Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-08-19

At the same time the general com.
mittee of $40 representatives of tho
employees were approving the Presi.
dents plans by large majority. and
soon after the railroad oficials left
the White House four heads OF tho
railroad brotherhoods delivered to the
President letter notifying him Of
the vote. The employees committee
will remain here at the Presidsnt's
call 5.,.,..sss5 a, Sssl
( While the railroad ofacials would
make no formal statement, they re-
vealed clearly their opposition to Nj.
Wilson's plan, and indicted that they
would press further their offer to n
bitrate all the points at issue.
May Suggest Counter Proposal.
In spite Of these developments. It
was reported, the officials might sug.
gest counter PROPOSAL. based on the
acceptance of the eight-hour day and
arbitration of all other points, instead
of the investigation by q federal com.
mission proposed under the Presi.
dents plan. 1t was stated positively,
however, that the officials had reach.
ed no definite decision on their fu-
ture course.
In case the President finds no
hope of settlement during his confer.
ence with the railroad officials to.
morrow, he probably will summon to
Washington some of the powerful fl.
nanciers Of the country serving as
directors of the railroads. Admins
tration officials said tonight he had
by no means given up hope Of ef.
fecting a settlement and was deter
mined that it shall be reached, II pos.
sible, before the representatives Of
both sides now here leave Washing
ton. In their Informal statement, the
railroad officials insisted on arbitra-
tion on the ground that If they gave
in this time, it would mean the aban.
donment of the principles Of arbitra-
tion, and because they feared II they
granted the eight-hour day with its
consequent added expenses without
resort to arbitration it would preju-
dice any appeal they might make
later to the Interstate Commerce
commission for higher freight rates.
Strike Appears Nearer.
On the surface the threatened
strike appeared nearer today than at
any time since the negotiations at
the White House began, but admins
tration officials continued to believe
some concessions would be made and
that eventually there would be IN
agreement.
Having accepted the President'a
plan of settlement, the committee OF
employees took no further action, and
awaited developments. They were ex-
pecting summons to the White House
again fter the meeting tomorrow be-
tween Mr.. Wilson and the railroad Of
fcials. y,
Officials Confer With Wilson.
The group of railroad presidents
and officials, who came here in an
swer to an invitation from tho Presi-
dent, conferred with him less than IN
hour.
After Mr.. Wilson had explained his
plan, Hale Holden, president Of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, acting
as spokesman, informed the President
that the officials present could speak
only for their individual roads and
the conference committee Of mana.
gers was the only body with power
to accept or reject proposals.
1t was indicated plainly to Nr. WI
son that the officials were inclined to
stand behind the previous attitude oe
the managers COMMITTEES in refustng
to accept the eight-hour day and that
the proposal was believed to be i'm
practicable. The President was tol0,
however, that the plan would -
given further consideration a1A ARE
port made to him tomorrow. II .
matter Of such far.reachinS inpoe.
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