Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-14


half for overtime He insisted that the
demands were fair. President Wilson
then addressed the men, pointing out
what disaster would follow a general
strike and insisting that an agreement
must he reached
The president then asked to know
the specific things on which the en-
ployes were prepared to insist. Mr.
Garretson. did most of the talking for
the men and he and the president dis
cussed the situation thoroughly. Mr..
Wilson promised to take the demands
up with the managers in an effort to
find a common ground on which the
two sides could meet. He said he was
anxious to settle the difficulty as
quickly as possible and was prepared
to remain in continuous conference all
day if necessary.
The conference was held in the
Green room of the White house. Large
crowds of tourists gathered on the
lawn in front of the White house to
hear news of the proceedings.
No Comment on Outlook.
After being with the president two
hours, the representatives of the men
left the White house and Mr.. Garrett
son said they expected to see the presi-
had conferred with the managers. Mr.
Garretson refused to say whether the
outlook was hopeful.
LAS long as the matter is in Presi
dent Wilson's hands we Will have no
statement to make" said Mr.. Garrett
son.
The president Immediately sent for
the railroad managers to lay before
them the position of the workmen.
1t was arranged that the managers
should see the president at 3 o'clock
this afternoon and that meanwhile the
president would keep one or two other
Chambers of the federal board.
At the White house it was said, no
indication could be given of the pro-
gress of the negotiations until the
president saw the managers.
Hope to Avert Strike.
Mr.. Garretson was asked whether
the negotiations were off. He replied:
Absolutely not"
Administration officials expressed
confidence that the presidents inter
vention would result in averting a
strike
One of the leaders of the four broth
erhoods after leaving the White
house, characterized the conference
with the president as most encourag-
ing" and declared, the outlook for
the prevention of a general strike was
hopeful"
Wilson Only Can Prevent Strike.
New York, Aug. 14.-If President
Wilson fails to persuade the railroad
men and their employers to settle
their differences and a general strike
is called it will be directed from head
quarters in this city. This announce
ment was made today as leaders of the
four big railroad brotherhoods and the
railroad managers reached Washing
ton for a conference with the head of
the nation.
At brotherhood headquarters it was
said that all preparations had been
made for putting into effect strike
that would stop every train. passenger
and freight, on the 225 railway sys-
TENS of the United States. The criti-
cal state of affairs was indicated by
the anxiety displayed in every big in
dustry which would be crippled by the
failure of transportation.
Unless the president can find a
road out it means a STRIKE" said A. B.
GarretsOn, president of the Order of
Railway Conductors and official
spokesman of the employees, as he
Elisha Lee, chairman of the confer
ence committee of railroad managers.
who with the Is members of his COM
mittee went to Washington on the
same train that carried the 80 repre-
sentatives of the brotherhood dele
gates, placed responsibility upon the
men for the failure of attempts at
mediation. Mr. Garretson said that
the unbending attitude of the railroad
managers was to blame.
Summoned BY President
The conference committee of the
railways and the leaders Of the four
brotherhoods went TO Washington in
answer to summons from the White
house, brought here last night by Jo-
seph p. Tumulty, the presidents sec
rotary. President Wilson in his let
ter, pointed out that "a general strike
at this time might have a disastrous