The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-08-26
TO BE SUBMITTED
. TO WILSON TODAY
Holds To Arbitration And
May Not Be Accepted
Situation Is Now
Critical

WASHINGTON. D. c.. Aug. 25-
After the heads OF the four great rail
road Brotherhoods threatening q na-
tion-wide strike had gone 10 the White
House to-day with warning that
their men would not wait longer than
tomorrow night for reply from the
railroad executives 10 President VIII
sons suggestion that an elght-houf
day be granted, the executives TO-
night agreed upon counter proposal
to be submitted to the President TO-
morrow. This plan. holding to the de-
mand for arbitration. which the en-
ployes have declared they unalteFaoly
oppose, proposes:
That the question Of an elgat-hour
day is not directly connected with the
matter at issue, and that mere is, Is
difference between an actual elg1.'
hour day and an eight.hour day asa
basis for, pay. -.
That questions Of increases OF
wages are indiSputably questions
which should be settled by arbitra-
lion.
That the present demands OF the
,rainnen De submitted TO arbitration
by TIE Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. or SONG board. 70 be created by
the President. or N some other way.
That if the arbitrating board finds
wage increases should be granted,
their finding will be retroactive and
the increase will take effect from the
tine the arbitration begins.
That a fund shall be created by the
railroads 10 provide for this con'in-
gency. the Interstate Commerce Com.
mission to keep the accounts that VIII
be necessary and the arrangement to
continue in force for time not yet
determined upon. the men agreeing
that during the period Of arbitration
there shall be no further demands nor
any attempt TO strike.
Draft Approved.
A draft of this report was submit
ted tonight by the committee or eight
presidents vino have been constantly
at work upon its various phases tor
week There wa; Sonle QrScu5SlCA.out
ONLY one vote va taken and by Il the
sixty presidents and tGe managers ap-
proved the draft. Some slight addI-
lions 10 the phra >eology are 20 o-
made and the final draft presented at
another meeting tomorrow morning
From that inseilaS the report IS en-
pected TO be taken 20 President IL
son. II was said Tonight this will De
the final report o. the executives.
1T puts the issue squarely up TO the
men" was the way one otf!cla!
phrased it. .-
The crisis in the situation IS eE-
pect-d b, noon Tomorrow when the
Presideu: has AZ engagement; 70 sec
Tie brotherhood leaders. Some or the
executives said ;hat whils the pro
posai would not give the meG more
:hsn 2n per cen; Increase n wages
provided for IN ettccf N President
Wilson's pian. II pho0abiy would give
IL. increase OF over - per cent.
Throughout the discussion the exec
ltive$ took the position that the Ques-
ton Of the ei~hr hour day was entirely
one o. wages rather than OF principle.
voted formally on President Wilson 5
Dian as a whole, but that all OF their
discussion had shown that II could
no, be accepted II its entirety.
The plan now agreed on will be the
first presented b: the executives since
the negotiations began.
Against Arbitration
Leaders of the brotherhoods could
not be reached tonight for discussion
OF the railroads proposals but among
rhe men the sentiment was plainly
against the idea OF arbitration. The
fact that the railroads have made a
proposal was taken as an encouraging
sign that this might form the basis
for further negotiations. One Of them
said as consequence be expected the
discussion to continue until the mid
die of next week or possibly longer
Although the railroad presidents
would NOT attempt 10 forecast how
their counter proposition would be re-
ceived by the men. some Of them were
inclined to believe the brotherhoodS
would decide that much had been con.
ceded and that it would be losing
(Contirued on Page TwelVe.)