New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-16

learned later that he made NO, speeinc
proposal TO them whatsoever, put s"s-
gested various plans.
In this connection Austin h. Carrot
son, spokesman for the unions, let inc
President understand that TINS oooy oi
delegates would have TO get the sane
ton Of the whole group OF e0o salus,-
before any concessions could be maue
! in the demands Of the employees.
II il expected tonight that that
stumbling block will be removed II the
President has his way. NO douet the
delegations word would be final with
The entire group Of railroad chairmcn'
hut they have the excuse to ofer ii
settlement not 20 their liking Is pro-
posed.
In order 10 meet this, II Is probable
that the President will ask that the
coo men come to Washington so that
whatever action is taken may pc
/ broached TO the union body as a
whole. At any rate. the four chlefs
and the delegates from the chairmen
expect to remain in Washington until
the present conferences end in set
| Element or strike.
Union Chiefs Keep Silent.
Garretson and his associates. W.
s. Carter, Warren s. Stone. and W. u;
Lee are keeping their own counseI
about what goes on IN the Whlte
House when they are present. but II
is very apparent that they are the
most optimistic of all concerned IN
the controversy.
Tonight the delegates were prepar-
ing TO spend tomorrow on other things
than the business in hand, while the
President is wrestling with the rail-
road managers. Garretson, however,
was corralled for few minutes when
he left the President this afternoon by
the besieging army of reporters. g.,
"There is nothing that can be SAID
gentlemen" he protested. holding, up
his hands forbiddingly. The President
is still in the saddle and l am not say
ing a word until he gets out Of IT,
"Are the negotiations still orr he
was asked.
"They certainly are"
[ "Are you coming back to see the
President again."
To See Wilson Again.
a few days more, | guess.
as there any change in the situa-
ton from what it was last nightT
Absolutely not bit"
"Are you still hopeful Of settle
ment?"
"Well. now" he drawled, scratching
his head, "let me see. You know what
the Bible says abou: the lamp of hop'.
1t is still burning and will continue TO
burn until somebody kicks 1t over.
That's all can say about that"
"Have any definite propositions been
presented to you by the PresidentT
"Not one"
"Have you made any proposition p
1--WE have stated our case"
"How about arbitration
"You remember what we said about
arbitration before. There is nothing
more that can say about it now
1t may be said positively for the
union officials that they have not yield.
ed one iota. The President knows and
they know that they are trying to take
advantage now of an opportunity that
has been growing for thirty years.
They are playing their cards we'll. Inc
cards are in their hands, however, and
the other players, the President, and
the railroads know that the employees
are not bluffing a bit. Whether they
can be persuaded by any power IN tne
Presidents hands to throw down their
hand remains to be seen, and 1t is
extremely doubtful that they will un'
less the other side quits first.
1t is also almost certain that unless
the President can force q concession
flom the railroad managers which
rneans that the men will get an elght-
hour day Internationally the strike
vote that the four brotherhood chiefs
are carrying around in their pockets
will take effect in the form Of an or
der TO the various brotherhood locals
TO quit their trains at certain hour
on a certain date.
The only thing that is stopping that
move is the fact that the President OF
the United States is the man who is
trying to effect a settlement that may
make strike unnecessary.
al should say" commented Garretson
this morning, that in one minute after
the strike hour had arrived the trans
portation facilities of the United States
would be paralyzed. 1t will not take
much longer than that at any rate. We
are not worrying about funds. We have
money a-plenty. AS for the mails, it
! is the railroads who have the contracts
to do that, not the men. / don't see
that we have any reason TO supply men
for this. They will have to find them"
Mails a Grave Problem.
This particular problem, finding men
to man trains, supposing that the situa-
ton reaches that stage, is a problem
that is worrying not only the railroad
managers themselves but the Presi-
dent. The desperate position in which
| the President has been placed by the
impending strike emphasizes the enor-
nifty of the task before him. What he
would do or could do in the event that
| all his efforts to bring about an agree