The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-20
Refuse to Aecede to Plan Of
Settlement Proposed by the
President
HE CALLS ALL HEADS
OF ROADS TO CAPITAL
Executives Declare That Ques-
ton Of Eight Hour Day
Should Be Made Subject Of
Arbitration

Washington. Aug. ls.-Preadsnt
Wilson summoned all the presidents
of the great railway gystezsas Of the
country to Washington this afternoon.
following the refusal OF the sxeoutives
OF the railroads now hero to accept
his basis of settlement in the threat
ened strike.
1t is expected that more than one
hundred railroad presadsuts Will be
here by Tuesday. The President sent
personal kilograms TO fourteen at the
most influential presidents not already
here.
After his latest conferences today
with the ohicials of tho railroads
President Wilson Issued an appeal to
the country in an effort to influence
peaceful settlement OF the contro.
versy
plan for a settlement by adoption Of
the eisht-hour day by saying:
1T seems to me q thoroughly prac-
teal and entirely fair program, and
think the public has the right To
expect its acceptance"
May Go 10 Stockholders.
In case the President fails 70 con-
vert the railroad presidents to hts
plan, It L. confidently expected that
OF directors OF the railroads and ne
gotfAte directly through them with
the stockholdor8.
The situation ID now r>gsrd>d -
having reached the most critical stare
since tho Asns OF unrest Among the
men first became apparent The rail-
road heads were unshAken In their
stand for Arbitxakinu. The union men
are opposed TO Arbttrating the quss-
ton OF an eighf-hour day.
The President told the presadents
they were discussing IN Impractical
thing in the present c1tGs when theR4
mentioned arbitration, for the ern-
ployss would not acespt arbitration.
and he had no way OF forcing them
to accept t.
President Wilson declared he was
the spokesman for loo. 100000 people.
every ono Of whom had Z deep inter-
est in the present situAtion. His only
object. he said. was to avoid q strike.
with its consequent disaster to the ma.
ton.
President IN Dead Earnest
AS President Wilson spoke to the
officials he paced up and down before
them In the blue room. Several times
he emphasized points with a clinched
fist. He spoke solemnly. and often
paused and faced them as he asked
that they accept his plan.
The railroad officials were equally
solemn. and President Holden. OF the
Burlington. told the President they
realized the seriousness of the situa-
ton. President Wilson said:
1--WE must face the naked truth
in this crisis We must not dis
cuss impracticable things. We
must get down to tho basis on
which this situation can be
solved
The following telegram carried the
Presidents personal appeal to four
teen OF the railroad heads in the West
and Middle West:
Discussion OF the matters involved
in the threatened railway strike 10
still continuing. It 10 highly import.
ant that I should personally confer
with you or some one authorized to
represent you at the earliest possible
moment. Hope you can arrange mat.
tiers so that you can come to Washing
ton at once
WOODROW WILSON"
The telegram was sent to the fol.
lowing executives: Louis ". Hill.
Great Northern Railway: A. ]. Earl
ing, Chicago. Milwaukee and st. Paul:
]. NJ. Hartford. Northern Pacific: e.
p. Ripley. Atchison. Topeka and Santa
Fe: J. NJ. Dickinson. receiver. Rock
Island: P. j. Kearney. Wabash; w. J.
II. Z. Nudge, Denver and Rio Grande:
c. NJ. Lovey. Western Pacific: w G.
Bosler. Central of New Jersey: z.
Pennington. Minneapolis, St. Paul ana
Saulte Marie: A. ]. Smith. Louisytlls
and Nashville; C. e. Shaf, receiver,
Missouri, Kansas and Texas; Edwin
Gould. St. Louis and Southwestern.
1t ia not expected that the Presi.
dent will again confer with the rail-
way presidents until those summoned
today have arrived.
The railroad executives met the
President at the White House at 1880