Bisbee daily review., 1916-08-15
President Confers With Both Sides to Threatened Strike;
 Another Meeting Scheduled
Chief Executive Holds Extensive Conferences With Repre-
 sentatves of the Railroad Brotherhoods and Then With
 Those of the Operators. No Announcement Is Made Concerning Result Some Ground for Arbitration Sought
(By Review Leased Wire.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 14.-Presi- dent Wilson conferred today with both
 parties to the threatened countrywide railway strike and tonight it appeared that sufficient foundation had been
 laid to furnish a working basis for a
 settlement of the differences of the
 employees and employers. The presi-
 dent will meet both sides again tomor- row.
 At the conclusion of the days con- ferences the president issued this
 statement.
 "I have met both sides and have
 gone over the case with the utmost
 frankness. I shall not be able to
 judge until tomorrow whether we have
 found Q feasible basis for settlement"
 "The foremost questions are what shall be arbitrated, If arbitration to be resorted to, and what form of ar
 bitration shall be adopted. Represen- tatives of the employers maintain their demand for an eight-hour day and time and a half for overtime is the only concrete proposition under dis cussion. They insisted to the presi- dent in their conference today, that I0C TdllTOduS proposal. If the railroads submitted some proposition of settlement. they said. they would be ready to discuss negotiations further The employees are understood to be ready to consent to the principle of arbitration of the contingent proposals of the managers, which the men claim involve rights they have won in thirty years effort are eliminated from consideration. and if arbitration is conducted by board on which all four brotherhoods are renresented.
 Immediately after learning the em- ployes' position, the president sum- moned the committee of managers and held a long conference with them. They left the White House to confer night. if necessary and the general understanding was that they discuss ed the advisability of withdrawing their "contingency" proposals and submitting a proposition without strings" as demanded by the men.
 Whil representative of the en- ployes insisted that they had not yet agreed to arbitrate any feature of their differences. there was a grow ing impression that arbitration, or some other form of compromise would be agreed upon.
 At no time. it was said, did the representatives of the men indicate that unless their demands were grant ed unualifiedly they would go on strike.
 Both sides refuesd absolutely to discuss their meeting with the presi- dent or venture any forecast on teh probable outcome of the negotiations. Leaders of two factions were opti- mistic tonight that a strike would be be averted. The president, it was declared, made no compromise propo- sitions O either side today. He merely listened to the representatives of the employees and then talked with the and suggested that some concrete working basis be agreed upon before proceeding further. Indi- i cative of his desire to elarn what re- | suits come from the railroads con i ference tonight before taking any fur ! ther step, he arranged another meet | ing with them for 9 o'colck tomorrow morning. and a conference will be held with the employees at o'clock i Tomorrow cabinet meeting has been !, cancelled so the president may de- ! vote most of his time to the railroad ! problem. He cancelled sevearl engage 1 ments today that he might have the | fullest opportunity to talk with the 1 two sides.