The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1916-08-17
Executives of Principal Sys.
tens Will Go to Washing
ton for Conference.
BOTH SIDES STAND FIRM
9 IN FORMER POSITIONS
Employers Insist on Arbitra-
ton; Employees Determ-
ined on Overtime Pay.

WASHINGTON. Aug 1.-Un-
daunted by the refusal OF the manag-
! erS' committee 20 conCcdc the eight
| hour day demanded BY the brother
hoods, President Wilson has summoned
the presidents oi the principal rail-
roads OF the country to a conference at
! the White House
| In case the president finds that any
OF the railroad presidents cannot speak
absolutely Tor their roads, he may in
vitc to the White House the iinanciers
who control them Officials said today
that he wants TO deal with the ultimate
authority on both sides
Refusal Definite.
The president is ready to propose
! that the rail Dads concedc the eight
hour day as basis OF settlement. II
probably will be suggested later that
federal commission be appointed by the
president or created by congress TO in
vestiga,e other issues involved.
The presidents action in asking for
the conference with railroad presidents
themselves is interpreted as meaning
that the managers committee had fin
ally refused 20 oonccde the eight hour
day as the presidents plan proposed,
and the question now is to be taken up
with the heads of the railroads them.
selves,
Unable TO Agree.
The situation as i, stands today is:
The railroads fatty refuse to
conccde the eight hour day, but are
willing to arbitrate that question
and all others before any tribunal
the president or the men may de-
eide on.
The men are willing to arbtrate
some questions under certain con-
. ditlons and are not willing to arbi-
trate others.
, This afternoon at J o'clock the pres.
ident was to present his plan to the
, full committee OF $40 employees in the
hope OF getting them TO approve II.
. The result will be presented TO the
, presidents later
/ Early today Secretary Tumulty tele-
Z phoned to Daniel Willard, president OF
( the Baltimore & Ohio, regarding tho
invitation TO the railroad presidents to
: come to the White House and Mr. Will
y lard promised to do everything possible
to arrange a conference
{. Demand Arbitration.
Among the managers it was pointed
out that the presidents have been con-
= Stan,ly advised OF the negotiations with
President Wilson and the feeling pre-
, vailed that the attitude Of the railroad
heads is now the same as the managers
committee, although no one could fore
cast what effect personal conference
with the presden, would have The rail-
road presidents arr expected to make .
strong plea for preservation OF the prin-
ciple oi arbitration and will express
their fear that If the present difficulty
cannot be settled without II there Is
h br-' Is being sue. Il. IN the
future The president during the morn
ing prepared a statement TO III: em-
-. ployes
Situation Delicate.
Another indication of the dclicacy of
the situation was seen in the decision al
the White House not to make public the
presidents remarks to the men, not at
) this time at least. II was at first in
tended to publish the presidents state
mcnt and then his statement 10 the man.
, ayers, thus laying the case before the
, high court OF public opinion. II was
believed tina, while there was hope oi
moving the committee of managers by
appeals to the president or stockhold-
crs, the negotiations would be kept con-
iidential
Many Presidents Invited.
President Wilson's invitation was
\ sent to the following railroad prssi-
dents
Daniel Willard, Baltimore h Ohio /;
Samuel Rea, Pennsylvania; Fairfax
Harrison Southern Railway; Samuel
NJ FELTON,, Chicago Great Western /.
George W Stevens. Chesapeake 4 Ohio I;
William Sproule, Southern Pacific; Y.
+. Calvin, Union Pacific; l.. r. Ioree.
Delaware 4 hudson; w J. Harahar.
Seaboard Air Line Howard Elliott.
New Haven y. + Bush. Missouri Pa
ciiio; A. n Smith. New York Central; ;
7. d. Underwood. Erie. and William
II II Tru,sdale. Lackawanna; Y. p. Rip
lev Santa Re X. II Ashton, Chicago
II & Northwestern A, J. Earlins, Chicago.
b Chicago. Milwaukee a 81. Paul and J.