The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-08-18
President Fails After Another Day
Of Conferences To Find Any
Basis Disagreement That Might
AVrIt industrial Catastrophe
SITUATION DIFFICULT:
APPARENTLY HOPELESS
National Guard In Mobilization
Camps Detained and Railroad
Managers and Brotherhoods
Determined To Stand Ground
'tAssoctatsd Press by Federal wirslsssl


WI WASHINGTON August I6.-with
w the threatened strike of nearly
- half million members of the
four big railroad brotherhoods more
menacing than ever, President Wilson
and his advisers are bending every Of.
fort to avert industrial catastrophe
The feeling of optimism which was
marked the day before chilled yester.
day when the news of the failure of
the President to find a basis of agree
ment between the managers of the
lines and the leaders of the workers
was published.
The efforts of Mr.. Wilson succeeded,
however, it was said, in laying
groundwork for further negotiations
This is regarded as holding out some
hope that the railroads will set the
demands of the men, although all hope
that the issues between the brother
hoods and the railroad managers can
be reduced to an arbitration basis has
about been abandoned.
Railroads Are oonciliatory
1t is felt in some circles that the
arrangements of the lines are begin
ming to show Indications of a willing
ness to meet the demand for an eight
hour day, with time and a-half' for all
overtime work. This is the chief con-
tention between the railroads and
their employees, and this point settled
little difficulty would be found, it is
asserted, in bringing the whole trouble
to a satisfactory conclusion.
The subcommittee Of the railroads,
yesterday, after the conference with
President Wilson, sent to New York
for the $40 members of the general
committee, urging them to come to
Washington as speedily as possible. II
is believed likely that the entire com.
mittee will call on the President next
Friday.
Indications of the seriousness of the
situation came to light yesterday when
the government issued orders to nation.
al guard regiments about to leave the
mobilization camps for the border to
remain where they were until further
instructions.
When Dissatisfaction Began
The long-brewing dissatisfaction of
the members of the railroad brothers
came to head last March when lead
eTs of the unions presented a demand
for an eight hour day and time and. a
half for all overtime. Conferences
called in New York between the rail,
roads and Their employees failed to reach
any settlement, although the roads
made what they called a "tentative
proposition" which granted the de
mand for an eight.hOur day but refused
all the other demands. This proposal
was declined by the men, and the whole
matter was submitted to the members
of, the bTOtheThOOds.
In the vote that followed the major
ity was overwhelming for strike. 1t
was here that the President stepped
in and offered his services as a media
tor between the two parties. The lead.
ers of the brotherhoods-the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers, the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen, the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen and the Brother
hood of Railroad Conductors, pointed
out that the strike vote did not ne.
cessarily mean that a strike would be
ordered at once, and promised that ev-
cry means in their power would be
exhausted before resort to a strike.
Demands Affect Only Freight
In statements issued by the railroad
heads, following the breakup of the
conference it was held that the eight
hour day demanded by the men did not
actually mean Il shorter workday but
rather an increase of twenty five per
cent over existing wages for the same
amount of work, and an increase in
many cases of eighty-seven and half
per cent for overtime as compared
with present rates. The demands per
tain only to freight and not to passen,
ger service.
The railroads maintained that to al
low the increase would add 100000,
900 a year TO the operating expenses
of all roads in the United States, "fOr
the benefit of men whose average pay
per day was increased for thirty to for
ty-twO per cent from 1903 to 1914.
while the wages of the western engi-
neers were further increased in 1918. ]"
The men = proposition subr tied Mt
the conference provided that 100 miles
or less, or eight hours or less should
constitute day, with overtime begin
ming at the expiration of eight hours
on runs of less than 100 miles, and
as soon as 100 miles had been run on
longer trims. oVartimP to be computed
at one and one half times the pro rata
rate no one to receive less than thew
previously received for a minimum
day. The men were to be guaranteed
the right to retain any rates of pay