Evening star., 1916-05-12
Old Dominion Men Say De-
mands Must Be Met by
q O'Clock.
OFFICIALS INDICATE
REFUSAL OF REQUESTS
Company Expresses Willingness to
Garry Out Arbitration Agree
ment in Every Way.

Employees of the Washington and
Old Dominion Railway Company have
announced that they will go on strike
at o'clock this afternoon unless de-
mands presented to the company today
for increased wages. changes in work
ing conditions and in hours of labor are
complied with by that hour.
Statements made by officials of the
company make it evident that the de-
mands will not be granted. Colin H.
Livingstone. president of the railway
company. said the company has entered
into an agreement with its employees to
settle the differences by arbitratio
that it has named its arbitrator and
ment in every detail.
Mr.. Livingstone stated that he has
asked for an appointment with Samuel
l.. GomperS. president of the American
Federation of Labor. with which the
union of the railway employees is af-
fllated. in hope that he may be able
to bring about a satisfactory adjust
ment of the difficulties.
Demands Presented.
The demands of the employees were
form of a letter signed by A. Rosen-
baum. Walter C. Shertzer and w. H.
Foote. members of the executive COM
mittee of division 699 of the Amalga-
mated Association of Street and Electric
Railway Employees of America. In this
letter it is stated that the employees
have been ready and willing to CO.
operate with the officials of the COM
pany in an effort to settle the differ
ht1f hof
have been treated with the utmost in
consideration. amounting almost to
contempt"
"The position of the railway" the letter
states. has been one of procrastination.
evasion and contradiction, and it now
becomes apparent that it intends to re-
sort to postponing and delaying the ad-
justment of the differences existing be-
tween it and the employees with a hope of
wearing out the employees and in the end
either trying to force them to accept what
the railway offers or pulling something
over on them. There can be no other
reason for the unnecessary delays that
have taken place.
The employees charge that the company
has resorted to various means to delay
the starting of arbitration.
Identical With Old Requests.
The demands presented today by the
employees for wage increases and
changes in working conditions are
Identical with those which were origi-
nally refused by the company. This
refusal brought about a strike, which
lasted until an agreement to endeavor
to settle the differences by conference
was reached. The arbitration agree
ment was the outcome of the confer
ences.
The employees named James O'Connell
as their arbitrator, and the company
named its vice president and general
manager. W. Il. Emmert. Judge Ma rtin
A. Knapp was selected as the third
man.
Mr.. Emmert and Mr.. OConnell met in
the Office of Colin II. Livingstone. pres
ident Of the railway. yesterday. Learn
ing that Judge Knapps affairs would
keep him busy in Richmond for some
time, il was suggested that Judge
Knapp be asked to name an arbitrator
to serve in his place. According to a
statement made today by Mr. Liv-
ingstone both arbitrators agreed to
such course He said he was al a
loss TO know why the employees have en-
deavored to take the matter out of ar
bitration by sending in their letter of
demands which threatens a strike if
they are not complied with.