Evening star., 1916-08-18
EMPLOYEES HOLD BACK v
ACCEPTING PROPOSITION
Believed to Be Willing, But Re
luctant to Show
Anxiety.
VOTE TAKING THIS AFTERNOON
Expected That Brotherhoods Will
Acquiesce When Called for
Answer by Chief
Magistrate.

Thirty-one railroad presidents
today told President Wilson they
stood by the decision of their
managers committee that an
eight-hour day was impracticable.
President Wilson refused to
take mo" for an answer to his
proposal that they accept the
eight-hour day and asked them
to return to the White House to-
morrow with their managers for
another conference.
To devote his entire time to ef-
forts to settle the differences
threatening a strike the President,
for the second time within a week,
Cancelled his cabinet meeting.
The White House conference
started at 2 o'clock. lf
That the interests of the
100000 people of the coun-
try, whose custodian he is.
are paramount to the inter
ests of any or all brotherhoods.
on the one hand, or a COM
bination of railroad capital, on
the other, is the position of the
President. Both to the commit
tee of GAO chairmen from the
brotherhoods on the various rail-
road systems, and to more than
a score of railroad presidents this
afternoon the President is making
that fact clear.
Appeal to Patriotism.
He is appealing to their patriotism to
reconcile their controversy by mutual
concessions He has suggested what
he believes would be just ground OF
settlement, at the same time letting
these leaders know that if they fall
to recognize their duty to the coun-
try as above personal interests ne VIII
use all his authority as President 10
force an acceptance
while the President and all admin
istration officials in close touch win
the case expected that the President
would have before him, when the meet
ing with the railroad presidents start
ed an acceptance of his proposition
To-. 1a~e fhnV 0Af
ing started without such action hav-
ing been taken
Vote Taken by Committee.
Shortly after noon a vote on the
Presidents proposal was begun in the
emp,oves meeting. 1t was stated by
chairmen leaving the hall at 1880 that
the vote was completed but not yet an
nounced even to the general committee.
They said there was no doubt as to the
position of the men. which is taken to
he an assurance that the vote was to
accept the Presidents proposition. The
voting was by secret ballot.
The general committee of $40 chair
men. representing the employees, was
in session all morning. extending into
the afternoon. announcediy to take
vote, which. it was widely reported.
womid be an acceptance of the Presi-
dents proposal made to them vest erday
afternoon. Ii was expected that this
vote would be reported during the
morning to the President.
When the hours passed 1t was the
conviction of those outside OF the nail
where the employes, yes. were re IN ;es Session ION
purpose of not appearing too anxious
70 accept the terms proposed or des!r-
inr to keep the railroad presidents in
doubt as to the course OF the employees
untiI after they had heard the Presi-
dent, and the question had Deen put
souarely up to them without the deci-
sion of the employees as gauge By
which to measure their own reply.
Acceptance Is Assured.
,r,.r. ia little doubt entertained by
.,asa in close touch with the situation
hut that the employees are ready to ac-
c.nt the Presidents proposition when
LIAR that they are unwilling to let the
"a iIroads use their acceptance rs q SUBJ
,ecf for dickertng.
During the long conference OF the
ranaral committee of the employees to-
ssov the phase of the proposition tnat
LOS principally under discussion was
rat by acceptance OF an eight-hour
lay with pro rata overtime. overtime there
NJ the railroads from exacting all the
,wertirne they might wish. The em-
,roves protest that their principal rea-
'on for making q stin demand for
I'm and half overtime Is really to
-at the railroads to curtail the overtime
y minimum. II they can force over
s,,,e work at the same wage per hour
here would be no penalty against them
or overtime.
while this side Of the question was
,einr discussed, Judge william L
n aYnbers, United States commissioner
= mediation and conciliation. was
n allsd to the hall for conference with
"a four brotherhood chiefs. Az he
At the conference he said he had been
allied In to answer some question: on