The Washington herald., 1916-08-29

of the strike order was transmitted to
the White House with an explanation
of the departure of a number of the
brotherhood Chairmen.
The railway executives are marking
time. The subcommittee of eight went
to the White House at 2:30 o'clock yes
terday afternoon. 1t is understood the
President informed the committee he
had knowledge of their intention to re-
new the demand for arbitration and
asked them to defer such action.
Disarmcd by Request.
Disarmed by this request. which
could not be ignored with prOpriety
the representatives OF the executives
returned TO their headquarters and is
sued a statement. In substance the rail-
way presidents said if the strike was
to be called on September 4 they be-
lieved they should be allowed TO re-
turn to their several headquarters and
prepare for the emergency.
President Wilson was on the way to
Capitol Hill within ten minutes after the
executives committee left the White
House. He went Immediately to the SEN
ate Office Building and the room used
by the steering committee Senators OIL
lie James and Reed were awaiting him.
Other members of the committee follow
ed. They were John w. Kern, of In
DIANA Thomas S. Martin. of Virginia {:
George f. Chamberlain. of Oregon;
Robert L. owen. of Oklahoma; James A.
O'Gorman. OF New York; Charles S.
Thomas. of Colorado: John Sharp VIII
liams of Mississippi.
At the conclusion of the conference,
which lasted two hours and thirty min
utes. the President contented himself
with this statement:
Il came to advise the committee or
the advisablity of appearing before a
joint session of Congress on the railroad
situation. l may appear either tomorrow
or Wednesday,"
1t was learned that the committee went
into a very full discussion Of the Presi-
dents plans. the substance Of which
follow:
'.,rms of Proposal.
l. A basic eight-hour-day law on all
railroads engaged in interstate commerce
The law to become effective in a ''rea-
sonable" time after enactment-prefera
bly, thirty or sixty days.
> A new law patterned after the Cana
dian industrial act which will make
strikes and Iockouts by combinations Of
unions unlawful until after the disputes
between employees and employers have
been investigated by special com
mission.
g. An instruction to the Interstate Com
merce Commission to take into COnsidera-
ton the question of wages and general
labor conditions in determining freight
rate adjustments.
L. An amendment to the interstate com
merce act increasing the Interstate Com
merCe Commission from seven to nine
members
1t was generally admitted by the Presi-
dents advisers that it would take at
least two weeks after the bills had been
presented to get them through Congress,
which means a delay in adjournment.
Senator O'Gorman. when asked if he
thought quorum OF the House and the
Senate could be held here to vote on the
legislation, said:
Il do not believe any member of Con-
gress would be so unpatriotic or assume
the responsibility of staying away when
legislation of such a vital character must
be considered.
After returning to the White House,
President Wilson sent for A. B. Garrett
s0n. Warren s Stone. w. G. Lee. and w
6. Carter, the four brotherhood chiefs.
He informed them fully of his legislative
plans, and is believed to have eXaCted a
promise to withhold the strike order for
the present.