Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-29
Fill Recommend Legisla-
tion Aimed to Avert
Threatened Strike.
Works TILL LATE AT NIGHT
ON PLANS OF SETTLEMENT
long Discussion of Situation at
Capitol With Senate Steer
ing Committee.
FONFERs WITH BOTH SIDES
Spite OF Apparent Final Failure,
President Reported as Still
Hopeful.

WASHINGTON. August 2s.--ptes;Icnt
'ilson tonight definitely decided 10 go
efore Congress In person to- morrow or
edncsday to recommend Legislation
med TO avert the threatened nation
ide railroad strike or to stop i, il
comes before Congress can act. He
forked until late Tonight on his
essagc. in which he will tell men,
ers OF the Senate and House of the
egotiationS TO date and lay before
,em definite legislative program.
The President reached this decision
tier conferences at the White House
ith the railroad executives and with
he brothcrhoods' heads on new pro-
osal for settlement of difficulties sug-
ested by the executives and after
rolonSed discussion OF the situation
the Capitol with the members Of tho
pemocratic steering committee Of the
enate.
The proposition OF the railroad execu-
tvee was that an investigation of all
isucS be considered by Il commission
10 be named by the President the In
estigation TO las, for Il period OF three
four months. no action to be taken
y either side in the meantime. and at
he conclusion OF the inquiry the situa-
ion to be what IL now is. the employees
aving the choice of either arbitration
r striking. The brotherhood heads
romiscd reply tomorrow morning,
nd there was every indication II would
&c unfavornblc
tEQUEST FLATLY REFUSED
BY BROTHERHOOD HEADS
When the railroad brotherhood heads
resident not only laid before them the
Ian OF the executives, but strongly
Urged the withdrawal OF a tentative
trike order sent out yesterday. sub
ect to release, calling for Il walkou;
4 the 100000 members a. 4. NJ. on
.abor Day. September 4. This request
VAS natly refused. the leaders saying
,nly the committee Of $50. which lcf,
Washington yesterday, had power TO
ecall the order
Copies OF tic strike order were
brought to the Presidents attention
,fter they had gotten into the posses
sion of the railroad executives.
In spite of the apparent final failure
4 IF his efforts. the President was re-
ported tonight as being still hopeful
Rof averting n strike.
Although on the surface nation
vide railroad strike was nearer to-
inight than 1t had ever been, confidence
was expressed in official quarters that
1.-The steps under consideration would
.have the effect Of preventing tho walk
out. The President. realizing the dis
aster which would come to the country
! il the railroads arc tied up. was said
to be determined TO prevent a strike at
any cost. In his conferences with tho
Executives he strongly urged that they
|change their hitherto unyicldnE atti-
Itude, and when he saw the employees
the declared that all suggestions from
tthe executives should he given most
careful attention. Final arrangements s
for the appearance of the President
before Congress were not completed to-
might, but he discussed the question
fully with the Democratic steering
committee OF the Senate. and they
lagrecd with him that he should ad-
dress joint session.
TIME OF APPEARANCE
DEPENDS on CONFERENCES
The time Of his appearance depends
largely upon further conferences to-
morrow with the executives and the
employees.
At to o-days conference the railroad
conferees did not formally present the
statement agreed on by them last FRI
day night, which amounted 10 fiat
refusal OF his plan of settlement This
statement has been signed by all the
executives, but it's presentation was
withheld in the interest Of peace. The
President was informed generally of
it's terms. however.
Throughout the day there appeared
TO be some possibility that an agree
ment might be reached on Il plan which
would include concession of the eight
hour day, but postponement of It's ef-
|, fcctiveness until the railroads had had
an opportunity to prepare for II. Hope
Of persuading the railroad managers to
agree to such a plan had not been given
ltf tonight.
After their conference with Mr..
Wilson the executives gave out a state
ment In which they said they had laid
before the President a suggestion in
the nature of n proposition for progress
toward a solution Of the questions at
issue"
Although it seems certain that there
will be opposition from Representa-
tives In Congress to the Legislative sug-
gestions Of the President, administras
tion leaders think it will BIO possible to
get the laws through within n reason
able time.
The visit of the brotherhood heads
to the White House came within half
an hour after the President had left
(rhe Capitol. They hurried from their
[hSotel on foot to the executive mansion
and arrived shortly after Z o'clock,
while the President was at dinner.
Continued on Second Page.l