The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-22
Reiterates to Heads Neces-
sity of Granting Eight
Hour Day to Men
MANAGERS FRAMING
REPLY TO REQUEST
IN THEIR MEETINGS
Chief Executive Reinforces His Argu-
ment by Calling Attention to Great
Importance of Averting Strike
by Reason of Military Needs

Washington. August. 21.-As. one
American citizen to another, President
Wilson today appealed to each of the
executives of the country's principal
railroads on grounds of patriotism to
accept his plan for averting the threat
ened disaster of nationwide strike.
He emphasized the necessity for keep
ing the railroads in service ms a part
possible preparation for meeting con-
ditions TINT will exist after the Euro
pean wnr.
On leaving the White House the rail-
road presidents, augmented during the
day by arrivals from the west, held a
conference at which sentiment was said
TO be aaginst agreeing to the Presi-
dents proposal in it's present form.
Hope was expressed, however, that some
satisfactory counter proposition might
be advanced, and it was decided to turn
over to a committee the task of draft
ing final reply to the President. With
more than so men, most of them with
their own ideas about what ought to be
done, the executives found it difficult
to get down to brass tacks," as one of
them expressed 1t. Tomorrow morn
ing another meeting will be held, and
every effort will be made to reach a
decision promptly.
SAY DEMAND TOO GREAT
The railroad heads still insist that
President Wilson is asking them to
sacrifice the principle of arbitration
Elisha Lee, chairman of the national
conference committee of railways. is
sued statement tonight in which he
! said:
That the railroads should grant.
under threat OF national strike a
5O,000.o 900 wage preferment to a small
minority of their employees, without a
hearing before public tribunal, is in
conceivable in a democracy like ours.
All questions at issue-wages. costs,
operating conditions-are submerged
by the greater issues: Shall arbitration
be abandoned in the settlement of in
dustrial disputes?"
The statement suggests, however,
that railroads stand ready to take what
ever action the people of the country
desire. 1t concludes:
THE weight of public opinion must
determine this issue. We cannot be-
lieve that it is the calm judgment of
the country that we should sacrifice
the principle of arbitration in indus
trial disputes, under a threat to tie up
the commerce of the country"
MEN MARKING TIME
While the officials were listening to
President Wilson, and later comforting
at their hotel, the general committee
of $40 representatives of the employees.
who already have accepted the Presi-
dents plan, held a perfunctory meet
ing and marked time awaiting the de-
cision of the employers. They said
they would wait until President Will
son dismissed them, but stood ready
to call a strike should the negotiations
fail
Although a few of the railroad ex-
ecutives invited had not arrived this
afternoon, it was decided that those al
ready in Washington were representa-
tive. and therefore the President called
them to the White House and earnestly
urged that his plan of settlement be
ratified.
81 will not allow passion to come
into my thoughts in the solemn mat
ter. he said. 1--WE are both acting NJ
trustees of great interests. 1 am will
ing to allow this matter to go to the
great American jury and let 1t assume
the responsibility. The responsibility
of failure Will not rest with me.
81 wish you to consider the conse-
uuences as affecting the people OF the
cities and countrysides of a failure to
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