Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-08-29


day with a view to having two million
or more workers in all lines Of labor
march in great demonstrations in ia
vor of the strikers cause.
Wilson Before Joint Session
President Wilson tonight definitely de-
cided to so before Congress in person
tomorrow or Wednesday to recommend
legislation aimed. to avert the threatened
nationwide railroad strike or to stop
II, it comes before Congress can act
He worked until late tonight on his mes
sage in which he will tell members of
The Senate and House the negotiations
TO date and lay before them a definite
legislative plan.
The President reached this decision aft
G conferences at the White House with
the committee of eight railroad presi-
dents and the four brotherhood heads on
new proposal for settlement of differ
ences suggested by the executives, and
after prolonged discussion of the sit
uation at the capitol with the members
Of the Democratic steering committee of
the Senate
The proposition Of the railroad execu-
tves was that an investigation of all is
sues conducted by commission to be
named by the President the investigat ton
70 last for period of three or four
months no action to be taken by either
SIDE IN the meanwhile, and at the con-
cuslon of the inquiry the situation to be
What 1t now is, the employees having the
choice Of either arbitrating or striking.
Inc brotherhood heads promised a reply
tomorrow morning and there was every
indication that It would be unfavorable.
Refuse to Recall Order
when the brotherhood heads went
10 the White House tonight. the Pres
.aeht not only laid before them the
llan Of the executives. but strongly
Urged the withdrawal of a tentative
s'fiKe order sent out yesterday sub
ICY 10 release, calling for a walkout
W ehe 100000 brotherhood members at
a NJ Labor day, Sept 4. This re-
4ues' was fatty refused, the leaders
'asihg that only the committee of $40
N"lch left Washington yesterday had
pVweF 70 recall the order.
Nopies of the stride order were
'.ousht to the Presidents attention
-. .ef tney had gotten into the possess
Wv" ot the railroad executives. It had
eeu known that the members Of the
V.nifi'tee of $40 carried home with
s,s h tentative order. but no one out
as 'ne brotherhood councils had sus-
ss'eo mat a date had been set and
e resident is said to have been
Icy perturbed by the information.
~ ene refusal to withdraw the or
,o.. nc communicated with the rail-
,sa su presidents. who held a meeting
~ 'ds'ed until late in the night.
N spite Of the apparent final failure
,.,as a.s EFFORTS to bring the two sides to-
si.s. S,.f The President was reported to-
,,s W. as being still hopeful Of avert.
ing strike.
An. a"roao presidents committee gave
~. s the following statement after they
49, .onterred with the other executives
'aa The managers:
~ conference at the White House
~ d 80 P. NJ. between the President
'ne committee Of eight Of the rail-
,o.. ~ Presidents suggestion was laid be-
,,. he President in the nature of a
'p0S't'on :, for progress toward a solution
h, h 'ne questions at issue, and this was
.,s WIN MIN for his consideration.
u. 'ae committee expects again to see
NJ. resident in the near future. but
vie VI leaving the committee pointed out
\, 4.,n that II the reports that the date
n. reciaring the strike had been fixed
.,., sept 4 were true, 1t would force an
H oo.H conclusion Of the negotiations and
pei the presidents to return to their
peFe'es w to prepare for the ISSUE.
Ae executives will meet again tomor-
Subjects Of Conference
~ ~ ms conference with the members
.ASon.lnued on Page 9-column 81