Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-16

The president Is understood to have
told both parties to the controversy in
plain but kindly terms what the people
Of the country expect of them.
The president has made no threat to
use the big stick" If the railroads and
their employees fail to reach satisfac-
tory agreement. Nevertheless, he is
prepared to exert every ounce of his
power and influence as head Of the ma
impossible. ~
Might Go to Congress.
It is said the president went definite
ly into the matter of what the country
would stand for from either the rail-
roads or their employees. He is said
to have explained to the railroad man
ayers that the government had estab-
lished an eight hour day for most of
its employees and that sentiment in the
country could be brought to pitch
where congress would relish an invita-
ton to fix the working day for railroad
employees.
On the other hand the railroad en-
ployes are said to have been taken up
on their plea that they wanted to get
acquainted with their families and told
that it would be possible to fix it so
that they need not be away from them
beyond eight hours at time. Along
with this might go their inability to se-
cure under law more than eight hours
employment q day. This would deprive
them Of lucrative source of extra pay
and make deep cut in their annual
income.
What Mon Stand For.
It can be stated that this is the atti-
tude Of the brotherhoods:
They feel that they have the whip
hard; that the president has no
power over them. On the other hand,
the labor leaders feel that the presi-
dent has more power over the rail-
roads.
They contend that the president
had to do with the granting CT the
5 per cent increase in freight rates;
that the roads owe the president a
deot which they may as we'll pay
now, while the brotherhoods wait to
collect on the payment.
They believe in all frankness that
the president has the power to force
the railroads to grant their demands:
that the president believes it is
right, economically and morally, for
them to have the eight-hour day and
that the presidents way out of the
crisis Is to see that they get the eight
hour day.
To the proposal that they take
little less than their demands, the
reply of the leaders is that they have
no power to change the demands, that
that must be done by the 900 chair
men.
{ chairmen Equally Firm.
The president has been given to
understand that the chairmen will
not look favorably upon arbitration.
He has been reminded that they voted
30 to for the rejection Of all arbi-
'tration in New York last Sunday.
The railroads, on the other hand,
while willing to go part way to meet
the workers. have fatty refused to
30 all the way. For two days and a
night they have discussed the presi-
dents requests to submit some prop
osltion which might satisfy the men,
but they have been able to for1nu-
late nothing that has appealed to the
President A. having possibility Of
acceptance by the brotherhoods, who
stand at fArmageddon and battle for
eight hours.
1t was the general feeling in Wash
ington last night that in the morning
President Wilson will take of the
glove with which he has been handling
the situation and go at the crisis that
threatens to mark the last year of his
administration with the most sertous
labor disturbance in the history ofrthe
country.
Looking to Future.
Among the railroad managers TODAY
there was discussion Of proposal of
some sort OF permanent commission
to settle all wage disputes in the fu-
ture. Whether 1t should be a semi
private tribunal organized by the rail-
roads and the men did not appear
clear, but there seems to be some SEN
timent in favor Of having it created
oy act OF congress, somewhat in the
nature OF an enlargement Of the pres
ent board Of mediation and concilia-
ton. Brotherhood leaders would not
say whether a compromise might be
reached by putting an eight-hour day
into effect for six months for a trial
and allow pro rata pay for overtime.
as suggested. Under that plan man
earning "a In ten hours would make
the same time in eight hours and over
time would start at so cents an hous
instead Of 40 cents, and in ten hours
ne would earn IS instead of "a, as at
present.