Most of the brotherhood leaders who have been conferring with the President, it was declared, would be willing to negotiate all issues to the controversy except the Guaranteed eight-hour day. With it assured them beyond all doubt, it was said, they would be inclined to accept any fair proposition for settling collateral issues. Even the proposal of pro rata pay for overtime, which would mean an increase of from 10 to 20 percent to employees working extra hours, was said to appeal to them. W. S. Carter, head of the firemen's brotherhood, who went in New York last night to confer with the general committee, carried no suggestions from the employees here as to what their attitude should be. This was a mission of explanation and not argument, brotherhood leaders insisted. He discussed the general situation with the men, but made no effort to advise them as to what they should or should not do.

While most of the committee arranged Mr. Carter to Washington tonight, an advance guard from the southern and southwestern parts of the country, where the eight-hour day is in effect on most of the railroads, preceded him here soon after receiving their summons from their leaders. A. B. Garretson and W. S. Stone.  Heads of the conductors and engineers' brotherhoods, respectively, held a conference with Samuel Thompson, president of the American Federation of Labor, during the day. What they discussed was not revealed. 