The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-20

Geeeencs they were armed With tele-
800 from all the other executives
ST. ~ been Invited to come TO
Ghtngtcn. endorsing the stand
A16n those already here have
u1opeed.
q vNs later admitted at the White
0ouno that President wilon has re-
0oavod . number OF kilograms rom
Wenksrn shippers and shippers or
enni.Ations urging arbitration II was
01oo harmed that the railroad commits
G1oas - I'VE Western States--Arisona.
New Mexico. Wyoming. Washington
an0 MovAda---had urged arbitration as
~ Gnost sAtisfactory means or settle
Mon4s In addition, numerous COM
MoSutAl organizations throughout the
Wese have passed resolutions favorins
arbitration.
Az an Acute Crisis
President Wilson In his talk with
the executives today made his most
earnest appeal of the entire contro-
varay, He emphasized his belief that
the reeuatton has met such an acute
crtstp that Il must be regarded as
condition 70 be settled at once. The
matter Of principle must be worked
out later. he declared.
The President declared he did not
have she power 10 Judge. He said:
IL q strike comes the public Will
know where the responsibility rests.
Il will not be upon me"
A. the executives left the White
House. one OF them said:
THE situation is serious, but not
hopeless" -
Il was after leaving the White
House that the executives first read
the Presidents statement They were
keenly disappointed with II. Several
stated. however. that there was one
agreeable surprise In IL. in that II was
weak and easily controverted. They
declared II did not concede what the
raikoad brotherhoods had demanded
Ia fiat e!ghs-hour day. with Fat time
and q half for overtime pay.
II was said today that the objective
OF the Presidents latest move In sum-
moning all the railroad presidents TO
Waahingfon IL TO ascertain exactly
what roads will not accept his plan,
and the identity Of the reported mi
nority. who do not endorse the posi-
ton OF their colleagues.
1t was understood the President de-
cided to send for all the presidents
when those now hero told him that
they could only talk for their indi-
vidual roads; that the authority to
speak for all the roads was vested
only In the managers committee,
He determined then to meet the
head OF every road individually.
He was also Influenced In this de-
termination by the statement OF Louis
w. Hill. Of the Great Northern, that
even II all the other roads agreed TO
accept the demands p$ the employees.
he would fight alop>-
At the conference MIR. Holden gave
the President estimates Of the cost of
the eight hour day to the railroads,
The President in reply urged that the
railroad OFFICIALLY, with the committee
of managers, very carefully consider
his plan before giving any final
answer That was agreed TO by the
railroad executives. 1t was learned
definitely that in their acceptance OF
President Wilson'S plan the employees
made no reservation.
One Of the railroad presidents said
after the conference that Prcsid ent
Wilson had asked for show down"
and that the railroad officials would
give a mai answer as soon as posi-
BILE
In spite OF the tone adopted by
some OF the railroad officials the be-
lief was current In administration CIR
cles that however reluctantly. the
railroads would make some conces-
sions-
Thn employees representatives helS
a meeting and after hearing President
Wilson's statement read adjourned
until 10 o clock Monday morning
Judge Chambers, OF the Federal
Board OF Mediation. conferred with
some of the leaders, but declined 10
make public his mission.
Reports were current among the
employees after the visit of Judge
Chambers that a counter proposal was
expected from the railroad managers
Judge Chambers refused TO confirm or
DENY the report