Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-25
TRA|NMEN EXPECTED
TO ACCEPT PROPOSAL
SUBMITTED BY ROADS
viii Accept Eight
Hour Day If Assured Effort
viii Be Made to Secure
Higher Freight Rates
tsy Associated Press.l


President Wilson and the select COM
mittee of railroad executives the situa- :
ton surrounding the threatened strike
was described as having narrowed down
to the following:
The railroad presidents, at least the
subcommittee of eight, are willing to
accept the eight-hour day insisted upon
by President Wilson and the trainmen.
In return they ask that they be as
sured as fully as possible that all proper
support be given and proper. means be
used to assure them a freight rate in
crease from the interstate commerce
commission. fE
They ask also that congress create a
permanent board or commission, sinli-
lar to the Canadian commission, to ham
die future labor difficulties.
A commission of this character would
be empowered to investigate when la
Dor troubles threaten and no strike
could be called or strike vote taken
of which would be made public at its
conclusion.
OPPORTUNITY FOR VOTE
At the end of the investigation ar
bitration would be suggested; but if not
accepted opportunity would be given to
the men to take a strike vote. The bali
loting would be secret. lf 49,
These proposals were communicated
today by Commissioner Chambers, of
the federal board of mediation. to the
representatives of the men who appar-
emily regarded them favorably. Judge
Chambers then reported to President
Wilson and the subcommittee of the
railroad executives was summoned to
the White House.
None of them would say afterward
whether President Wilson reported the
men would accept the proposals. but it
was said that some encouragement was
felt as a result of the negotiations
President Wilson is understood to
feel some sympathy for the counter
demands of the railroads and not aYerse
to having the men accept them. A vote.
by the labor representatives here will
probably be necessary for Endorsement.
In the meantime the. executives VIII
continue their conferences among them
selves and another White House visit
may be made later.
Signs of unrest among the men, 50 ap-
parent yesterday, disappeared today and
there were renewed indications that re
railroads would agre on some proposal
ner satisfactory to the employees COM
mittee and then bring about deep in
vestigation of all the collateral issues.
STATEMENT IS ISSUED.
L. F. Johnson, president of Norfolk
and Western, today gave out a state
ment in which he says:
1.-THE conviction of the railroad presi-
dents that their stand in favor Of ar
bitration is sound has been greatly in
tensified by the receipt of hundreds OF
kilograms from all over the country,
and from every class of business and
Industry, supporting their position and
demanding that the principle involved
be maintained.
"It has been made plain as daylight
that the men are not agitating for eight
hours of work and no more. Their real
purpose is to secure higher pay.
THE brotherhoods have charged the
railways with failure to put into effect
the awards of boards of arbitration. 1t
is true there have been delays caused by
differences of opinion as to the technical
application of a general award to the
VARYING schedules of different railroads,
and it has sometimes been necessary to
refer such controversies back to the ar
bitrators for a decision, but the points
on which there have been such disputes
have been comparatively few In proper
ton to the total number involved. The
best evidence that the awards have been
applied is found in the statistics OF the
interstate commerce commission, show
ing the large increases in the wages of
the employees during recent years.
Railway heads who continued today
their efforts to meet Pres. Wilson's plan
for aYerting a strike, probably had for
their guidance information on the admin
istration's attitude toward legislation o.
ether governmental action looking to-
ward recommending them for possible
concession on the eight-hour basic day.
A definite statement of this attitude,
IL is believed, was the object sought by
a committee of three railway presidents
who called on Mr.. Wilson at the White
House again last Ievening, following
conference during the day between the
president and Senator Newlands ana
Representative Adamson, chairman or
the congressional committees having in
charge interstate commerce legislation
Courses which might be taken by con-
gress affecting directly the present rail-
way situation, it was pointed out, are
these:
COURSES TO PURSUE.
Direct the interstate commerce COM
mission by resolution to investigate the
entire subject of the relations between
railroads and their employees.
Pass the pending bill to increase the
commissions membership from SEVEN "
nine in anticipation of additional duties
to be imposed.
Enact a measure compelling arbitra-
ton of future disputes similar to that
pending.
Establish the eight-hour Gay princl-
pie by legislation.
Pass measures clearing the way for
government ownership of railroads.
The first two proposals were receiving
most serious consideration. II was
said.
Statements given out by the railway
presidents showed no relaxation in their
opposition to the eight-hour principle,
and there was no direct indication OF
when they might give a final answer to
President Wilson. Many kilograms from
industrial and commercial interests
protesting against granting the eight
hour day were displayed by the railway