Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-22
Urges Them on Grounds of
Patriotism to Accept
His Plan.
POINTS TO DISASTROUS
EFFECTS SURE TO RESULT
lives and Fortunes of Millions of
Men, Women and Children
Depend on Decision.
IN CONFERENCE
Task Of Drafting Final
Reply to- Proposal.

WASHINGTON. August 2l.-As one
American citizen to another. Presi-
lent WilHon to-day appealed TO each
" the executives of the country's prin-
ipa! railroads on grounds Of patriotism
70 accept his plan for averting the
threatened disaster Of "A nation wild a
strike. He emphasized the necessity
FOR keeping the railroads in service
as part Of the national defense. and
make possible preparations for
meeting conditions that will exist after
he European war.
on leaving the White House the rail-
DAD presidents, augmented
lay by arrivals from the West. held
conference at which sentiment was
said to be against agreeing 20 the
Presidents proposal in its present
torn. Hope was expressed. however.
hat some satisfactory counterpropo
.ition Nigh: he advanced. and II was
iecided to turn over TO committee
he task OF drafting a final reply to
tho President. with more than sixty
men. most OF them with their own
deas about what ought 10 hc done.
he executive found il difficult To get
icwn to brass tacks," as one of them
expressed II, To-morrow morning
another meeting will be held. and
rvery effort will he made 10 reach u
iecision promptly
WILSON ASKING SASnIFICI.
OF PRINCIPLE or ARBITRATION
The railroad heads s,ll insist that
President Wilson is asking them to
sacrifice the principle Of arbitration.
Elisha Lee, chairman Of the National
Conference Committee OF Railways. is
sued statement tonight in which
ne said
That the railroads should grant,
under threat Of national strike a
S5o0o0.G G00 wage prcf"rnent TO a small
minority of their employees. withou,
hearing before a public tribunal. is
inconccivahl" in a democracy like ours.
All questions at issuc--waGcs. costs.
operating condi,ious--are submerged
hy tho greater issue; shall arbitration
he abandoned IL the set,!cmcn, oi
Industrial disputes"
The statement suggests. however.
hat the railroads ud r,a:y 10 ,li,,
what ever action tho people OF The
country desire. 1t concludes:
The weight OF public opinion mus,
determine this issue We cannot be-
Iieve that II Is the calm iudgmen, OF
'he country that we should sacrifice
tho principle 81 arbitration in indus
trial disputes, under a threat TO ,ic up
he commerce Of the country"
While the officials were listening to
president Wilson and later conrerring
It their hotel. the general committee
If $40 representatives. Of tho employees.
who already have accepted the Presi-
ients plan. held :, perfunotory meet
,.i I'll ai 81,
son of the employers. They said
hey would wait until President Wilson
dismissed them. but stood ready to call
strike should the negotiations fail.
EARNESTLY URGES HIS PLAN
OF SETTLEMENT DE RATIFIED
Although few OF the railroad ex,
ccutives invited had not arrived this
afternoon. IL was decided that those al
ready In Washington were representa-
hive. and. therefore the President called
hem to the White House ana earnestly
urged that his plan of settlement lie
atifed
Il will not allow passion to come into
my thoughts in this solemn matter" he
said I'VE are both acting as trustees
pr great interests. / am willing to al
low this matter TO go to the great
assume
he responsibility. The responsibility
If failure viii not rest with me-
81 wish you to consider the conse-
iuences to people Of the cities and
;ountrysides Of q failure to agree. The
rountry cannot live If the means of
Keeping alive its vitality are inter-
fercd with. The lives and fortunes of
0o.00o,000 men, women and little ones
many of whom may die--depend upon
what may he done in this room.
lppcal to YOU as ono American citizen
TO another to avert this disaster"
The President spoke in more intimate
fashion than he has in any of the pre-
vious conferences. He referred to tho
disastrous effect which q strike would
have respectfully at this time when
every ounce of american energy and
Initiative has to he modified to meet
tue extraordinary situation which
viii emerge out of the European war"
Reiternting that il was iInpossible
for him to bring about arbitration un-
der present conditions. the President
declared it was necessary to discuss
pra ctIcnl methods Of avoiding a strike.
|rhe war, he said. had taught this coun-
try that ii can no longer remain iso-
lated and provincial; that by reason OF
it's position in the affairs Of the world
I'VE must be ready to play our role as
one of tho dominant influences in the
worlds affairs" and that in order to
meet the exigencies~of new world con-
]tions, the varied business and econ
omic interests OF tho nation must be
brought together into harmonious
whole.
our great national resources can
not be made available or mobillzed in
this emergency as necessary part Of