Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-25
NO CHANGE IN
RAILROAD ROW
Heads of Lines and Brother
hoods Fail to Reach
Agreement.
PRESIDENT CALLS
MORE CONFERENCES

son, Spokesman For Employees, Says
No Concrete Plan Has Been Pre-
sented to Which Railroad ds Will Agree
Washington, Aug. 25.-The railway
strike negotiations resolved themselves
today, outwardly at least, into more
or less confused state. Expressions of
optimism from both sides We're not So
free as they were yesterday and feeling
heretofore among the manager that 2
plan to include the eight-hour day
would be found was not SO evident.
Some Of the railroad executives re-
verted to their former stand that it
would never be conceded.
All parties to the conferences stead
fastly refused to say what was talked
about.
The railroad executives conferred
among themselves during the day and
it was thought possible they might &c
to the White House. They issued this
statement:
"The executives are understood to be
studying form Of communication
to the president.
Some of the more optimistic had
hopes of decision being reached be-,
fore tomorrow night. The executives
and managers devoted practically no
time today to consideration of freight
rate increases or settlement Of future
strikes but centered on the length OF
the working day and pay.
( The brotherhood heads, declared they
had not changed their attitude a
particle.
Washington, Aug. 25.-President Will
son summoned representatives Of en-
ployes and employers involved in the
threatened railroad strike to the White
House to confer on proposals for q
settlement.
Arrangements were made for repre-
sentatives OF the employees to SET the
president at 1896 o'clockss and Of rep-
resentatives of the employers later.
. Commissioners Chambers of tan fed
eral mediation board held asbrief con-
ference with the president early this
morning.
The four brotherhood heads said they
did not know why they had beer called
by the president. 1t was understood the
president wanted to ge; their views on
legislation under consideration to pre-
vent such controversy in the future.
No Change in Situation.
The four brotherhood leaders re-
manned with the president an hour and
half. The president kept the cabinet
waiting for an hour to continue his con-
ference with the railroad men.
The situation insofar as we are
concerned" A. B. Garretson, spokes-
man for the employees, later said, "is
absolutely unchanged. No concrete
proposition to which the roads will
agree has been rendered u.s. Our posi-
tion is exactly the same as it was when
we accepted the presidents plan. We
have deviated from it in no way what
soever."
Wilson Propaganda.
The brotherhood leaders went from
the White House to report to meet
Ing of the men. but insisted they had
nothing particular to communicate.
w. G. Lee, Of the trainmen, gave out
copies Of an order which, he said, had
been sent by the Northern Pacific to
the station agents, directing them to
get local interests to telegraph the
president to settle the differences by
other means than arbitration.
The kilograms, Mr.. Lee declared,
were to be paid for by the road, and
We're evidence, Mr.. Lee declared, Of q
propaganda of the presidents plan.
No Hope From Congress.
The railroads have stated tley pre-
.er the application Of the CANADIAN
commission plan to conditions in the
United States. But with the democrats
anxious to have congress adjourn in
order that they may begin political
campaigning and the republicans
threatening to conduct flibuster
against any railroad legislation of this
kind. it is apparent that such compre-
hensive legislation cannot be hoped for
during the present session.
It also is pointed out by the railroad
officials that, while the president has In
dicated his willingness to have the in
terstate commerce commission consider
an increase in freight rates, they have
no guarantee and the president cannot
give any guarantee that the commission
will authorize the increase.
It is conceivable that congress might
increase the membership of the Inter-
state commerce commission, which
would place Mr.. Wilson's appointees in
the majority and make the body more
responsive to the views of the chief ex-
ecutive.
Prefer Board Inquiry.
The road officials say it would be pre-
ferable for congress specifically to di-
r the commission to make an inves-
tigation into the relations Of the roads
and their employees and specifically con-
slider the question of hours and wages.
Moreover, the road officials point out
that an investigation into tho propriety
Of an advance in rates would take
months, and, IL the eight-hour day
should go Immediately into operation
the lines would be compelled to bear
the burden Of an increase OF compensa-
tion amounting to from 20 to rs per cent
without the slightest prospect Of re-
coupling the expenditure
The railroads also assert that they
are not as prosperous as the country
has believed.
Edmund Pennington, president of the
Minneapolis, st. Paul and Sault Ste.
Marie railway. with the approval of the