Omaha daily bee., 1916-08-22

tContinued RFem Page One.)
ence this afternoon was arranged tc
allow the officials who arrived here
today to get the presidents viewpoint
Western Men Arrive.
| Western railroad presidents, sum.
moned Saturday, began coming in
this morning. Louis w. Hill Of the
Great Northern, principal heir to the
vast properties Of the late James J.
Hill, and E. P. Ripley, the veteran
president of the Santa Fe, were
among the first. Neither had any
statement to make.
The incoming executives conferred
with those already here and with
the managers committee to familiar
ize themselves with the negotiations
so far. All the western presidents are
expected before tomorrow noon. BY
that time il is expected about 100
railway heads, representing properties
valued at about $40, 000, 100000 will De
here with the president.
Employee Committee Meets.
The brotherhood representatives
held brief meeting in their hall to-
day and adjournment was taken un-
til 10 o'clock tomorrow morning
The meeting decided that brother
hood members should call on senator's
and representatives from their own
states and acquaint them with the de-.
tails Of the mems side OF the situa-
ton. President Carter OF the fire
men was the only official who at
tended the session.
Western Men Optimistic.
Some Of the incoming presidents
were more optimistic about the stu
alton than those already here. One
Of the western men declared that il
his road alone were involved he un-
questionably would resist the de-
mands of the men to the last, but he
considered the question national one
and for that reason was sure some
common ground would be found to
base a settlement on.
Administration officials said today
the president was carefully studying
the entire question with the idea OF
making some recommendation to
congress probably in his next mes
sage in December.
President Defends Plan.
President Wilson yesterday replied
indirectly to the contentious Of the
railroad officials that the principle
OF arbitration would be endan-
gered by his plan for putting the
eight-hour basic day into effect while
. commission investigates its prac-
ticability and passes upon other
points at issue.
The presidents telegram defending
his plan was in reply to an appeal
from George Pope, president OF the
National Association OF Manufacture
ers, urging that the principle of arbi-
tration be preserved in the strike
negotiations. Mr.. Pope's telegram
follows:
Hartford, Conn, Au< IS, 1916.
The President: The White House
On behalf Of $500 manufacturing or
CARNATIONS employing 100000 per-
sons, and utterly dependent upon un-
interrupted railroad service for their
continued operation, ! beg to at once
express our deep appreciation Of your
efforts to prevent the threatened des-
tructive stoppage of national railroad
service and to respectfully urge that
you will with all thu power OF your
great office and personality assert and
maintain the principle OF arbitration
for industrial disputes affecting ma
tional intercourse. No JUST demand
can fear such test; no fair demand
can or should survive it. | sincerely
believe no man in our history has
possessed such an opportunity to
fortify his essential principle Of public
security against future attack by en-
ployer Of employe.
GEORGE POPE, President,
"Nationa! Association Of Manufae.
turers."
Presidents Reply
The president replied: ALLOW me
to. acknowledge the receipt OF your
telegram Of August Is, and to say in
reply that l hold to the principle OF
arbitration with as clear conviction
and a. firm purpose as anyone, but
that, unfortunately, there is no means
now in existence by which arbitration
can be secured. The existing means
have been tried and have failed. This
situation must never be allowed to
rise again, but 1t has arisen. Some
means must be found to prevent its
recurrence, but no means can be
found offhand, or in a hurry, or In
season, to meet the present national
emergency.
What am proposing does mot
weaken or discrcdit the principle Of
arbitration. 1t strengthens II, rather.
II proposes that nothing Be conceded
except the eight-hour day, to which
the whole economic movement Of The
time seems to point, and the imme.
date creation OF an agency for de-
termining all the arbitratable element.
IN this case in the light, not Of pre.
dictions or forecasts, but Of es:ab.
lished and ascertained facts. This e
the first stage Of the direct road 10
the discovery OF the best permanent
basis for arbitration when Other
means than those now Available NJ.