New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-16

half this morning with representatives
Of the railway management After the
conference he said that IL was impoS-
sible as vet to report on the results
All that he could say was that a very
candid and honest discussion was IN
progress about practicable basis OF set
Element"
The second one, which followed
meeting with the employees this after
noon equally as long as the morning
session. admitted frankly that the
deadlock was still unbroken. 1t read;
There is no change. There is an
earnest effort being made to work out
settlement
Funston Sounds an Alarm.
The seriousness Of the situation was
emphasized still more by a develop,
ment in another quarter. 1enerai
Funston wired 20 the War Department.
that in view Of the possibility OF a
general railroad strike, and the dt-
fculty that would follow IN the way
Of getting food to the troops on inc
border. il would not be expedient 10
carry out the recent order OF 'ne W." oan
Department directing that 25,OOo
mihtiamen modified in various part'
OF the country be sent 20 the Mexican
line. Rumor immediately had 1t that
the Funston telegram probably was
inspired with a view to atfording avail
ahle troops in the event OF general
tie-up. ~.
Offcial Washington believes that
.brouchout the negotiations with the
railroad managers and their employees
The President is seeking a wider. broader
object than the settlement of this con-
troyersv alone. This is the greatest in
dustriaI move in this country, and II
threatens the greatest hardships II car
r;ed ont by a strike. Therefore. II is
said. the President, while primarily
striving with all the energy he can
summon 20 avert n strike IN TINS par
ticular case, also is endeavorng 10 ar
rive at certain basic facts upon which
r,ev he built a permanent remedy that
will save the country from the danger
of such a menace as now exists.
No Weapon for Employees
The situation that presents itself to-
night is this: In dealing with the rail-
road EMPLOYEES the President has no
weapon that ne may use effectively, dis
regarding an appeal 70 Congress, when
is held TO be extremely doubtful, eX-
cent nuhlic opinion, that would support
him Internationally If it appeared that
The EMPLOYEES were determined 10 sacri-
fco the comfort, industry and welfare
of the country to secure their own de-
mands.
In dealing with the railroads the
President holds another ace. Whatever
the outcome of the present controversy
supposing that the employees WIN some
thing. the railroads will proosoly ap-
neal 10 the Interstate Commerce Com-
mission for an increase IN rates. ~
was difficult to get the last increase. In
fact the roads were turned down tiatly
until il became known that the Admin
istration favored the granting OF an IN
crease. Therefore il is believed ina.
the President has q greater chance OF
getting concessions from the companies
than from the men, in spite OF the fact,
too. that the latter represent a con-
siderable part Of the labor vote.
The managers conference committee
had precious little sleep before they
went to the White House this morn,
ing. They had met in the New Willard
Hotel until nearly O'Clock a. m.
Meanwhile they had framed larry
concrete proposition to lay before the
President. The managers were Wiling
10 accept the G4bAA-AONA NSs 80
chile. but asked that the Interstate
Commerce Commission, or some lnves-
tirating body appointed BY the Presi-
dent, decide on the practicabillty OF the
eight-hour day and the method OF APP
plying it to the present operating
schedules.
The railroad representatives hso
many arguments TO support their plea
1t was pointed out that on some parts
of some Eastern roads the eight-hour
principle had been adopted already, but
that il was practically Impossible 10
put it into effect on other roads, espe-
cially in the West, without enormous
outlay of money to build new terminals
so that crews, which often have to work
sixteen hours a day TO complete a run,
might be relieved Some of the West
ern roads are having difficulty now liv-
ing I'D to the sixteen-hour limit law,
and application is being made on their
behalf 10 secure government lands upon
which to build additional terminal IA
cilities.
Managers Are Reticent.
When the managers left the White
House, Elisha Lee refused absolutely to
say anything but this:
awe have assured the President that
as long as the situation remains IN his
hands we shall not give out any infor-
nation whatsoever, and that we shall
leave il to him exclusively to make any
announcements that might be neces-
sary. We shall stick by that agree
ment."
The afternoon conference with the
employees was equally unproductive Of
definite news. The men assembled in
the Presidents study at o'clock and
remained with him until nearly o'clock.
II was TO them that the President made
the appeal Of a lifetime" 1t was