New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-15
Report to President To-Day
BrotherhOods Optimistic Over
Developments.
FAVORABLE LEGISLATION
OFFERED FOR 8-HOUR DAY
Law to Ease Burden of Higher Wages
Part of Proposal to Avert
Great Strike.
[From Staff Correspondent Of The Tribune.l

GFrom Staff Correspondent Of The Tribunel
Washington, Aug 14The success or failure OF President
attempt avert general railroad strike depends TO-
night on the conference committee railway managers They
meeting session that may last until morning to con-
slider settlement proposal submitted to them by the President
this afternoon.
The four great boherhoods of employees tentatively have
agreed proposal and its approval by the managers COM
mee would probably prevent industrial that
the country
Shortly before midnight leaders of the road said
that while their conference might continue several hours they
would have no announcement make before tomorrow.
The President himself optimistic. His entire day
devoted this supreme task of trying to bring the two SEEM
ngy reconciabe forces together broad proposition
which must rely arbitration board for its detailed ex
ecuon Diplomatic persuasion sugarcoated threats, yelled
promises the sheer power of the Presidents intellect all
brought bear the interest of the nations welfare punctu
his meetings with each side 1t is the belief at the White
House tonight that the effort will win
Situation Extremely Tense
On the other hand all in the controversy realize
that the situation extremely tense According to the best in
formation available rejection by the railroads would bring
strike Few willing believe however, that the
managers knowing that the situation is in their hands, will
dare thwar the Presidents by refusing to accede to
his wishes.
The conference committee will give him its reply at nine
o'clock the morning Another conference between the Presi
employees has been arranged to follow that meeting
secrecy The brotherhood chiefs and the delegation of ADJUST
ment charmen would say absolutely nothing about their meet
ing with the President in the morning Silence too was man
tanned by the railroad when they left the Presidents
study the afternoon The only statement that from
the White House this from President Wilson himself:
81 have both sides and have gone the with
the utmost frankness shall not be able to Judge until tomor
row whether we feasible basis for settlement
President Makes Appeal.
The Presidents proposal largely appeal. He did
not attempt shift and the demands of the and the
proposals their employers He simply asked them to
come together weigh their several interests in the bal
with the ENORMOUS hardshps that precpitae action by
either would nict upon the country millions of people He
listened patiently to the presentation OF each ones case he
knew mnutey before each spokesman uttered word Con-
sequenty prepared meet them in better spirit than
the Mediation Board had met them in New York
Definite Proposal Formed.
The outcome of all that definite proposal
took form the conference progressed 1t is impossible to
exactly tonight the details of this proposal but The
Tribune correspondent informed reliably that the settle
ment in mind contained substantially the following
The men to receive promise of eghhour day:
Their demand for time and half pay for overtime
to be arbitrated.
The railroads to waive certain counter proposals
presented in their to the employees demands.
.he financial loss entaied by the proposed change
to eight-hour working day to be mn,mized by the
arrangement be worked out later, providing for the
execution of the eight-hour schedule graduated
scale, probably extending a period of years.
A promise to the railroads of legislation that will
tend to assist them revng their schedules meet
ing the burdens imposed upon them by the eight-hour
day working basis.
Much Speculation in Capital.
Washington is reveing in speculation upon what took
the Presidents meetings One report had it that the
President himself had been asked to arber of the i'm
pending difficulties This emphatcally denied But it
learned positively that the discussions of the and the
managers with the President did the scope method