South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-16
WILSON TO MAKE FINAL
PLEA TO GOA CHAIRMEN
OF BR0THERHO0DS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE oNE)


is hopeful that an agreement can
be reached, but that he nov fully
realizes that the task of adjusting
the great differences is extremely diff
ficult.
The Representatives of the brother
hoods are standing pat on their
original declaration that the question
OF extra pay for overtime already
has been settled between themselves
and the roads. and that it cannot be
injected into the present controversy.
Their attitude in this regard has
forced out OF consideration the prop
osition of the managers that the
railroads accept the principle of the
shorter work day and then that an
arbitration commission work out all
OF the details for putting it into
force. including compensation.
Summon Whole Committee.
The brotherhood representative
do not expect 10 see the president
again until tomorrow unless the rail
roads recede from their present posi-
ton. They have summoned their
entire committee of 500 here to
Washington and they will thus be
able to answer yes or no to the
eventually will evolve
The railway managers are report
ed as somewhat divided on the
course Of action they must take.
Several Of the representatives of the
big eastern roads are said TO believe
that it would be better TO take a
chance on government ownership
being forced on them than to give
i'm 20 the men at this time. But there
are others who hold that it would be
wise to accept the proposition as put
TO them by the president and then
place the complete responsibility for
such action at his door. BY doing
so they claim the railroads would
greatly reinforce their case when
they go before the interstate COM
merce commission to ask for an in
crease Of rates.
Rumors are Denied.
In this connection, administration
officials took occasion today to deny
rumors that the president has al
ready gone on record as being will
ing to favor an increase in freight
rates if the railroads meet the de-
mands Of the men and thus prevent
a strike.
White house officials declared to-
day that the president realizing
that the Interstate commerce com
mission is a judicial body, would
not, under any circumstances, at
tempt to influence it. At the time
the last rate case was under con-
sideration, officials pointed out the
president. while believing that an
increase should be granted, declined
to comment on the question in any
way until the decision was an
nounced.
Reports that many large railroad
stockholders were preparing to
dump their holdings on The market
because of their fear of the possible
strike we're denied in financial cir
cles here today. The hearings now
in progress before the Interstate
commerce commission on proposed
transcontinental rate increases has
brought to Washington many big
railway attorneys in addition TO the
members of the board of managers
now on hand. These men very
frankly assert that they are con-
WINGED that eventually the president
will be able 10 avoid a strike.
situation Not Hopeless.
The situation is difficult, but far
from hopeless" said one of them
today. Mutual concessions must
be made, but we believe that the
president will be able TO do this"
.STOTTS
While the managers continued 10
hold almost continuous conferences |
today the brotherhood representa-
tives waited the arrival OF their fell
low committeeman. Ii was stated
by Prest Garretson. of the order OF
Railway Conductors that his side
would hold no further conferences
among themselves.
The president knows our posi-
tions," was all that ne would say.
At yesterdays conferences the
brotherhood representatives told the
president that they could have had
the eight-hour day long ago if they
had been willing to accept it on a
pro rata payment basis for overtime
would have permitted the roads TO
work their freight men 16 hours in
"a and to have paid them at a
straight hourly rate. This was their
reason. they told the president, for
rejecting the proposition of the
roads to submit all OF the questions
entering into the eight-hour day TO
any arbitration board
Resume Conferences.
The railway managers resumed
their conference at o'clock this
morning IN order TO clear up a num-
Der Of waiting details prior 70 going
TO the white house. 1t was stated
that a number of the presidents Of
the bigger roads were coming to
Washington and II is expected that
if the managers refuse 20 make the
concessions the president believes
must be made to avoid the strike. all
of the railroad heads will be sum-
moned here to pass upon the ques-
ton.
Both Sides Worried.
A heavy rain kept both managers
and union leaders close TO their res
/ pective hotels during the early part
OF the day Both sides were plainly