The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-08-19
DEADLOCK in THE
STRIKE SITUATION
OadPresidents AreStill
Insistent Upon Arbitra-
ton Principle
NO FINAL ANSWER TO
PRESIDENT WILSON

ment, Which He Considers a Tho
roughly Practical and an Entirely
Fair Program
WASHINGTON, August 19-After an
hours conference with President Wilson
today the SO railroad presidents left the
White House without giving any indica-
tion that they had abandoned their stand
for arbitration, but with assurances that
the negotiations were not ended.
The railroad executives gave no final
answer to the President 5 proposals, but
will deliberate on them today and see
President Wilson again, probably Monday
Hale Holden, president of the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy systems, again act
ed as spokesman and explained why the
OF arbitration He declared that the prin-
clple at stake was much larger than the
questions of wages and hours involved
While the railroad presidents were in
conference with President Wilson today
the President gave out a statement outlin-
ing his plan OF settlement and saving, 1t
seems to me a thoroughly practical and
entirely fair program and think the pub
lic has the right to expect It's acceptance"
President Wilson's statement follows in
part:
Il have recommended the concession of
the S-hour day, that is, the substitution of
an S-hour day for the present I0-hour
day in all the existing practices and agree
ments | made this recommendation be-
cause | believe the concessions right The
| iS-hour day now undoubtedly has the sane
tion of the judgment of society in its ia
vor and should be adopted as a basis for
wages, even where the actual work to be
done cannot be completed within hours"
! In his address to the officials President
Wilson said: If strike comes the pub
lie will know where the responsibility
rests. 1t will not be upon me.
One ray of hope that it might induce
the railroad managers to make concessions
stood out in suggestion that the inter
state commerce commission might deter
mine whether it would be right to in
crease freight rates to meet the added
compensation to employees. All said that
the question was not closed and that the
negotiations would be continued
President Holden of the Burlington,
spokesman for the officials, said no time
had been set for them to see President
Wilson again, but that it was necessary
to confer with the committee of managers
which has the authority to accept or re-
/, ject plans.
i In his talk today to the executives Pres
Iident Wilson told them they were facing
ia, condition not principle. He asked
why they should demand arbitration
where there was no law for compulsory ar,
bitration and he knew it to be impossible
TO get compulsory arbitration law through
congress.
Il have been asked to sit as a Judge,
said the President in substance Il can
not do that, / simply can suggest a plar
, by which l believe this question can b,
fairly settled to all sides.
In conclusion President Wilson said Ii,
believed his plan was the only equitable
way of settling the controversy and tha
under it both sides would be treated fair
!. ly. He considered it useless to discuss tn,
principle of arbitration when il seemed
, impossible to bring about arbitration il
the present situation.
Mr.. Holden gave the President esti
r mates of the cost of the S-hour day t,
!, the railroads. President Wilson, in re
ply, urged that the railroad official
= carefully consider his plan before Civ
! ing any final answer. That was agree
! to by the railroad executives.
: 1t was learned definitely that i
!, their acceptance of President Wilson
plan the employees made no reservation
One of the railroad presidents said al
ter the conference that he did not cor
slider the situation hopeless, but tha
> it was very serious. In spite of tn
. tone adopted by some of the railroa
# officials the belief was current in aG
1t ministration circles that, however RI
luctantly, the railroads would max
some concession.
After the conference President Wi
= son telcgraphed to a number of pre-.
|, idents of western roads inviting them t
come TO Washington.