Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-22
SITUATION to
Be DISCUSSED AGAIN
At TODAY'S MEETING
Executives United
Against Wilson's Plan, but
Are Planning to Present
Counter Proposal
(By Associated Press.)


WASHINGTON, Aug. 21.=President
Wilson today reiterated to the railroad
executives, including the new arrivals
from the west, his demand that they ac-
cept his plan for the settlement of the
threatened railroad strike. The ex-
ecutives then began the first of a series
of meetings in which they will frame
their reply.
WASHINGTON. Aug 21-President
Wilson called the railroad presidents to
the White Hduse again this afternoon
for another conference
1t had been expected there would he
no further move until tomorrow, but
when the western men began arriving
today the railway managers found that
all the executives who could reach the
capital within reasonable time already
had arrived. They so advised the White
House and the president invited them to
a conference at 2:30 o'clock
The railway heads spent several hours
today trying to devise some form of set
| Element of the threatened strike which
would still preserve the principle of ar
bitration, and be one which President
Wilson could prevail upon the men to
accept
presidents were prepared to make at the
White House was for legislation to Gre
ate a board or commission to investigate
when trouble threatens between railroad
employers and employees.
Under such a plan the board would be
created by act of congress and would
probably be empowered to examine wit.
nesses to determine the merits of any
controversy. Pending its investigation
the employees would not be permitted to
strike or to take strike vote. After
the board had reached it's conclusions
from the facts a public report would be
made and there would be an opportun-
ity for arbitration, but it would not be
compulsory.
If arbitration were refused the board
would send to each employee of the
railroad interested statement of the
railroads position in the matter, the
employees position and the boards find
/ ings. These statements would be before
every employee when he came to vote on
strike and opportunity would be given
for a secret ballot-The- men would~vote4.
directly on the question of a strike. I'm
der the present system the balloting il
not secret and the men vote to delegate
the power of declaring strike to broth
erhood officers.
1t was understood that the railroad
executives were not yet ready to present
their final answer today to the president
on his plan. The conference this after
noon was arranged to allow the officials
who arrived here today to get the presi-
dents viewpoint first hand.
AS the railroad presidents entered the
White House. Hale Holden, their spokes-
man. said the executives already here
had sought to maintain open minds on
the entire question, but that after Presi-
dent Wilson had explained his plan thor
oughly to the new arrivals, considera
tion of all questions involved would be
begun with the object of reaching a
final decision.
The railroad presidents were consid-
ering under what circumstances they
could find a way to accept the eight
hour day basis, and still conserve the
| principle of arbitration, which has be-
come the crux of the whole fight. West
ern railroad presidents arriving here to-
day seemed confident that a way would
be found to avert the strike. No con-
/ ference between President Wilson and
the railway executives is expected be-
| fore tomorrow afternoon.
The emn. after brief meeting today,
adjourned until tomorrow awaiting de.
/ velopments and meanwhile sent dele
gates to congressman to acquaint them
with the details of the controversy.
The situation continued, as both sides
expressed it, serious but not hopeless.
President Wilson holds firmly to arbi-
tration as principle in the present CON-
troversy. He has so informed George
Pope, president of the National Manu-
facturers' association, in response to a
telegraphic appeal from the latter that
the principle of arbitration be preserved
in the strike negotiations. The road Of
fcials have contended that the principle
of arbitration would be endangered by
his plan of settlement. The president,
however declares that his plan has
strengthened rather than weakened it.
President Wilson had before him to-
day numerous kilograms from business
men and trade bodies urging that he in
sist on arbitration. 1t was said official
ly, however, that the appeals would be
without effect on him since he had fall
ed in his effort to bring about arbitra-
ton and had no way of forcing it.
The western railway presidents, sum-
moned Saturday, began coming in this
morning. Louis W. Hill, of the Great
Northern, principal heir to the. vast
properties of the late James ]. Hill, and
z. P. Ripley, the veteran president of
the Santa Fe, were among the first.
Neither had any statement to make
The incoming executives conferred
with those already here and with the
managers committee to familiarize
themselves with the negotiations SO far
All the western presidents are expected
before tomorrow noon. By that time
it is expected about 100 railway heads
representing properties valued at about
ten billion dollars will be assembled for
the next conference with the president
EMPLOYEES HOLD MEETING.
The brotherhood representatives held
a brief meeting in their hall today, but
transacted no business. A few tele-
grams approving their stand In the stu
alton were read and adjournment was
taken until 10 o'clock tomorrow morn
ing.
The meeting decided that brotherhood
members should call on senator's and
representa- tives from their own states
and acquaint Them with the details of
the mems side. President Carter, of
the engineers. was the only official who
attended the session.
Some of the incoming railway presi-
dents We're more optimistic about the
situation than those already here. One
of the western men declared that if his
road alone were involved he unques-
tionably would resist the demands of the
men to the last. but he considered the
~,,I nd Fnv hat