The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-18
Will Vote This Morning On
His Suggestion, With All In
dications Favorable
RAILROAD PRESIDENTS
MEET Mr.. WILSON TODAY
Eight-Hour Frinciple to Be Ace
cepted and Collateral Ques-
tons to Be Submitted to
Commission

Washington. Aug. IA majority
| OF the $40 chairmen representing the
Big -FOUR" brotherhoods are in favor
or accepting the plan of strike settle
ment proposed TO them by President
Wilson in the east room of the White
House this afternoon. The chairmen
met in the Bijou Theater tonight and
! discussed the question informally. fin.
ally adjourning till 3 o'clock tomor-
row morning. when vote will be
taken, At tonight's meeting only q
minority of extremists held out for
preservation of the original 'all or
nothing position.
The railroad managers admit that
they will concede the principle OF an
eight-hour day, as exclusively an
nounced by the International News
Service today
The big night is to come over the
overtime question. but the general
feeling tonight is that this will be uiti-
mately settled according to the Presi-
! dents plan, and that there will be no
strike
White House Program.
1t was authoritatively stated to-
night that the program submitted to
the labor leaders by the President
provided;
THAT both sides shall accept the
eight-hour day on the present basis
of pay.
2-That the collateral questions
shall be submitted to a commission
to be authorized by Congress.
| At the White House 1t was stated
that until the union leaders had voted
! on the suggestion and the railway ex-
ecutives had passed upon 1t the White
House could not discuss the existing
situation.
I While the union leaders are In ses-
sion tonight the railway presidents
called to Washington by President
NVilson, are arriving by every train.
Whey will meet the President tomor-
row afternoon at an hour not yet
fixed. The President will then have
the decision OF the brotherhoods
1t was stated tonight by a person
close to the White House that IL the
unions agree to his plan and the rail-
I road presidents finally hold out Presi-
dent Wilson will call representatives
OF the railroad stockholders and big
banking interests to Washington and
deal directly with them.
The international News Service
stated exclusively two days ago that
the railroad presidents were to be
called to Washington.
The temper of the railroad man.
ayers tonight was clearly indicated by
one of the most prominent of them,
who at the same time further confirms
ed the exclusive information of the
International News Service that the
eight-hour principle was accepta bic.
He said:
so far as the eight-hour principle
is concerned, there Is little opposition
| to 1t. The chief problem arises in
the details described as collateral
questions. without these details be-
ing put on a permanent basis the rail-
way managers, while agreeing in prin-
ciple would continue to oppose the
etght-hour day plan. unless 1t was ac-
companied by such binding agree
ments as would be reasonably fair to
ALL"
Hang On Overtime Question.
In other words. the railway man.
ayers are not also willing to concede
the time and half for overtime de-
manded by the men as an arbitrary
measure. There was no indication to-
night as to how they regard the pro-
posal to submit the overtime question
to Federal commission investigation,
but the belief prevails that they will
concede this point also before per.
hitting a strike to be called.
There is little doub. at the White
House that the brotherhoods will
eventually accept the Presidents plan.
1t was learned tonight from a source
In close touch with the White House
end with the situation that the Presi-
dent is confident of hts ability to bring
the railroads into line II the men &C.
cept his proposals. He realizes that
the traf1c managers are intensely op-
posed to his scheme for settling the
ime-and-a-hah controversy. but he
has faith that the threat to call the
great banking interests into the arena
will force the presidents to agree to
his proposals.
AS indicating the Presidents feel
In tAo
demanded to know OF the railroad
managers II their agreements with
him would be binding. They event.
ually sent him word that their agree
ments would be binding.
There is well-defined feeling
among those close to the President
that his conference with the railroad
presidents will result In a definite Set-
Element Of the dispute.
Fairfax Harrison FIRST On Ground.
Fairfax Harrison. president OF the
Southern Railway. was the first prest-
dent to reach Washington in Response
to the Presidents CALL arriving this
afternoon. Telegrams were sent to The
following other presidents. all n OF
whom are expected before tomorrow
noon:
+ Daniel willard, Baltimore and Ohio.
Baltimore: Samuel Rea. Broad -Dtrsee
Station. Philadelphia: A. H. smith.
Grand Central Terminal. New York:
r. ID. Underwood. so Church Street
New York: William III. Truesdale, - {
West Street. New York: HowarA
Elliott. New York. New Haven ana 81
Hartford Railroad. New Haven: HAle
Holden. Chicago. Burlington ana &
Quincy. New York: w. J. Haxrahan,
Seaboard Air Lkne. Norlolt. -: ~
I0reo, 0efaMnBo onH 8u0ooM III
IN sIg III III