Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-08-20
Shifts the Burden After
Railroad Officials Stand
Firm.
GOVERNMENT MIGHT
TAKE OVER SYSTEMS
Increase in Freight Rates
and Tentative Eight
Hour Basis Hinted.


w dent Wilson appealed to the
railroad officials today to abandon
their insistence on arbitration of the
dispute threatening a nationwide
strike and to accept his plan of set
tlemert, already agreed to by the
employees, because in his opinion the
railroads are contending for prin-
ciple which il seemingly is impossible
to apply to the present situation.
In one of the most dramatic scenes
known to the White House in recent
wears. the president declared to the
heads of five billion dollars worth
of properties assembled at his sum-
mons
IF strike comes. the public viii
know where the responsibility rests.
1t will not be upon me-"
A few minutes later he issued a
statement saying the public has 4 right
to expect acceptance of his plan.
Refusing acceptance for the pres
ent but not giving a final answer,
Hale Holden, president of the Bur
lington road and spokesman for the
33 railroad officials, urged the pres
ident to uphold the principle of ar
bitration and declared his plan would
"place in peril all that has been ac-
complished in the peaceful adjust
ment of labor controversies by meth
DDS of arbitration"
Calls More Heads.
At the close of the conference
President Wilson summoned to
Washington additional railroad pres
idents from the west and the eX-
ecutives already here told him they
would confer among themselves and
return next week. probably Monday.
Meantime representatives OF both the
roads and the employees will remain
here for informal conferences.
The situation tonight was described
by railroad president as mot hope
less but grave" 1t will be at a stand
still until Monday at least
Discussion of counter proposals
and compromises were current and
serious consideration was given to
the possibility of government opera
tion of the roads in case of a strike.
As result of the days confer
ences, however, 1t was said on good
authority that many of the road
presidents looked upon the possibility
Of a strike as more remote than at
any time since they came to WASH
ingtOn. over the week end 1t was
anticipated that the railroad officials
will get into communication with the
controlling financial interests and it
still was considered possible that
some Of the powerful directors of
the roads would be called to Wash
ington. Both among the employers
and employees talk of arrangements
tor a strike continued and for diff
ferent reasons both sides thought If
1t came 1t would last less than a
week.
While President Wilson still was
Cd -
telling them they faced "a condition,
not a principle" his statement to the
country reviewing his plan and char
acteriZing II as a Thoroughly prac-
ticable and fair program" was given
out at the White House In the
statement he urged adoption of the
eight-hour day because he believed
the concession right" suggested the
creation by congress of a small body
of men to investigate the results, and
urged abandonment of the depand
for time and half overtime pay by
the men and contingent" proposals
by the railroads.
Arbitration Right.
Mr.. Holden insisted upon arbitra-
ton in his reply to the president,
because 'it is essentially the common
rigtt Of every citizen of whatever con-
dition in life to he heard" and be-
cause experience has put the right
10 claim arbitration as a method Of
settling such controversies beyond
question: tTe argued that the eight
hour day is impracticable in railroad
ing and said the roads are willing for
the interstate commerce commission
or any other disinterested body to ar
btrate the whole question. The de-
mand for the eight-hour day is in
reality, he declare only an indirect
plea for ian enormous increase in
wages" and said that Gin this in
stance for those demanding a change
to refuse to submit their demands to
arbitration is undefensibe."
w. G. Lee. head of the brotherhood
of railroad trainmen, gave out a brief
statement tonight on behalf of the
men. pointing out that in accepting
President Wilson's plan the employees
surrendered very large portion OF
their demand" while the railway
companies " seem about as unwilling
to accept suggestions from the presi-
dent of the United states as they have
in the past refused to consider re-
quests from their employees" He
added the workmen would remain
here, but would take no further action
until released by Mr. Wilson.
The railroad officials found two
points in President Wilson's public
statement of his settlement plan that
comforted them and led to a belief
that eventually there will be an agree
ment ayerting a strike. The first was
a hint that if the facts warranted the
interstate commerce commission
might grant an increase in freight
rates and the second was a suggestion
on that the eight-hOur base would be
accepted only tentatively and might
be terminated after Investigation by
CONTINUED on PAGE TEN