The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-17
Chambers Meets President.

arriving In washington tOuOTToW.t+
Chambers Meets President.
At IL o'clock, after comforting with
the employees. Judge Chambers went
to the white house, He took some
additional statistics to the president.
further data showing the effects of
the application of the eight hour day
to railroad revenues. He said the
president in formulating the PROPOSE
ton he will make to both sides de-
sired full details Of the possible
effect on both the working conditions
and railroad incomes.
AS to the outlook Chambers would
not express himself.
Chambers message from the presi-
dent to the employees today asked
how the men understood his proposal.
This was carefully explained and
Chambers informed them that they
had not mistaken the chief execu-
tive's position.
To Accept Presidents Idea.
One OF the foremost leaders of the
employees said: 1T appears very much
as though the managers intend to
stand pat. We are perfectly willing
they should do that, as long as the
president stands as judge between
the parties. One little statement from
him placing the responsibility for any
failure to get together would be some
thing that neither side can afford to
face. AS for us. we came here with
the idea of accepting what President
Wilson regards as fair"
The employees will accept no tenn
porary settlement of major issues,
another leader said. The question of
the eight hour day, he said, must be
determined finally, though he admit
ted that perhaps a board Of investi-
cation or other subjects of less i'm
portance would be acceptable to the
men.
When informed that the president
had summoned the railroad presi-
dents to appear, one of the employees
leaders said: Il had been expecting
that
A meeting of the district chairmen
was called for one o'clock this after
noon at the Bijou theatre. In this
meeting they planned to consider
very fully the presidents position.
Preparing for Conference.
[Ry Robert ]. Bender, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-THE his
toric east room of the white house
was ready today for the enactment OF
what may be one OF the closing Incl
dents in the titanic struggle between
the four powerful brotherhoods OF
railway employees and the operators
Of the railways OF the United States.
Six hundred and forty district
chairmen OF the railway workers are
here to meet the president this after
noon in the east room. The presidnt
has ready for them his suggestion OF
a solution of the situation that has
menaced the country for the past sew
eral weeks.
The definite terms OF the presidents
proposal are not known, but the basic
idea Is an agreement to be made be-
tween the railroads and the brother
hoods, whereby the eight hour day
shall go into effect at once. With
this in effect the question OF methods
OF enforcing it-whether by means of
the time and half for overtime or by
some other means-will be made the
subject Of Investigation and adjust.
mnt with the federal government
perhaps taking part in the adjustment.
The railroad brotherhoods have in
sisted steadily that there is no other
0Il0Cl1Fo motuOU OI cnOiCiHS LAG
eight hour day
The presidents problem, II the
railroads definitely concede the eight
hour principle to the extent of agree
ing to give it a trial-seems to be to
convince the railroad men that the
time and a half overtime issue should
be held in allegiance during the trial
period.
Interest in Session.
Interest rested chiefly in the sol
emn session this afternoon in the
beautiful room celebrated only for at
fairs Of social splendor from the days
when Dolly Madison danced, down to
the present The gorgeous state fur
niture was removed, and camp chairs
crowded closely together on the pol
ished floor. The session beginning at
three O'Clock was expected to last an
hour and possibly two or three.
The employees representatives were
serious and for the most part silent
as the time approached for their gath
ering at the white house. What they
are prepared to concede, no one would
say. Some Of the leading members
of the general committee indicated
their belief that way was about to
ho found m preyent the clash that