Evening star., 1916-08-25
DISAPPOINTED AT FAILURE
OF ROAD HEADS TO YIELD
Ultimatum of Recourse to Firmer
Measures Now Is
Prospect.
TWO BIG ISSUES CONCEDED
Eight-Hour Day and Arbitration
Accepted, But New Demand of
Lines for Guarantee of Increased
Rates Halts Compromise.

President Wilson wants the
railroad controversy definitely
settled by mutual agreement be-
fore tomorrow night. If the rail-
road presidents prove recalcitrant
today it is thought likely by those
in closest touch with the situation
that he will make this an ultima
tum to them.
He is making a last effort today
to effect an agreement without re-
course to fir1ner measures. If he
issues the ultimatum it will have
allowed two weeks during which
he has acted as personal mediator,
holding up all other executive
business and postponing cabinet
meetings that he might be unin-
numbered to give his closest at
tention to the strike controversy.
The President was disappointed
this morning that he was unable
to send positive word to the
brotherhood leaders that the
terms of compromise had been
arranged. So confident had he
been that this would be possible
that it is understood Judge Will
liam L. Chambers, United States
commissioner of mediation and
conciliation had assured the men
that they would have a message
from the President.
Synopsis of Conditions.
The simplest synopsis of conditions
today. according to officials close to
the President. is that the railroads
have been granted what they have
been contendng for for more than a
week, but that they now demand a
guarantee from the President that he
will force through Congress legislation
assuring them of increased rates and
the arbitration board in this session.
This the President feels he cannot do.
The railroads had conceded the eight
hour day and based all their conten-
tions on the question of arbitration
Then the brotherhoods had been per-
suaded to withdraw their demands for
time and a half for overtime; but this
did not suit the railroads. since those
demands might be renewed at any
time The railroads held out for sub
mission of all contingent issues. in
cluding the time -a-half demand
and their own counter propositions, to
arbitration.
Judge Chambers. acting under instruc-
tions from President Wilson. yesterday
prevailed upon the brotherhood leaders
after a strenuous session to accept the
arbitration plan When the White House
sent word to the railroad leaders through
Judge Chambers, and later when he talked :
direct with the subcommittee OF three
Presidents Holden. Willard and Lovett-
II was learned for the first time that the
railroad presidents proposed to hold out
for an absolute guarantee that the legis.
lation they demand snail be passed
through Congress at this session 1t is
understood that they previously had
promise from the President that he would
do all he could personally and properly
as President to see that their stipulations
were carried out
Two Big Issues Conceded.
The two big issues of the controversy
have been conceded by both parties. the
eight hour day and arbitration.
From the first the President has held
that the eight-hour day was lifted out
of the atmosphere of arbitration. He
publicly declared it was sanctioned by
society. In so declaring he felt this
was proved by the direct votes of the
neople of the country. and that as
president he must execute such a wish.
Congress, which must in some measure,
he felt, represent the opinion OF the
neople, had decalred for an eight
hour day; all government employees
we're put on an eight-hour schedule.
all government contracts based on an
eieht-hour day stipulation. Again.
the progressive platform in 1912 de-
clared for an eight-hour day and its
candidate got almost as many votes
as Mr.. Wilson, and again this year the
party platform has de-
clared for an eight-hour day. Under
these conditions, close Friends of the
President say, he felt he could not
view the eight-hour day as arbitrable.
In explaining his attitude in reply to
the statement of the railroad managers
the President said he IA
yored the principle of arbitration for
settlement of all industrial disputes. In
proof of this he persuaded the commit
tee representing the employees to agree
to the counter proposal from the rail-
roads that all contingent issues includ-
ing the time-and-a-half overtime and
the railroads counter propositions. be
settled by arbitration.
What Employees Want.
70 .rhitration comes-and there Is
strong probability that it will be ac-
employees want the investi-
ration based on a ten-year period