nave
voted unanimously against II. Ihs
conference committee was Determined
his Afternoon TO defy not only the
unions but the President on that issue
Tho committee held an extended meet
ing tonight. az which Judge ChamoeiS
was present. but came no nearer a
probable acceptance of the FFesloeh'
proposal.
SpeojaI Trains Bring Delegates.
The programme for to-m4rrow Is
This. The President will submit MS
Element plan to the managers at
conference al the White House IN the
manning The brotherhood chiefs nave
been invited 10 gather their 600 deie-
oates in the big East Room OF the
White House at $ p. m. The President
will address them and present the
Man. I'm an probability, whether the
railroads accept the proposition or not
this meeting will be held.
President Wilson sounded the Tour
brotberboods' heads and the smaller
delegation from the unions, but their
answer 10 his queries was: wen Drlhg
the whole crowd down here and you
can ask them. -. 60.
nresident of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Firemen. went TO New York last
NIGHT 10 bring the 600 delegates to
Washington. The Pennsylvania Rail
road supplied two special trains, and
the delegates are here tonight Inc
men will vote on the settlement IN Ine
White House If the President asks
them 10. but the union officials nave
engaged a hall for meeting late to-
morrow afternoon.
II is the Presidents intention TO
leave no doubt IN the minds of the
people who is responsible y a STRIKE is
called.
one Of the managers Of big rail
road system said to-day the railroads
will be up against a hopeless situation
either way the controversy Is decided
II they Weld. they feel the Interstate
Commerce Commission would refuse
another request for rate increase
They fear If the men got an eight
hour day, even tentatively, they. would
soon come bAth WIN 4 ii~" NN'''N-'-N
crisis would be created.
for double overtime and similar
The commission plan Of President
Wilson is at present in more or less
nebulous state. 1t is the PRESIDENT
scheme TO make the comm sslOn
peimanent body 10 investigate as
mites but having no arbitrary powers,
simply rendering a verdict so that IN
the event Of break the public would
know who was TO blame. washington
officials believe the Federal Board OF
Mediation and Cancellation is failure.
The proposed commission would nave
mower 10 summon witnesses under
oath, investigate claims made by either
side. and i'm case no settlement was
reached inform the public of the mer-
its of the controversy. II is probable
,he President will 20 TO Congress to
get specific powers for the commission,
II his plan is approved tomorrow.
Gompers Calls Conference.
The Presidents plan has been worked
out from statistics prepared By govern
ment officials under the supervision OF
Josepb r. Davies. of the Federal Trade
Commission, who consulted with Presl-
dent Wilson to-day. The principal OBJ
iect was 20 obtain accurate information
on the cost to the roads Of the pro-
posed new schedules. While the Presi-
dents proposal provides for payment
for overtime on pro rata basis OF ten
hours pay for eigh, hours work, his
plan also will include a provision to
prevent the roads from evading the
operation Of the eight-hour rule.
Samuel Gompers, president OF the
American Federation of Labor, and
William Jennings Bryan took hand in
the situation to-day. Gompers called
into conference Austin b. Garretson,
head Of the order of Railway Conduc-
tors. and William S. Stone. OF the Engi-
neers. None Of the three would dis
cuss the meeting. Gompers is said TO
be piqued because the union officers
have seemed TO treat the President
rather dehantly.
Mr.. Bryan's activity in the contro-
versy was confined 10 a lengthy tele-
gram to each Of the four brotherhood
leaders, urging a just and fair settle
ment He presented plan, but the
unions decided that as long as the
President is acting they would not let
Mr. Bryan take a hand.
EuII General Committee