The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-08-18
R. R. HEADS TURN
DOWN W|LSON;
THEY'RE BITTER
White House Conference With
Railway Presidents Results
in No Agreement
OPPOSE s-HOUR DAY
BY ROBERT J. BENDER

BY ROBERT }. BENDth
WASHINGTON. Aug. Ia
a nationwide strike, tying up
all railroads OF the country
again looned up this afternoon.
ThIrty-one railway presidents
left the White House deter
mined. they said, not 10 accept
proposal by Pres. Wilson In
tended 70 avert such a ma
tional calamity" Fifteen min
utes later the GAO representa-
tives Of the employees an
rounced they had voted TO &C
eept the proposal.
After a morning session with tho
managers. I'm which the president's
proposals for a recognition of the
ghour day were fully discussed.
the railway heads went to the
White House in mood not at all
friendly to his plan Of settlement.
The 640 representatives OF tho
100000 railway employees compiet-
Ga their secret ballot on the presi-
dents plan at 1:f5 y. m. Formal
announcement OF the result was
withheld until 2:30. but the tellers
hinted that the men had accepted
TIE plan.
Hal Holden. president OF the
Burlington. was spokesman for the
railroad presidents who appeared
before the president lie was
chosen because he was a lawyer
and an effective speaker. lie Is
from the west and was therefore
regarded as immune from Wall
street influence. and this entered
into the choice lie WAS lieuten.
ant OF Jas. J. Hin for years.
Bitter Against Wilson
The executives contended--and
with bitterness--that the president
is arbitrarily trying to force down
the throats of the railroads an s.
hour working day before the FEAST
tility OF its application to railroad
operation has been investigated.
When railroad attempts TO In.
Crease its rates" one official said,
1T must first show good and suf-
ficient cause aud subject itself to =
thoro investigation. Why Is not
hat railroad entitled to show cause
why II should increase its salaries
TO employees before having to pay
those increases ?''
The session today was very
short. the president speaking only
briefly after putting up TO the men
his proposition for settlement.
Shake Hands
Pres. Holden presented each Of
lis colleagues to the president as
they entered the room. After shak.
ing hands with all of them. Pres.
Wilson indicated he was ready for
the conference to begin.
Holden opened the session by
stating the railroad executives ap-
proved in full everything done by
the railroad managers. in whom
they had vested the power-of-attor-
ney.
Want Arbitration
He said the roads felt in the pres
ent situation that they were fight
ing for the principle OF arbitration,
which. he said, was the only remains
ing protection not only for the roads
but for all other industries against
the aggression of labor.
Other Employers lndorse
The railroad presidents were re-
inforced by hundreds OF letters and
kilograms from big manufacturer
and employers. urging them to stand
firm.
The railroad presidents indicated
almost uniformly that when they
give their final answer to the presi.
dent, II will not be an acceptance
OF his proposal. Steps have already
been taken to continue the opera.
ton of their roads in the event Of
a strike Undertaking., one railroad
executive said today.