Evening star., 1916-08-21
WESTERN EXECUTIVES
IN THE DELEGATION
Final Reply From Chiefs of Nations
Carriers Not Expected
Today.
COUNTER PROPOSAL LIKELY
Situation Is Regarded as Being g.
- rious, But Not Hopeless-Belief
Grows Settlement Will
Be Reached.

Fifty railroad presidents who
are now in Washington are again
in conference with President Will
son at the White House this after
noon. They went to the White
House at 2:3o o'clock at the
urgent request of the President.
though they had not expected to
see him today and probably not
tomorrow. The Presidents invi-
tation came to them shortly after
noon when they were discussing
the situation with the newly ar
rived western railroad leaders.
The railroad executives went into
the White House conference de-
termined to make no statement
unless they were urged to do so
by the President.
Cause for Conference.
The cause for calling the conferences
today, according to White House senti-
ment. il that the President may havs
chance to talk directly to the more re-
cent arrivals, impressing them with his
own personality and zeal for e settle-
ment before their minds have been
prejudfced against his proposal in con-
ferences with the other railroad ON
cials.
1t is not expected that there will be
any final reply made by the railroad
today. No definite action 10
expected The impression gained
strength today. however. that some
time this week, and probably by We'd
nesday, the railroad officials will have
been persuaded to submit to the Presi-
dents proposal with some modifica-
tions.
Other Officials Arrive.
More than a dozen railroad leaders
reached Washington today and par
ticipated in conferences striving to
reach some agreement by which the
Presidents main proposal for an eight
hour basic day may be accepted. and
at the same time the principle of ar
may be preserved and the
strike averted.
There were fifty railroad presidents
here today. Among the latest arrivals
were Louis W. Hill of the Great North
ern, son and principal heir of the vast
properties of the great railroad builder.
the late James j. Hill. and e. p. Ripley,
the veteran president of the Sante Fe,
lean of all the railroad presidents, who
is seventy-one years old. -
Leaders of the railroad executives
declared they were united against the
plan as it stands. but hoped
to work out some form of counter pro-
posal that would satisfy the President
and be accepted by the brotherhood
The railroad presidents
were considering under what circum-
stances they could find a way to ao-
,ept the eight hour day and still main
tain the principle of arbitration. which
is now the crux of the whole fight.
seemed confident that such a middle
course might be reached through sin
cere efforts on both sides to reach a
that will preserve the pub
ic welfare
Proposed Commission.
One suggestion the railroad presi-
tents were prepared to make at the
White House was for legislation to
.reate a board or commission to in
,estigate when trouble threatens be-
ween railway employers and employees.
Under such a plan the board would
,e created by act of Congress, and
would probably be empowered to ex-
mine witnesses to determine the
merits of any controversy. Pending
is investigation the employees would
strike vote After the board had
cached its conclusions from the facts
public report would be made and
here would be an opportunity for ar
,itration, but it would not be COM
,ulsory. If arbitration were refused
4 the railroad interested a statement
4 the railroads position in the mat
er. the employees position and the
cards findings These statements
would be before every employe when
e came to vote on a strike, and op-
would be given for a secret
allot. The men would vote directly
n the question of strike. Under
he present system the balloting is
ot secret, and the men vote to dele
ate the power of declaring a strike
o brotherhood officers.
SERIOUS, But Not Hopeless"
AS both sides expressed it, the ,situa.
ion continued serious but not hope
,ss."
All the western presidents are ex.
ected before tomorrow. There will be
etween sixty and one hundred, de-
ending on whether the President in.
ties all Of the list of seventy laid be-
,re him by the committee Of man.
rers. When they are assembled they
in represent here properties valued
more than $4,000. 100000. and viii
4 in this respect the most imposing
elexation that has visited the White
ouse In many years.
Among the railroad executives axriv.
.g today were e. T. Kearney, prssi-
mt Of the wabash; c. e. Scha1, pred.
ent Of the Missouri, Ka9sas and
exas; Jacob NJ. Dicklnsd formsr
ocretary o1 WArs Xho - G46o1goe IT,