Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-08-17
PRES. SUGGESTS
CONCESSION Of !:
EIGHT. HOUR D DAY.
Average Work Day and Time and
a Half Are Still Main
Issues at Stake.
GENERAL COMMITTEE ,.Gis
HAS BEEN sUMMoNEU
Men Believe Outlook Is Tavorabl6
For Peaceful Settlement Of
Difficulties.

Washington, Aug. 16.-President
Wilson today completed definite
plan for settlement Of the threatened
nationwide railroad strike and will
submit it to the managers of the rail.
roads and employees tomorrow. Al
though administration ofacials sid
negotiations would be continued unail
a peaceful solution was found. the
outcome of the presidents mediation
is expected to depend largely on the
attitude of the two sides toward the
plan he has drawn up. !. !,
The proposition framed by thapros.
itent, following conferences With. tho
rdnaEers and employeest siaoS. Adn:
day morning. propoee1 tha4 arajll.
roads should concede the eieht-hotf
work day with IN agreement that It
will be observed. Later, 1t probably
will be proposed that = federal com.
mission, appointed by the president
or created by congress, investigate
all problems which have arisen dur
I
The chief obstacles in the way OF
the acceptance of the plans lie in the
insistence of the railroad managers
for arbitration and their opposition to
an eight-hour day and their demand
for time and half for overtime,
Whether the two sides will give In on
these two points constituted the CHIEF
danger tonight. =. s.4e.. !. j
General Committee Arrives.
The general committee of the EN-.
ployees, including $40 representative
of the trainmen and enginemen on
the 225 railroad systems Of the coun-
try, arrived here tonight In response
to summons by the subcommittee,
which has been meeting with the
president. The general committee
has plenary powers to reject or &C.
cept any suggestions. b
Say Outlook 10 Favorable.
The men, although refraining from
discussing the plan Of the president,
said the outlook was favorable for Z
settlement.
At 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoons
the president will meet the general
committee of the $40 representatives
in the White House and lay his plan
before them, He will accompany It
with statement appealing to their
patriotism and urging ,compromis6
in the interests Of the people Of tho
nation. / "
While no time has been set for q
conference between the manager
committee and the president, 1t is
thought probable it will take place
tomorrow morning.
Will Lay Same Plan.
When Mr.. Wilson sees, the manaG.
ers he will make practically the sane
statements he will deliver to he n.
ployees, paying particular attent1ou.
however, to the points he feels the
ident completed his plans In Z con.
ference today with Judge VIM. J.
Chambers, of the federal board Of
mediation and conciliation, who took
to the White House statistics compal.
ed by experts, showing the probable
cost to the railroads by granting the
basic principle of the eight-hour day.
During the day Judge Chambers talk.
ed with the managers committee. He
did not talk with the Employer Te.
presentatives.
The conference between the pred.
dent: and Judge Chambers was. Tie
only formal meeting Of tho day II
connection with the situation.s
Depending On Public opinl0N,
The president Is depending lafeely
on public opinion to force . oettle
ment. Should the present method q
procedure seem about to fail II Ms
thought probable today he would thko
the public into his cona1enco,
Discussion Of the creetioa Of & IA.
efal commission to investieate t6O
railroad situation centred hrgely u
day around the contentioa C IL salh
road ohlcials that such q eo00ioo3eu
would be able to get al IL enef4. al
be able to prevent . recufruaeo G ~
present crisis. The preo1dene -
taken up with both s1des saegoGs3ea0
lcontinusd . faSe 4WS5