Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-17
Executive Invites Heads of
Principal Roads of Ma
ton to Washington.
MANAGERS DROP PLAN
Is Believed They Refuse to
Concede Eight Hour Day
Awaiting Chiefs.

Washington, Aug. 17.-President
Wilson today invited the presidents
of the principal roads OF the coun-
try to come to Washington immedi-
ately to confer with him on the
threatened railroad strike. Pending
their arrival he does not plan TO see
the committee of managers here with
whom he has been meeting.
The president sent the following
telegram to the leading railroad pres
idents:
Discussion OF the matters in
volved in the threatened railroad
strike has reached a point which
makes it highly desirable that /
should personally confer with you
at the earliest possible moment
and with the presidents of any
other railways affected who may
be Immediately accessible. Hope
you can make it convenient to
come to Washington at once.
Seek "Ultimate Authority
In case President Wilson finds that
any of the railroad presidents cannot
speak absolutely for their roads, he
may invite to the White house the
financiers who control them. officials
said today that the president wants to
deal with the ultimate authority or
both sides, in order that negotiations
may be conducted here.
Presents Plan to Employees.
This afternoon at o'clock the pres
fdent was to have presented his plan
to the full committee of Gao employees
in the hope of getting them to ap-
prove it. The result will be present
ed to the railroad presidents later.
Early this morning Secretary Tu-
nudity telephoned to Daniel Willard,
president of the Baltimore az Ohio,
regarding the invitation to the rail-
road presidents to come TO the White
house, and Mr. Willard said he would
do everything possible to arrange a
conference. Judge Chambers OF the
federal board of mediation and con-
ciliation held a brief conference with
the brotherhood heads this morning
Further than to say he had one ques-
ton on which he wanted a definite an
swer and that he got it, the conferees
would not discuss the nature of his
visit. Mr.. Chambers went 10 the
White house Immediately upon leay-
ing the brotherhood officials.
Settlement Still Possible.
'"I should like to say that the situa-
tion still is hopeful" A. B. Garretson,
spokesman for the employees, said
after Mr.. Chambers had left Hope
full is hardly the word / should use.
should say, though, that deem a set
Element still possible"
The presidents action in asking for
the presidents themselves is interpret
ed as meaning that the managers had
refused finally to concede the eight
hour day as the presidents plan pro-
posed and the question now is TO be
taken up with the heads of the rail-
roads themselves.
Refuse Eight Hour Day Plan.
The situation today was this:
The railroads fatty refuse to con-
cede the eight-hour day, but are will
ing to arbitrate that question and all
others before any tribunal the presi-
dent or the men may decide upon
The men are willing to arbftrAte
some questions under certain condi-
lions and are unwilling 10 arbitrate
others.
Names Of Invited Chiefs.
President Wilson's invitation was
sent to the following railroad presi-
dents:
Daniel Willard, Baltimore & Ohio:
Samuel Rea, Pennsylvania: Fairfax
Harrison, Southern railway; Samuel
NJ. FELTON,, Chicago e. Great Western:
George w. Stevens. Chesapeake &
Ohio; William Sproule. Southern Pa
chic; +. f. Calvin, Union Pacific; L.
f. Loree, Delaware a. Hudson; w. ].
Harahan, Seaboard Air Line: Howard
Elliott. New Haven; Il. f. Bush, Mis-
souri, Pacific; A. H. Smith, New York
Central; 4. ID. Underw God. Erie, and
William II. Truesdale Lackawanna.
May Open Old Issue.
Some OF the leaders OF the men were
planning to meet the demand OF the
railroad managers for arbitration by
insisting TO President Wilson that IS
more lines for which railroad mana
gers contend they have no authority