Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-18
WILSON MAY CONFER
WITH THE NEW WHO
CONTROL RAILROADS
If Railway Presidents Have
Not the Authority to Speak
Absolutely for Roads Wilson
Wants Men Who Have
tSy Associated Fress.)

WASHINGTON, Aug. l1.--Presideni
Wilson today invited The presidents of
the principal railroads of the country
t. come to Washington Immediately to
confer with him on the threatened rail-
road strike. Pending their arrival he
does not plan to see the committee of
managers here with whom he has been
meeting.
III case President Wilson finds thai
any of the railroad presidents canno;
speak absolutely for their roads, he may
invite to the White House the nnanciers
who control them. Officials said TODAY
that the president wants to deal with TIE
ultimate authority" on both Sides n
order that negotiations may be conduct
ed here.
CALL TO RAILROAD HEADS.
The president sent the following tele-
gram to the leading railroad presidents:
Discussion of the matters in
volved in the threatened railroad
strike has reached point which
makes it highly desirable that I
should personally confer with you
at the earliest possible moment and
with the presidents of any other
railways affected who may be inn
mediately accessible. Hope you can
make it convenient to come to Wash
ington at once.
The presidents action in asking for
conferences with the railroad presi-
dents themselves is interpreted as mean
ing that the managers committee had
refused finally to concede the eight-hour
day as the presidents plan proposed, and
the question now is to be taken up with
the heads of the railroads themselves. =
The situation as it stood today was
this:
The railroads fatty refuse to con-
cede the eight-hour day, but arc
willing to arbitrate that question
and all others before any tribunal I.
the president or the men may de- -
eide upon.
The men are willing to arbitrate
some question under certain condi-
tions and are unwilling to arbitrafe
theirs.
MEETING OF employees.
This afternoon at o'clock the presi-
dent presented his plan to the full
committee of $40 employees, in the hope
of getting them to approve it. The re-
suit will be presented to the railroad
presidents later.
Fairfax Harrison. of the southeru,
and George W. Stevens, OF the Chesa-
peake & Ohio. and w. ]. Harahan, or
the SeabCard Air Line, were among the
railroad presidents invited.
The other presidents invited were
Daniel willard, Baltimore and Ohio:
Samuel Rea, Pennsylvania; Samuel NJ.
FELTON, Chicago and Great Western;
William Sproule, Southern Pacific; E. e.
Calvin, Union Pacific; L. F. Loree, Del
aware and Hudson; Howard Elliott, New
Haven: B. F. Bush, Missouri Pacific; A
H. Smith, New York Central; F. d. I'M
derwood, Erie, and William H. Trues-
dale, Lackawanna.
Among the managers, it was pointed
out, that the presidents have been con-
President Wilson and the feel
ing prevailed that the attitude
of the railroad heads was now
the same as the managers commit
tee although no one could forecast what
effect a personal conference with the
president would have. The railroad
presidents are expected to make a stronR
plea for preservation of the principle o.
arbitration and will express their fear
that if the present difficulty cannot be
settled without it. there is little hope of
its being successful in the future.
SECRET CONFERENCE.
In preparation for the conference be-
tween President Wilson and the $40 en-
ployes, chairs were placed today in the
east room of the White House, the scene
of many notable social events.
The president during the morning pre-
pared a statement to the employees COM
mittee.
Another indication of the delicacy of
the situation was seen in the decision
at the White House not to make public
the presidents remarks to the men, at
this time at least. 1t was first intended
to publish the presidents statement and
then his statement to the managers, thus
laying the case before the high court
of public opinion.
1t was believed that while there was
hope of moving the committee of man
ayers by appeals to the presidents Or
the f1nanciers, the negotiations would be
Nent confidential
After a secret meeting of a little
more than an hour. the $40 men march
ed in a body to the White House, The
day was hot, and the men, many OF
them stripping off their coats, took the
shady side of Pennsylvania avenue
They planned to meet again soon after
seeing the president.