Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-08-15

Representatives of the employees
maintain that their demand for an
cight-hour day and time and d half
for overtime is the only concrete
proposition under discussion. They
insisted to the president i'm their con-
ference that the railroads make some
definite counter proposal. If the
railroads submit some proposed form
of settlement, they said they would
be ready to discuss negotiations fur
Their. The employees are understood
to be ready to consent to the princi-
pie of arbitration if the contingent
proposals of the managers, which the
men claim involve rights they lave
won in 80 years of effort, are elimi-
mated from consideration and if arbi-
tratiOn is conducted by board sOn
which all four brotherhoods are rep
resented
Managers Draft Offer.
Immediately after learning the en-
ployes' position, the president sum-
moned the committee of managers
and held long conference with them.
They left the white house to confer
night, if necessary, and the general
understanding was that they discussed
the advisability of Withdrawing their
contingent" proposals and submit
ting proposition without strings"
as demanded by the men.
While representatives. of the en-
ployes insisted that they had not yet
agreed to arbitrate any feature of
their differences, there was q grow
ing impression that arbitration in
some form of compromise would be
agreed upon. At no time. it was said,
did the represen tatives of the men in
dictate that unless their demands, were
granted unqualifiedly they would go
on strike.
Both sides refused absolutely to
discuss their meeting with the presi
dent, or venture any forecast on he
probable outcome of the negotiations,
but leaders of the two factions were
optimistic tonight that strike would
be averted.
The president, it was understood,
made no compromise offer to either
side today. He merely listened to
the employees representatives, and
then talked with the managers and
suggested that some concrete working
basis be agreed upon before proceed
ing further. Indicative of his desire
to learn what result would come from
the railroad managers meeting to-
night before taking any further step,
he arranged for meeting with them
at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning, and
for conference with the representa-
tives of the employees at 3 o'clock to-
morrow afternoon.
Tomorrow's cabinet meeting has
heen cancelled so that the president
may devote most of his time to the
railroad problem. He cancelled sew
eral engagements today that he might
have more time to discuss the rail-
road situation.
Special Beard Probable.
A. B. GarretsOn, president of the
Order of Railway Conductors and
spokesman for the employees repre-
sentatives, made it clear today that
under no circumstances will the men
agree to arbitrate under the Newlands
act. The boards provided by that act,
they maintain, are too small. The
balance of power, they contend, is
too close and, as 81 result, the en-
ployes have suffered.
Indications were that the president,
recognizing the situation. might pro-
pose special board of arbitration, if
the negotiations reached the arbitra-
ton stage, composed of as many as
IL men, including representatives of
all the brotherhoods.
A report that the president had in
timated that unless some agreement
could be reached with the men, he
would invoke his power to influence
congress to pass an eight-hour law
was circulated, but was discounted by
those in close touch with the situa-
ton.
Il would fight any attempt to pass
such a. measure" was the terse re-
mark of Mr.. Garretson upon hearing
the report.