White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1916-08-18
RAILROAD STRIKE
LOOKS PROBABLE
BOSSES AND MEN ABSOLUTELY
DISAGREE ON EVERY POINT
AT ISSUE.
PRESIDENT WILSON'S OFFER
Over 100000 Men Will Be Thrown
Out of Employment If General
Strike Is Declared-Men Want
8-Hour Day and Overtime.

New York, Aug. IA general
strike on virtually all the railroads
of the nation, paralyzing commerce
and throwing approximately 100000
men out of employment, can be avert
ed only through the good offices of
President Wilson, as result of Sun
days developments in the dispute
over the mems demands for an eight.
hour day and time and half for
overtime.
Arbitration Rejected.
The controversy was laid before
the president at his invitation after
the workers had flatly rejected any
form of arbitration. They refused
mediation Saturday.
Soon after accepting the presidents
summons, extended through the fed
eral board of mediation and concilia.
ton, the men announced that the
leaders of the four railroad brother
hoods would leave for Washington at
midnight, accompanied by 30 of the
600 delegates assembled here. An
hour later the railroad managers, 10
in number, said that they would leave
for the capital at the same time.
Proposition of the Men.
The mems proposition submitted at
the conference provided that 100
miles or less, or eight hours or less,
should constitute day, with over
time beginning at the expiration of
eight hours on runs of less than 100
miles, and as soon as 100 miles had
been run on longer trips, overtime to
be computed at one and one-half
times the pro rata rate, no one to re-
ceive less than they previously re-
ceived for a minimum day. The men
were to be guaranteed the right to
retain any rates of pay Of schedules
in effect January 1, 1916, which would
be preferable to the new schedule.
The roads contended that the men
made no allowance for the differ
ence between railroad and Industrial
service. They pointed out that rail-
road enginen1en or trainmen are
guaranteed payment for a full day,
no matter how few hours they work,
and receive pay for more than full
day if they work more than either the
established miles or hours. In other
lines of industry, the railroads held,
the employe does a days work, and
ordinarily he can not earn more than
a days pay for less than days work
without working more than the regu-
lar number of hours.
Strike Situation Monday.
Washington, Aug. 15.-President
Wilson conferred Monday with both
parties to the threatened country
wide railway strike, and it appeared
that sufficient foundation had been
laid to furnish working basis for a
settlement of the differences of the
and employers. The presi-
dent will meet both sides again Tues
day.
Wilson Seeks Basis.
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. l shall not be able to
Judge until tomorrow whether we
have found a feasible basis for set
Element"
The foremost questions are what
shall be arbitrated, If arbitration is
resorted to, and what form of arbi-
tration shall be adopted. Represent
atives of the employees maintain that
their demand for an eight-hour day
and time and half for overtime is
the only concrete proposition under
discussion. They insisted to the pres
ident in their conference that the
railroads make some definite pro-
posal. If the railroads submitted
some proposed form Of settlement,
they said, they would be ready to
discuss negotiations further
BaIk at Contingent Proposals.
The employees are understood to be
ready to consent to the principle of
arbitration if the contingent propos-
ais Of the managers, which the men
claim involve rights they have won
in 80 years effort, are eliminated
from consideration, and If arbitration
is conducted by a board on which all
four brotherhoods are represented.
Immediately after learning the en-
ployes' position, the president sum-
the committee Of managers
and held long conference with
them.
American Aviator In Allies Army.
Paris.-G. Fufbery Of New Haven,
Cam In 4ha .i1.A.