Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-09
Superintendent of Great Falls
Road Is Endorsed.
MEN APPROVE KINGS ACTS
Secret Ballot to Get Expression of
Car Crews Views.
DON'T WANT BOSS TO RESIGN
Subordinates Give Him Good Charac-
ter-Some Scent Insinuation of
Dishonesty in Mooted Order.

Save for genuine breakdown in the
gineer from Baltimore, in charge of the
repair works, says is the worst he ever
saw-there is nothing wrong on the Great
Falls and Old Dominion railroad.
Certainly there is no cause for dissatis-
faction among the conductors and motor
men. There is no likelihood of a strike
These facts were developed this morn
ing at an absolutely unique meeting called
by Supt. King at the power house on the
Virginia side Of the river He invited all
the conductors and motormen on the road
to pass judgment on the spot. by secret
ballot. both upon his recent acts and as
to whether they wanted him to resign.
Seventeen of the nineteen men on the
rolls were present when Supt. King stated
to, them the object of the meeting and ex-
planned that it was made necessary by
what he characterized as lying rumors
and newspaper reports, probably orig
mated by men whom he had been obliged
to discharge.
The phraseoiogy Of an order which for
babe conductors to treat motormen. and
which report said seemed to the men to
intimate that those who did so were dis
honest, was the principal subject Of ru-
mors Of dissatisfaction.
Four Questions Voted On.
Four propositions were put to the men
to pass upon by secret ballot, as follows:
Do You think the ten men discharged
by the superintendent about a month ago
for the practice which brought about the
order complained of were properly dis
charged for cause? The answer was
unanimous: Yes"
Do you think the superintendent did
right in recently discharging G. ]. s. Farr
and Arthur B. Baker? Again came the
unanimous response: yes"
Do you wish the present Supt. King to
resign and leave the road? mo-" read
every ballot.
Are you willing to have the so-called
Objectionable order stand just as 1t is
written? There were fifteen ballots which
read Yes" and two which said No to
this question.
After the last ballot Supt King imme-
diately said the order would be taken
down and modified as to its language, be-
cause 1T was not his intention that there
should be any reflection whatever upon
the men on the road. He regarded every
man now In its employ as honest and loyal.
and he intended to hold their friendship
by being always just and fair and helpful
whenever it was possible.
Conductor M. F. Patterson stepped from
the ranks and paid tribute to Mr.. Kings
fairness and consideration at all times.
He did intimate that the language of the
order. II interpreted in one way, reflected
upon the men.
His testimonial of the superintendent
character were supported by others.
Statements concerning the road, its
superintendent and the men. said to be
verified by certain well known citizens
were published September 8. The con-
ductor and motorman who brought one
Of
ments to the city on that date, stated
that he had not spoken word to either
of them about alleged trouble on the road.
All Friendly to King.
The meeting was simple in character
and seemed to be conducted with the ut
most fairness. Supt. Kings effort ap-
parently was exerted to get frank ex-
preston of honest opinion from the men
in a way which could not hurt them II
Objectionable to him.
The men seemed sincere throughout and
not afraid to comment upon what they
could not approve. There was manifest
evidence Of their friendliness toward Mr..
King and confidence In his sense or JUS
tice and right
The anti-treating order said Mr. King.
became necessary because certain motor
men demanded of conductors that they
buy them lunches and dinners. Suisse
Quenlly tHey UcHdlueu lIlOucy. ANC" Gun
ductors. recognizing the practice. fell into
line and thus became victims of graft.
When money was demanded of them
they could not afford to pay out of their
own pockets, and so took the company S
money, as one conductor admitted to Mr..
King. There was nothing to do then.
continued Mr.. King, but to discharge the
offenders and root out the practice.
The men who attended the meeting were
NJ. F. Patterson, E. NJ. Davidson, NJ. H.
Putnam. s. P. Matthews, c. G. McClana-
han, George Bostwick, X. c. Boyer, w.
J. Vernon. w. w. Wilson. John Gill. w.
Markward, c. D. Hopes. G. F. Downs.
J. B. Blackford. 1. Bryan, Thomas w.
Alderton and s. E. Shaw. S. B. Bell and
William Ware. who were not present
when the meeting started, put in an ap-
pearance before the close and seemed to
agree with the action of their comrades.
They had had late run and did rot re-
ceive notice of the meeting in time. 1t
was said.