New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-25
Say Wilson Will Con-
slider Modification
of His Plan.
UNIONS IGNORANT
OF SUCH SCHEME
Both Sides in Mood to Go
Home and Fight
It Out. IA
rFrom star Correspondent Of The rtfbuneI

tFruu star Correspondent Of The Ttfbune.1
Washington, Aug. 24.-The rail-
road dispute tonight took a sudden
and apparently menacing turn. The
railroad executives, acting on an al
legged promise from the President to
transmit to the four railway brother
hoods modified plan of settlement,
decided tonight to present such a
proposal tomorrow. At the same
time they let it be understood that
the whole situation might come to a
head Immediately thereafter.
Whether this announcement was
made simply for effect preliminary
to surrender by the railroads, or is
serious indication of their deter
mination to fight unless the terms
proposed are made more favorable
to them cannot be ascertained. It is
regarded as significant, however,
that the brotherhoods denied that
they expected different proposition
from the one they have accepted.
Would Cut Coat In Half.
The gist Of the contemplated pro-
posal that the roads intend to submit
to the President is a modification Of
the Presidents eight-hour plan that
will give the brotherhoods what they
ask, but will cut the increase in rates
asked by the railroads from $780,
100000 to perhaps little more than
half that amount.
The statement from the executives
which upset the expectation that a
peaceful adjustment of the controversy
would be reached before tomorrow
night was this:
AT the invitation of President Will
son, Messrs. Hale Holden. Judge r. s.
Lovett and Daniel Willard went to the
White House at noon and held short
conference with the President
"A conference of the railroad execu-
tlves was held at O'Clock and a new
phase Of the situation of some impor-
tance was laid before the conference
by the special committee.
after considerable discussion with
out definite action an adjournment was
taken until IL o'clock tomorrow MORN
ing. In the meantime the special COM
mittee Of the presidents will continue
its labors"
Early Outlook Favorable.
Earlier in the day it was confidently
expected that the railroads would reach
an early decision to accept the Wilson
plan with whatever assurances they
could get of measures for future in
dustrial peace and rate increases. This
hope was not based on speculation only.
W. G. Lee. che Of the brotherhood
chiefs, told the Tribune correspondent
after Judge William L. Chambers, one
Of the Federal mediation board, had
visited the union delegates that ne be-
lieved there would be an agreement by
tomorrow noon. Most Of the railway
executives were more optimistic, too,
than they have been since they came
to Washington.
Substantiating these indications came
the following statement from the rail-
road executives:
THE railroad presidents and mana
gers met at IL o'clock this morning and
discussed various phases of the situa-
tioa. A recess was taken until 3 o'clock.
Hale Holden, president of the Chicago,
Burlington Quincy, as. chairman of
the conference stated:
1--WE are making progress in clarity
ing our understanding. There are
many angles TO this subject which re-
qufre study. This we are pursuing as
rapidly as possible"
Revolt Had Subsided.
The change tonight appears to be
predicated upon the activity Of Judge
Chambers. Following a conference be-
tween Mr.. Holden and President Will
son last night, Judge Chambers visited
both the railroad and the employees
camps. The employees were silent about
the message that he brought 70 them,
but at all events the revolt that broke
out in the ranks yesterday had SUB.
sided altogether this morning.
II was stated tonight that Judge
Chambers had informed the railroad
executives that the President would
present a modified plan to the broth
erhoods without comment from him.
Ii was supposed that Judge Chambers
got assurances from the brotherhoods
that the modified plan to be submitted
by the executives would be acceptable
to them. Then again, The Tribune cor
respondent was informed reliably that
the notifications that the roads hoped
20 effect Tomorrow would necessarily
have 20 be ratified b. the unions.
After the long session OF the execv-
tNes and managers which ended late
this evening. the railroad executives
showed marked assurance and conf
dencc in their position. Some Of them
said positively that they had plan
which would appeal tos the public as