Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-16
STREET. Railway MEN
Matters. oonsidated Last Night by the
40. Protective Union. ~.
Threatened TronbIe ION the Ninth
s"uStreet Line-The National Il
a.o.orraAfxaafon. O..

In session for almost four hours last night
during which much business of interest was
transacted At. the hour of adjournment
some matters that it had been intended to
take up had to be postponed for want OF
time. -....s
1t is believed by members of the organi-
cation that a determined effort is being
made Throughout the country to disorganize
the national organization, with which the
Street Railway Union is affiliated. This is
set forth ina. circular from the executive
council OF the order received In this city, 1t
Is understood that the attention Of the
union would have been called to the matter
al last nights meeting had there been q
proper opportunity. but other pressing mat
tefS FORCED a pestponement Of the consfd-
Grafton of the subject
The circular referred to is addressed to
The street railway employees and organized
iahor In general in America" and says:
Last April reports were sent out from
the city OF Cleveland, Ohio, to the effect
that an organization had been formed in
that city to be known as the National Rail
way League. and to take the place of the
Amalgamated Association of Street Rail
way employees of America. Our executive
council at that time deemed It of no conse-
quence and too Insignificant. to pay any at
tention to it. but as many Of the labor pa
rers Of the country have, from time to
time, published accounts of this orsaniza-
ton. to our injury, we would at this time
COLL your dttenClOn TO the IaCt tnaC lne
lAmalgamated".As Association of Street Rail-
way Employees is the only bona fide trade
union organization in America, being affl-
lated with the American Federation Of La
Dor. and in the different cities our orgi1iZa
tions are affiliated with the central bodies
ard our members are working for the
amelioration of labor in general.
LAS to the prospects of our national body,
they never looked brighter.
LAS to the move at Cleveland. 1t was
made in the interest of the companies, and
was started at the time our organizers were
in the field, to hinder them and to disrupt
our noble order, and we would. ask the or
CARNATIONS to correct this wrong impress
sion. and papers of influence to publish this
circular, which is issued in the defense of
trade unionism.
President Phillips Promises.
The alleged breaking of faith with his
employees by President Phillips of the
Metropolitan Railway Company was the
principal topic of discussion before the
meeting last night. At the meeting held
week ago, the members of the union, and
those especially who were employed on the
9th street electric line, We're. as they stated
in conversation With Star reporter. de-
lighted with the outlook. President Phil
lips had, they said expressed his willing
ness to allow all the old employees, drivers
and conductors, opportunity to learn to
become motormen..
But during the past few days, it was
said at the meeting last night. there has
been great change in Mr.. Phillips at
titude toward the men.
Some. of the speakers at last nights
meeting stated that Mr.. Phillips had. when
ever there was an opportunity to do SO,
hired men from other lines to run his cars.
As instances of this 1t was mentioned that
a man named Waftield, who has hereto
fore been employed on the Mount Vernon
electric railway at Alexandria, has been
given an electric car and that one of the
emD1OveS
transferred to the 9th, thus keeping two
of the old employees of the latter line from
having opportunity to work on the electric
cars. 1t was finally determined to appoint
a committee, comprising President Laur-
ehce.' Messrs. Casey and Trainor of the ex-
ecutive board, and Messrs. F. NJ. Dent and
J. 7. Redding, to call on Mr.. Phillips upon
his return to Washington, he being away
from town at present, and to see If he will
not comply with the promises which it is
claimed he made to the men.
The Company. Side.
To a Star reporter an official of the
Metropolitan Railway Company today said
that it was his impression that the men
are in error in saying that Mr.. Phillips has
employed motormen from other lines when
ever he could do so and that on the con-
trary he had only done this when there
were exceptional reasons for taking the
step. There are. said the official, many
men in the employ of the Metropolitan
Company, and especially on its 9th street
branch, who will themselves say that by
reason of age they do not feel that they
should take the responsibility incident to
running an electric car In such cases 1t
becomes necessary to get others to occupy
the places which, were they younger. they
could readily and satisfactorily fill.
THE Metropolitan Railroad Company
may" said the official in conclusion, 'be
depended upon to care for and keep in en-
ployment Its old drivers and conductors
whenever it is possible to do So"