River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-08-17
NEGOTIATIONS ENTIRELY IN WILL
SONS HANDS SPOKESMAN FOR
EMPLOYEES SAYS FOLLOWING
CONFERENCE AT CAPITOL.
NEW HOPE OF AVERTING
GENERAL TIE-UP Is SEEN
Brotherhood Leaders Smiling Broadly
at End of Parley-Were TO See
President Again After His Talk
With Railway Managers.
Proposals Made.

Washington, Aug Is. = President
Wilson conferred with both parties to
the threatened countrywide railway
strike and it appeared that sufficient
foundation had been laid to furnish a
working basis for a settlement Of the
differences of the employees and en-
ployers. The President will meet both
sides again today.
At the conclusion of the days con-
ferences the President issued this
statement:
II have met both sides and have
gone over the case with the utmost
frankness / shall not be able to Judge
until today whether we have found
q feasible basis for settlement"
Wilson Summons Managers.
Immediately after learning the en-
pIoyes' position the President sum-
moned the committee of managers and
held a long conference with them.
They left the White House to confer
among themselves thruout the night
IL necessary ard the general under
standing was that they discussed the
tingency" proposals and submitting a
proposition without strings" as de-
manded by the men.
May Agree to Compromise.
While representatives of the en-
ployes insisted that they had not yet
agreed to arbitrate any feature Of
their differences, there was a growing
impression that arbitration or some
form of compromise would be agreed
upon. At no time, it was said, did the
representatives of the men indicate
that unless their demands were
granted unqualifiedly they would go
on strike.
Both sides refused absolutely to
discuss their meeting with the Presi-
dent or venture any forecast on the
probable outcome of the negotiations,
but leaders of the two factions were
optimistic that a strike would be
avoided.
For Concrete Working Basis.
The President, it was declared, made
no compromise propositions to either
side. He merely listened to the en-
ployes' representatives and then talk
ed with the managers and suggested
that some concrete working basis be
agreed upon before proceeding fur
Their Indicative of his desire to learn
what results come from the railroad
managers meeting last night before
taking any further step, he arranged
another meeting with them for nine
o'clock this morning and a conference
with the representatives of the en-
ployes for three o'clock this afternoon.
Today's cabinet meeting has been can
.celled so the President may devote
most of his time to the railroad prob
lem. He cancelled several engage
merits yesterday that he might have
the fullest opportunity to talk with the
two sides.
The negotiations are entirely in
the Presidents hands," said A. Il. Gar
retson, spokesman for the employees.
He refused to discuss the situation
beyond that. Warren S. Stone, rep
Eesentative of the Brotherhood of Lo-
connective Engineers, said:
II am optimistic"
w. G. Lee of the Order of Railway
Trainmen added:
1T looks very good
An apparently we'll authenticated re-
port that preceded the conclusion of
the morning conference was to the eff
feet that the employees would agree to
arbitration of the case provided the
railroads agreed to withdraw their
counter proposals and that the rail-
road managers had so agreed. Fol-
lowing the conference none of the en-
ployes' representatives would confirm
this report