Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-06

Statement by President Graham of
the supply COMPANY.


the supply Company.
There has been no change today in the
status of the strike which was made sew
eral days ago by a number Of the en-
ployes Of the National Electric Supply
Company. 1t is understood all efforts to
settle the question at issue, which has
been fully explained in The Star, have been
frutless.
Mr.. E. G.. Graham. president of the Ma
tional Electrical Supply Company, has
made statement of the conditions which
led to the recent boycott and strike de-
clared by the action of Local Union No
20 of National Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers against his company.
"A contract at Fort Washington, Md,
Re mote from this city, and considered by
other trades unions to be outside of the
jurisdiction of local labor organizations.
called for immediate work thereon" said
Mr.. Graham. Our expressed intention was
to send one of our regular journeymen to
take charge of the work with one or two
helpers he should require. Circum-
stances were such that could not send
any of our journeymen owing to other
work from which they could not be spared.
We therefore, temporarily started the work
by of our skilled helpers, long in our
employ and associated with the union jour
neymen on our roll. To this. done with
no motive or hurt to union labor, with
advantage to ourselves as to pay is due the
wrong to our company Of having all our
employees called off their respective jobs in
this city-all this to our great and needless
hurt.
"A committee from the organization
waited upon us, and stated that the
tract was considered to come under the jul
risdiction Of the local union, and requested
that the job be placed under a union man.
To this We gave our assent. stating 1t was
our intention to do so as soon as such
capable union men in our employ should
first finish important work in this city
fhan in han tak Ia hn, fhrpa
days. After reporting back to the organ
iZation the committee returned, and stated
that settlement could only be reached by
removing the helper referred to, thus stop
ping the work and giving us needless
trouble. To this, in our effort to meet all
the conditions, We asSented, and stated that
the Objectionable party would be laid off
until the arrival of the journeyman Upon
this the committee raised an entirely new
objection-that this helper up to this time
a satisfactory associate. should be removed
from the job at Fort Washington.
"Thereupon we made to the committee a
counter proposition-that all the men who
had quit should return to work. and both
parties refer the matter in dispute to arbi-
tration; this to be by three persons, one to
be named by them. one by us and the third.
in event of disagreement, to be selected by
the two first chosen. This we believed to
be the best and quickest way to reach
friendly settlement.
ITO this the committee answered that If
the unions demands were granted they
would be willing then to arbitrate. We, in
turn, could not see that anything would
main to be thus acted upon, and refused
their request.
From the above statement of facts it
will be seen that we have conceded to union
labor every possible demand. 1t may be
deemed by some that in running our bust
ness it is an offense for us to retain some
share in its control Self-defense has, there
fore compelled us to make arrangements
to employ non-union workmen-this until
such time as the men who as above stated.
have left our employ are willing to return
and work under rules and conditions neces-
sary to successfully conduct any business"