The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-22
Some of Railroad Presidents
Ready to Compromise.
Big Eastern Lines, However Are
Still Defiant.
WILLING TO TALK TRADE"
Seek Offsetting Advantages Be-
fore Agreeing to Plan.
General Belief Roads Finally viii
Yield Point.

Washington. Aug. 22.-The greatest
industrial struggle in the history OF
the country hangs in the balance to-
day.
The question of acceptance or srejec>
ton of the proposals made by Presi-
dent Wilson in an effort to avert
strike that would tie up the railroads
of the country has now been passed to
| the men whose money is invested in
the great arteries of the nations trade.
As the situation stands this after
noon the employees have put their
demands for an eight-hour day and
| time and half overtime in the hands
of the president. He has put it up to
the reads of the great systems and
they. in turn, have passed it on TO
the directors. After ar all-night ses-
sion. the select committee of big
| barons' appointed by the two score
executives failed to reach any decision
! early today Then they wired their
directors. and upon the reply from
the money powers behind the coun-
| try's transportation system largely
| rests the final result.
| Costs $25,OOO Day.
In the meantime the high salaried
railroad executives continued to wres-
| tie with the various negotiations.
| Counting the salaries and expenses of
| the various railroad heads and union
officials, the negotiations are costing
az W. u
| is estimated.
There is no doubt that a division
exists among the railroad heads.
| Against one faction, which favors
| trading with the president in accept
ing the eight hour day principle is an
| other group violently opposed to any
| step that would weaken their stand
demanding arbitration on all matters
A short session attended by all of
the two score railroad presidents. was
/ held during the morning. but adjourn
ed at noon until 6 o'clock this evening.
| In the meantime, ii was announced
the select committee composed of
| eight presidents of the leading roads
and headed by Hale Holden. will con-
tinue in session thruout the day.
Washington, Aug. 22-The question
of strike or no strike today was in the
hands of the big Barons' of the
railway world A limited number of
the heads of the country's biggest sys-
TENS had taken charge of the situation
over night.
Get Directors Opinions.
1t developed today that the inside
committee of big railroad heads who
met most of last night were getting
in direct touch as fast as possible to-
day with their important directors.
They expected to be able to report to-
night early tomorrow morning to
garding this plan.
President Wilson held himself in
readiness to meet them soon as
they were ready, and it was said he
had indicated he has no plan to pre-
sent other than that ON which he has
steadily insisted.
Their answer, it appeared, was to be
the final answer to President Wilson'S $
proposal and personal appeal for pre-
vention of the most paralyzing trans
portation tie-up in the history of the
nation They were to meet one way
or the other. the presidents declara
ton that the country's industrial fu-
ture rested in their hands.
Roads Are dying Hard
In a secret conference at the Metro
politan club last night a small number
of the big Barons" of the railroad
world, representing 100000 miles of
track and 81, 900 900, 600 of capital de-
termined on a course of action. They
| were to place it before their fellow
executives for ratification at a confer
ence this morning. Opinion prevails
that a peaceful adjustment of the
threatened commerce crisis would be
| effected.
The roads are dying hard. however.
They will not yield, ii was declared to-
| day, unless they can trade with the
president and gain some "offsetting
! advantages" some adequate compen-
sation" for accepting what they regard
as "a revolutionary change" in the
/ eight-hour day.
But the very fact that many of the
small read chiefs, as well as num-
J ber of the foremost railroad execu-
tives have reached the stage where
they are willing to talk trades" in
fff-.