Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-17

~[Continucd From First Pagel
tee had refused finally to concede
the eight-hour day as the Presidents
plan proposed, and the question now
is TO be taken up with the heads of
the railroads themselves.
The situation as 1t stood to-day
was this:
The railroads fatty refuse to
conCedc the eight hour day, but
are willing to arbitratc that qucs-
ton and all others before any
tribunal the President or the men
may decide upon.
The mon are willing to nrbi-
trate some questions under Ger
tain conditions and are unwilling
to arbitratc others.
Will Meet go Employees
This afternoon at 3 o'clock the
President will present his plan to the
full committee of $40 employees. in
the hope, of getting them to approve
it. The result will be presented to the
railroad presidents later.
Early this morning Secretary Tu-
multy telephoned to Daniel Willard,
president of the Baltimore and Ohio.
regarding the invitation to the rail-
road presidents to come to the White
House and Mr.. Willard said hat he
would do everything possible to ar
range a conference.
President Wilson's invitation was
sent to the following railroad presi-
dents; Daniel Willard, Baltimore and
Ohio: Samuel Rea, Pennsylvania;
Fairfax Harrison. Southern Railway;
Samuel NJ. FELTON,. Chicago and Great
Western; George w. Stevens, Chesa-
peake and Ohio: w. Sproule, South
ern Pacific; E. Z. Calvin. Union Pa
cific; l.. f. Loree. Delaware and Hud-
SON w I IIarahaO Se1hOarH Air
Line; Howard Elliott. New Haven; b.
F. Bush. Missouri Pacific; A. H.
Smith. New York Central; F. d. I'm
derwood. Erie; William II. Truesdale,
Lackawanna; E. p. Ripley, Santa Fe;
r. H.. Ashton, Chicago and North
western. and A. j. Earring, Chicago,
Milwaukee and st. Paul.
May Ask Financiers
In case President Wilson finds that
any of the railroad presidents speak
absolutely for their roads. he may in
vite to the White House the financiers
who control them. Officials said to-
day that the President wants to deal
with the ultimate authority" on both
sides in order that negotiations may
be conducted here.
Problem Delicate
Another indication of the delicacy
of the situation was seen in the deci-
sion at the White House not to make
public the Presidents remarks to the
men, at this time at least. 1t was
first intended to publish the Presi-
dents statement and then his state
ment 10 the managers, thus laying the
case before the high court of public
opinion. 1t was believed that while
there was hope of moving the COM
of managers by appeals to the
presidents or the fnanciers. the nego-
tiations would be kept confidential.
Among the managers it was pointed
out that the presidents W been cor
advised of the negotiations
with President Wilson and the feel
ing prevailed hat the attitude of the
heads was now the same as
the managers committee although no
one could forecast what effect a per-
sonal conference with the President
would have. The railroad presidents
expected to make a strong plea
for preservation of the principle of
arbitration and will express their fear
that If the present difficulty cannot
be settled without it, there is little
OF its being successful in the
In preparation for the conference
between President Wilson and the $40
employees, chairs were placed o-day
in the east room of the White House.
the scene of many notable social
The President during the
morning prepared a statement to the
employees committee.
Situation still Hopeful
Judge Chambers of the Federal
Board of Mediation and Cancellation
held a brief conference with the broth
erhood heads this morning. Further
to say he had one question on
which he wanted a definite answer
and that he got 1t, the conferees
would not discuss the nature of his
visit. Mr.. Chambers went to the White
House Immediately upon leaving the
brotherhood officials.
1 should not like to say that
the situation still is hopeful, 4.
Is. G~arrctSon, spokesman for the
employees said, after Mfr. Cham
bers had left. Hopeful is hardly
the word that 1 should use. I
would say though that / deem a
settlement still possible.
Old Sore Opening
Some of the leaders of the men
were planning to meet the demand of
the railroad managers for arbitration
insisting to the President that sew
more lines for which the
managers contend they have
authority to speak shall be in
cluded in the negotiations.
In that way an old dispute. between
the managers and the brotherhood
officials would be opened and prob
ably result in an inquiry into the own
ership and control of the seventy-fve
roads in question.
Investigation will prove, the en-
ployes representatives insist thai the
larger railroads for which the mana