Evening star., 1917-03-09
STREET CAR MEN
PUSH RECOGNITION
Leaders Still in Conference
With Washington Railway
and Electric Officials.
MAY TAKE A STRIKE VOTE

Jockeying for position on the part os
employees to gain from the Washington
Railway and Electric Company recog-
milton of their union. and efforts on
the part of the company to deal only
with the grievance committee of en-
ployes named under the existing agree
ment between the company and tho
men, marked this mornings activities
motormen Of that company to get high-
er wages and shorter working hours.
Conferences between the unions
committee and officials of the Capital
Traction Company were resumed, and
no announcement was made by either
side beyond statements that the con-
terees are making progress" and that
they would continue.
Possibility of strike was fore-
shadowed today when it was learned
that a strike vote may be taken at the
mass meeting of street railway en-
ployes called to meet at the Lyceum
Theater at midnight tonight. 1t is not
certain that such "A vote will be taken.
If it is taken. union leaders explained
it means that the officials of the union
viii be empowered to call the men
from work in case their negotiations
with either company are not satis-
factory any time after the expiration
OF the present agreement Sunday night.
Situation Chaotic Today.
The situation today was highly
cha otic, owing to the refusal of the
Washington Railway and Electric Com-
pany officials to treat formally with the
union committee sent yesterday after
noon, and the disinclination of the
union leaders to send the grievance
committee to confer with President
Clarence u. King, in accordance with
mis- request.
The men are seeking to use the fact
that the negotiations with the Capital
Traction Company are being conducted
with the union committee, only two OF
the three men on it being members OK
the grievance committee OF that COM
panys employees, as an argument tnac
the Washington hallway and Electric
Company do likewise.
The men claim that the acceptance OF
the union committee means that the
Capital Traction Company has given
tacIt recognition to the union. George
4. Hamilton, president of that company.
! today declined to discuss that aspect OF
the conferences
| The officials of the Capital Traction
! Company are treating with three men,
| all employees of the company. who also
are union men," Mr.. Hamilton said.
| Grievance Committee Not to Call.
| Whether that fact means recognition
| of the union, one of the points en-
bodied in the proposed agreement. MIR.
Hamilton declined to say.
! Up to 1870 o'clock this afternoon the
union men had not decided whether
| they would send the grievance commit
tee to whom Mr.. KING addressed his
letter setting the hour for the confer
ence, to call upon Mr.. King. They gave
as their reason that one of the men was
at work. and they were not sure they
could reach the other. Later ii was an
nounced the grievance committee
would not call on Mr.. King.
Nr King yesterday afternoon, accord
ing to i statement from the men. took
the nosition that. our committee did not
represent their employees, and this
brought the conference to a close Tor
the present"
In a statement from Mr.. King this ref
erence to the union committee was
| made . ,,,. l.
| ..Messrs George A. Wilburt. Harry r.
Jones and +. NJ. Thompson. constituting
the grievance committee of emploNes
of the Washington Railway and Elec-
tric Company under the agreement eA-
piring March IL, 1917. did not appear
hut a new committee of three was pres
eiIt.