Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-25
NEGOTIATIONS IN R. R.
STRIKE UP In AIR
Continued From FIRST Pagel

CONTINUED From First Pagel
even two days when he works only ten
or twelve hours will be eliminated.
Sticking to Plan
The brotherhood heads declared
they were standing on President Will
sons plan and had not changed their
attitude a particle.
Stand For Arbitration
AS the conferences among the rail-
road executives progressed IL was said
the presidents were standing o
closely together for arbitration than
at any time since they mad assembled
here and that some of those who at
first were for accepting President
Wilson's plan had been brought over
TO a majority which was described as
standing backs to the wall"
1t was indicated that the commune
cation being prepared for President
Wilson would contain a further In
sistanee on arbitration.
The four brotherhood heads said
on entering the White House that they
did not know why they had been call
ed by the PRESIDENT. 1t was under
stood President Wilson wanted to get
their view on legislation under con-
sideration to prevent such a contro-
versy in the future.
Holds Up Cabinet
The four brotherhood heads re-
manned with the President an hour
and a half. but would max no state
ment or leaving. The President kept
the Cabinet waiting for an hour TO
continue his conference with the rail-
road men.
The situation insofar as we are
concerned" A. B. Garretson, spokes-
man for the am InvaS lafAr said 'fQ
absolutely unchanged. No complete
concrete proposition to which the
railroads will agree la been rendered
US. Our position is exactly the same
as IL was when we accepted the Pres
ident's plan. We have deviated from
1t in nc way whatsoever"
Propaganda Against Plan
Tho brotherhood leaders went from
the White House to report to a meet
ing OF the men, but insisted they had
nothing particular to communicate.
w. G. Lee of the trainmen gave
out copies OF an order. which he said
had been sent by the Northern Pacific
10 station agents directing them TO
get local interests to send Geographic
protests to President Wilson against
settling the controversy by other means
han arbitration. The kilograms, Mr..
Lee declared, were to be prepared by
the railroad and were evident of what
the men characterize as a propaganda
against the presidents plan.
Many Objections
Railway president were confronted
with a number Of objections to their
tentative plan for meeting the uMon
brotherhoods' demands by granting
the eight-hour day on conditions that
freight rate increases and public in
x-aaffOaNfAn ~ future yya0N HiCnDfaE
be assured. They arranged another
meeting shortly before 100 to consid-
er their special committees proposal.
and 1t appeared possible that q final
conclusion would be postponed until
next week.
Chances Against Increase
These conditions weighed against
the chances Of a rate increase: There
is no means OF assuring what action
the Interstate Commerce Commission
might take. particularly inasmuch as
previously 1t has indicated unwilling
ness to consider wage standards in
dealing with proposed rate increases;
strong influence of big shippers prob
ably would be thrown against higher
rates; President Wilson's stand for an
increase would amount to little II he
should fail for reelection: regardless
of other hazards. new rates could not
be put into effect before next March.
Object to Eight.Hour Day
The greatest element of uncertain
ty regarding the proposed legislation
for creating a federal body TO investi-
gate labor demands before a strike
might be allowed. was the probable
hostility OF labor TO the plan.
Continued hostility of many presi.
dents to the eight-hour day under any
circumstances complicated the stu.
alton further. Commissioner Cham
bers of the Federal Mediation Board
held a brief conference with the Presi.
dent early to-day. Afterwards he
would make no comment on his visit