The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-08-31
President Would Delay Appli-
cation Of New System Until
Roads Have Time to
Prepare For 1t.
STRIKE ORDER HELD UP
White House Exhausting Every
Effort to Mediate Dispute
Before Laying Situation
Before Congress.

Washington. D. c. Aug 29.-Presi-
dent Wilson's plan for breaking the
deadlock between the railroads and
their employees, which was discussed i'll
conference today was as follows:
An eiaht-hour law for railroads,
to become effective at date far
enough in the future to give the
railroads opportunity to prepare
Ter it.
a law patterned after the Ca
madam act, which creates a COM
mission Of investigation and pre-
vents lockouts and strikes while
disputes arc being Investigated.
This plan was discussed by the pres
ident with his party leaders in con-
gress as the basis for the next step
after the railroad managers have form
ally announced their refusal to accept
the plan of settlement the president
previously proposed. They were eX-
pected to do this at $50 o'clock this
afternoon at a White House confer
No Hope of Adjournment.
Meanwhile congressional leaders
gave up hope of adjournment this
week and settled down to stay here
rs long as necessary to provide legis
Senator Ncwlands ana Commissioner
Chambers, of the federal mediation
board conferred today with Acting At
torney General TODD about the legis-
lative program, but all denied that
any legal measures for preventing
strike had been discussed.
While the president has not finally
given up hope OF bringing about an
agreement through direct negotiations.
he is going forward with his prepare
tons for taking his plan Of legislation
before congress.
Up to the present the railroad execu
tives have based their objections to the
presidents plan on the ground that the
entire controversy should be submitted
to arbitration
Submit New Proposals.
Ii was understood today that many
proposals of different forms have been
presented to the railway executives
through the White House, but they
have all been met with the statement
that the railroads stood for arbitratng
the whole controversy.
If all the negotiations fail and the
president goes before congress. prob
ably tomorrow, it is said, he will reveal
the details of all the negotiations in
his address and his plan for legislation
At 80 O'clock the subcommittee of
eight executives composed OF the
Messrs. Holden, Ripley. Willard, Smith,
Atterbury, Harrison, Trumbull and
Lovett went to the White House to
confer with President Wilson. 1t was
not then certain that they would pre-
sent the formal reply to his plan they
had prepared.
At 4 o'clock this afternoon, and after
bis conference with the railway eXecu-
tives, President Wilson plans to so to
the capitol again, to confer with the
democratic steering committees, to dis
cuss the proposed legislation.
All government forces We're mobil-
tied today in a new effort to prevent
strike on the nations railway sys-
TENS. President Wilson's personal eff
forts to mediate differences between
the union brotherhoods and the man
age.nents apparently had failed, but
administration leaders in congress
were considering legislation which
would make a strike improbable at
this time.
Strike Order Ready.
The course of the brotherhoods vas
in the hands of a committee of "a
whom the entire committee of $40 be-
fore leaving for their homes yesterday
instructed to listen to no proposal in
volvng arbitration of the eight-hour
basic day The strike orders We're be-
ing circulated. to await Geographic
release.
The counter proposal for arbitration
was to be made to the president today
by the railway executives as their first
definite answer to his suggestion OF a
week ago for concession Of the eight
bitraton of other issues. AS soon as
the employees committee has rejected
the executives counter proposal, the
president is expected to set in motion
the congressional wheels through the
leaders in both houses.
To this end, Senator NaW,ands,
chairman of the interstate commerce
committee and Secretary Lane, after
extended conferences with the presi-
dent worked through great part OF
last night framing bills affecting the
railroad situation.
1t was reported President wilson
was considering asking both sides to
postpone action for a certain period
The problem of what congress will
do IL a great railroad strike is declared
looms up today as the most important
feature Of the railroad controversy
Will Act DecisiveIy
Ali indications are that once it is
seen a strike cannot be avoided, the
president and congress Will move with
decision to protect the public interest
With all plans for early adjournment
q thrown into the air. it is expected
President Wilson will go before joint
assembly of both houses if he becomes
convinced negotiations between the
roads and the men have failed and
railroad legislation.
The gravity of the situation has
come to be fully realized in congress
since the president visited the capitol
last night to talk with Senator Kern
following his sudden visit to the Sen
ate Saturday afternoon
Leaders of Senate and House. with
out regard to party, are saying that II
strike cannot be prevented then the
government must act, and act with the
force that the public, which is the par
ty most vitality interested in the situa-
fion will axparf and demand,
Important informal conferences vii
be held among democratic leaders al
the capitol today on the strike situa-
ton and the legislation which may be
forced to the front
Consider Drastic Laws.
President Wilson's program of legis-
lation, or the program which Will be
passed II there is strike. has not been
as yet authoritatively made public, bu1