Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-19
Question of Time and Halt
for Overtime Left for
Future Agreement b,
RAIL PRESIDENT
AT WHITE HOUSE
Employees Take Secret Vote
Before Taking a Stand
as to Latest Plan

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. H.
s Th,rty-ons railroad presidents TO
day told President Wilson they
stood by the decision Of their man.
.oers committee that an eight
hour day was lmpraetleab'e.
President Wilson refused to
take mo" for an answer to his pro-
posal that they accept the e'ens
hour day and asked them to re-
turn to the white house tomorrow
with their managers for anothsr,
conference.
Just after the railroad pres''
dents left the white house It be-
came known unotseiaIIy that tho
employees had voted to accept Pres
Iident Wilson's proposition ana
that sayne Of the leaders had gone
20 the white house to tell him 90.
E washington. D. c., Aug. 1S.-Whle
| ~. s1n representatives Of the railway
ennployes assembled in secret session
this morning. to vote on acceptance u
President Wilson's plan for avertlns
4 nation wide strike, the railroad pres,
tidents and their managers helo nnai
conference before going to the ~h1'e
mouse. e.. r
There we're indications that the en-
ployes would vote to accept Presl-
dent wilson's proposal of basic eight
hour day and settlement of side issues
Inv a special commission, but the nope
for settlement was endangered Dy evl-
ldences that the railroad pres1dents'
hacking up their managers commlttee,
we're not inclined to grant an eight
L1our day unless it be decided BY ar
filtration and in any event might ask
ePrasident Wilson for little time In
which to think over his proposition.
President Wilson abandoned today's
cabinet meeting SO he could devote
ali his time to the crucial railroad sit
Nation.
The time for President Wilson's con-
ference with the railroad presidents
had been set for 1880 O'Clock tnls
morning but the railroad men FOUND
1t impossible to be prepared with their
abatement at that hour and the time
was changed to o'clock this after
noon. .....s
Men Want Overtime.
w. L. Chambers of the federal medi.
ntors went to the mems hall at the re-
nuest Of brotherhood officials to ex-
Inlain some of the features of the sit
mation. He went into executive ses.
sion with the heads OF the four broth
erhoods on the subject of overtime.
In the mems meeting the leading OBJ
nection to President Wilson's plan was
hhat If it were accepted without extra
Epay for overtime the men demanded
The railroads would contend that the
sole purpose Of the men was to OBJ
tain more money and not to get the
eight hour day.
The presidents proposal was that
The railroads establish the eight hour
day principle and grant pay at usual
rates for overtime, instead of the pay
and a half demanded by the men. All
other issues then might be referred
10 commission of probably three
members, one of whom would be
named by the president or some other
public representative and the other
two by the employers and employees
respectively.
Insist on Arbitration.
The railroad presidents want arbi-
tration under the Newlands act, with
two arbitrators for roads, two for the
men and two for the public. The dis
position of many Of them was said to
be today to insist upon action Of that
character and not yield to President
wilson's plan for an eight hour day
unless it comes from an arbitration
board. Some of the presidents are
said to feel that the public will sup
bort their offer to arbitrate everything
In dispute. Some others, however,
we're of the opinion that If President
Wilson chooses to exercise his power
Ind refuses to press the men into ar
bitration 1t will be difficult for the
railroad presidents to continue oppo.