The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-15
TRY TO FIND SOME
BASIS FOR PEACE
(roptfp,rod Prop nr9a ~
CONTINUED from page u

differences with the employees.
Il can say absolutely nothing at
this time" he said.
All of the delegation looked some
what weary, as result of the con-
ference of their own which lasted
until an early hour this morning and
during which they were understood to
be endeavoring to agree on some
the president today.
Throughout most Of the night. the
managers labored over definite sug-
gestion for settlement to be offered
today. The employees did the same.
The president yesterday, after hear
ing both sides, urged this method Of
procedure, asking each party to re-
duce it's contentious to the "rreduc-
able minimum" in order to bring the
issue more quickly to a focus.
Beyond this, yesterdays confer
ences developed nothing definite be-
yond strong Indication that both
sides are now more willing to cooper
ate to bring peace than they were be-
fore talking with the president.
When the president resumed the
hearings today the original question
what shall be arbitrated and what
form shall the arbitration take?-was
the foremost problem under consid-
Grafton.
Conference Ends at 1o:4O.
The conference Of the managers
| ended at 1910. They would make
no comment upon leaving. 1t was
announced the president would see
the employees at 8 o'clock this after
noon.
The Investigation of the applica-
railway operation as presented to
| the president today would be made
| through q board appointed by the
| president, it Is understood. In &C.
cepting the basic principle OF the
eight hour day, the railroads go on
the belief that neither the president
nor the employees would expect the
eight hour day to be put into effect
until the whole subject has been In
quired into and a working program
finally constructed.
In some respects It might be re-
garded as a step forward in the ne.
gOttations. The employees are not
favorable to an out and out eight
hour day. their work to end at the
conclusion OF that period. The
question Of whether they would yield
on the point OF delaying actual APP
plication of the new program until 1t
has been subjected to thorough in
yestigation remains to be seen.
The railroads countered with the
suggestion outlined after working
most of the night. At times it is
said there was strong feeling among
some of the managers that the pres
ident had attempted to place the
burden of concession upon them He
had, it is understood, told them in
conference yesterday that the eight
hour principal was the one upon
which they should try to work and
suggested they attempt to formulate
the ground work Of settlement on
that basis.
Investigation Not Arbitration.
These close to the managers said
investigation might reveal the fact
that railway systems might be oper-
ated on a nine hour basis, or perhaps
ten and that at any rate the subject
was one for thorough investigation
and not arbitration
A. 3. Garretson, spokesman for the
employees, smiled a little when told
of the managers proposal but refused
to discuss whether or not it was
satisfactory to the men
II have given the pledge OF
silence TO the president and there
fore cannot say directly or indirectly
whether the propositions are &C
ceptabIe." he said. "As long as the
matter is in the hands of the presi-
dent / shall follow this rule"
Sarcasm Shown.
Another representative OF the en-
ployes was sarcastic regarding the
managers proposals.
THAT will be very NICE" he said,
but there is nothing new about that
idea. / have known about that for
week They were talking that
proposition before we ever came
down here"
Garretson and his associates ap-