The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-08-19
crisis in Threatened Railroad
Strike is Likely to Continue
Several Days.
BAcKFIRE BY BOTH SIDES
Railroad Heads Are Again in a
Conference at the White
House.
,nr AsneelA1ep eRE1sl

an hours conference with President
Wilson Saturday, the thirty-three
railroad presidents left the White
House without giving any indication
that they had abandoned their stand
for arbitration, but with assurances
that the negotiations were not ended
The railroad executives gave no fin
al answer to the presidents proposals
but will deliberate on them today
and see President Wilson again.
probably Monday.
While the railroad presidents were
in conference with President wilson
the president gave out statement
outlining his plan Of settlement dnu
saying:
at seems to me a thoroughly prac-
tical and entirely fair program, ana
l think the public has the right 10
expect its acceptance"
IDhis address to the officials Pres
ident Wilson said:
III strike comes the public will
know where the responsibility rests
1t will not be upon me.
One ray of hope that it might In
duce the railroad managers to make
concessions stood out in suggestion
that the Interstate Commerce Com
mission might determine whether 1t
would be right to increase freight
rates 10 meet the added compensation
TO employees The railroad presidents
indicated they would make state
ment soon.
Mr.. Holden, spokesman for the rail-
road presidents, gave Mr.. Wilson estl-
mates of the cost OF the eight-hour day
10 the railroads. Mr. Wilson. in reply
urged that the railroad officials very
carefully consider his plan before CIV,
ing any final answer. That was agreed
10 by the railroad executives.
The president informed the officials
that they were discussing an imprac-
tical thing in present situation when
thew mentioned arbitration for the en-
Moves would not accept arbitration
and he had no way Of forcing them loI
accept it.
President Wilson declared he was
the Spokesman for 1OO,00O,OOO people,
everyone Of whom had deep interest
In the present situation. His only OBJ
icct, he said, was to avoid a strike
with its consequent disaster to the ma
ton.
I'M and down before them in the Blue
room. Several times he emphasized
his noints with cenched fist. HeI
smoke solemnly and often paused and
faced them as he asked that they ac-.
cent his plan. The railroad presidents
were equally solemn. :,
owe must face the naked truth I'M
this crisis" said the president. I'VE
must not discuss impractical things
We must get down TO a basis on whlcnI
this situation can be solved.
He asked why they should demand
arbitration when there was no law
for compulsory arbitration, and ne
knew It to be impossible to get a.
compulsory law through Congress
The employees, he recalled, had con
sistently refused arbitration ana nj
believed it was impossible to gain II
In the present controversy.
"I have been asked to sit as
Judge" said the president. Il can
mot do that. simply can suggest a
plan, a way in which believe TINS
question can be settled fairly to all
sides"
President Wilson urged again that
the railroads accept the plan, adopt
the eight hour day at least temper,
arilv and then allow the proposed
commission to fully investigate the
facts. He pointed out that the rail-
roads brought forth one set of state
ments and the men another and II
was impossible for him to tell when
was correct.
In conclusion he said he believed
his plan was the only equitable way
of settling the controversy.
One of the railroad presidents said
after the conference that he did not
consider the situation hopeless, but
that it was very serious Mr.. VIII
son, he said, had asked for show.
down, and the railroad officials would
give final answer as soon as posi-
Bile.
Mr.. Wilson this afternoon sent the
following telegram to fourteen pres
ldents Of western railroads:
Discussion of the matters involv-
ed in the threatened railway strike
Is still continuing. 1t is highly i'm
portant that l should personally con-
fer with you or someone authorized
to represent you at the earliest posi-
BILE moment. Hope you can arrange
matters so as to be able to come to
washington at once"
Some of the brotherhood leaders
still talk OF congressional action II
negotiations fail and a strike results.
They regard 1t as impossible to in
duce Congress to pass an eight-hour
law in behalf of the railroad en-
ployes, but talk OF bill to empow-
er the president to operate the rail-
roads with present employees on an
eight-hOur basis.
cuv AssoerA1IO p'rs5
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10. = The
crisis over the threatened railroad