The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-23


wen stick together" he said.
Washington. Aug..z23-President
Wilson today called Chairmen New
lands and Adamson of. the Senate and
House interstate commerce commit
tees to the White House for a 10
o'clock conference.
While nothing was forthcoming as
&c the purpose of the meeting belief
prevailed that 1t resulted from the
conference held last night between the
president and several railroad presi-
dents and probably would relate TO
possible legislation growing out or the
presidents negotiations to avert tn ,
threatened railroad strike. 1t Is the
first time the president has called In
any congressional leaders on the sit
uation. While congress generally and
individually, has held aloof to give the
president unhampered rein in his at
tempts 20 bring the representatives or
100000 trainmen and 225 railroads to-
gether. members have said that should
congress be asked to take hand the
interstate commerce subcommittee
would be the body before which the
matter first would be aired.
For 1. C. C. to Investigate.
There is a chance that Senator New
lands and other Congressional leaders
may decide to press the bill he recent
ly introduced directing the Interstate
Commerce commission to Investigate
and report as soon as practicable the
minimum. maximum and average
wage paid. with hours of service to
each class of railroad employees.
( Marked evidences of uneasfness be-
gan to appear today among the sixty
railway preside IS gathered here. They
have no solution for the situation
President Wilson called them here to
help solve. They are divided among
themselves and unable to agree on a
proposal that might soften the effect
of the presidents plan for averting a
national railroad strike.
Still holding out against acceptance
of the eight-hOur day. they do not ex-
hibit the belligerance or defiance that
was notable when President Wilson
first announced this scheme for set
Ting the question.
Some even are talking among them
selves of agreeing to the eight-hour
day and letting the consequences take
care of themselves.
Seek Counter Proposition.
Let the result be on the presidents
head" they say.
These, however. include few of the
presidents of the bigger railway sys-
TENS.
The latter are working rs hard as
they ever worked in their lives to
avoid making the concession. They
toiled late into the tropical night last
night and were at il again in the hot
The object of their efforts is
tangible counter proposition that will
embody something of the presidents
purpose and the brotherhoods demand
and yet save the situation for the
railroads. They face the fact that.
failing to find such a counter prop
osltion, they can expect only strong in
sistence from the White House that
they accede fully to the presidents
cwn plan.
Willard Backs Wilson Plan.
Late last night Hale Holden of the
Burlington r. S. Lovett of the Union
Pacific and Daniel Willard of the
E. and o., saw President Wilson for
an hour. Willard alone of the three
has been inclined the past two days
to accept the presidents proposition
He has been aligned to some extent
with the railroads of the southeastern
states. itlctuding The Southern in this
Unless headway is made today, there
are indications that some of the rail-
roads may act independently in ac-
cepttng OF rejecting the presidents
proposal. Against precipitous action
of this nature every effort was being
made late yesterday and last night. It
was pointed out that such action would
result eventually in complete vic
tory for the president. If the B. and
o., or the Southern, or both. should
IL.
practically force eastern and southern
roads at least. to do likewise.
Willard particularly is said to feel
that rather than endanger the business
and safety Of the nation, the roads
should yield, en- toto to Wilson's de-
mands.
Should he agree individually to do
so, it would mean that every road in
the anthracite fields must follow.
Western Rail Heads "Stand Pat"
The great opposition to accepting
the eight-hour day proposal comes
from the western chiefs. They claim
that not only the manufacturers but
the agricultural communities in their
country are against the principle of
the eight-hour day as applied to rail-
roads. that shippers won't stand for
rate increases and that they'll find
plenty OF public support in case thew
prefer strike to yielding
-----4-
A NEW HUGHES COMMITTEE