Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-18
RAILROADS REFUSE
EIGHT HOUR DAY
CONTINUED from Page One,)

NNO44IA41ttCA 4O4ll L cISoS O4IC5(
ident tomorrow, will ask that they be
given several days, perhaps a, week of
more, to consider their course. 1t was
emphasized 10y those of the officials
who arrived tonight, however, that all
of these plans were tentative. A score
who came from New York on a special
train went into session son after their
arrival with the managers committee
and it was said that one of the posi-
blllties under consideration was the
preparation of a statement TO be given
out before their visit to the president,
putting their position before the coun-
try.
No Predictions by r. R. Presidents.
While the railroad presidents would
not make any predictions until they
famiHarized themselves with the sit
uation here, there was moro than one
indication that it would take a, srong
appeal TO induce them TO reverse tho
attitude that has been taken by their
representatives on the managers COM
mittee. Asked whether the managers
would be backed up in their decision,
President Daniel E. Willard of the
Baltimore and Ohio said:
u assume they win be-
TWO Plans Being Considered.
Two plans are being, considered for
the makeup or the proposed commits
sion in case the presidents plan is aC-
ceDteG. The first provides fer the ap-
pOIntne1t 81 ali three members, if
that should be the size of the commits
sion, by the president and the other
for the selection of one OF the mem
bers by him and of the other two
railroad employers and employees, re-
spectiVely. The plan as presented by
the president TO the employees was
couChed in general terms and did not
so into details.
1t is proposed that the commission
be given power to summon witnesses
and examine books in order TO arrive
at the true cost Of the proposed plan
to the railroads. Suggestions have
been made that the commission be
made permanent.
Conference Lasted an Hour.
The conference between the presi-
dent and the general committee of en-
plOyes lasted about an hour After
the members Of the committee had
assembled in the east room they were
Introduced to the president by Mr..
Ea1TejSon spokesman. In q short
speech Mr.. GarretsOn pointed Ouc that
the presidents position in summOning
representatives of a large number OF
WorkinSmcr to the White House with
out others present for q discussion &C
4 labor problem stood unparalleled.
The employees remained undemonstTa-
tive during the remarks of Mr.. Garrett
son and the president. At the conclu-
sion Of the meeting they formed in
line and shook hands with MI Will
son. Many smiled broadly as they left
the White House.
Avoided at Any Cost.
In his talk 10 the men the presi-
dent explained his feeling that strike
must be avoided at any cost because
of the distress to the country. He
said after reviewing the situation
thoroughly with small committees rep
resenGng the employees and the en-
blowers he had 11-a a rIo lob,
he thought was fair to both sides and
which he hoped would be accepted by
both.
The president declared he believed in
the principle OF the eight hour day and
that he thought the greater part of the
people Of the United States held a
similar view. He also sought to i'm
press on the men that he knew what
1t meant to work for a living. He
said he had learned early in life the
trials of making bOLh ends meet"
Collateral Issue Pulling.
Regarding the collateral issues, the
president admitted that he was at a
loss to say how they should be set
tied. If the question of overtime and
other problems we're left to him. he
said, he would have to- ask for a COM
mission to help him decide what would
be fair. He added that in lis belief
there were enough honest men in the
United States to decide these questions
fairly to both sides and that they
would do 50 if called on.
At the conclusion Of the presidents
talk, the four brotherhood heads uues-
toned him in order to bring out all
the points for the benefit of the mem
bers of the general committee who
have not been at the previous White
House conferences
If the men desired, the president
said, just before they left, they could
i'm the which ~ Il