The Washington times., 1917-03-10

hem said I'VE have been through the
mill before and we are not afIetd
II Is understood that the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company
Is responsible for the presence OF
the strike breakers in Washington and
that the usual renumberstion of from
81 to SIS a day and hote' expenses Is
being paid.
AlieEe Dismissal for Unienlsnh.
The strikebreakers, most Of whom
wore working clothes, paraded up and
down Pennsylvania avenue in bSdy
and announced that they were ready
to go to work when called upon.
Officials OF the union stated that a
number OF men who had been under
instructions for duty as motormen and
J conductors on the Washington Rail-
| way and Electric lines had been dis
charged today because they refused to
renounce the union.
At the union headquarters IL was
also stated that for several nights
new men have been broken in as mo
tormen and conductors on the lines OF
| the Washington and Virginia system.
Officials of the union said that after
the last cars made their trips during
the past several nights, the embryo
motormen and conductors were taken
out with cars for training during the
early morning hours.
r. W. King, president OF the Wash
ington and Virginia Railwa Company.
is a brother of Clarence d. King, pres
ident of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company.
Wait for TsmOrrow Midnight.
There was no intercourse, either
written or verbal, between President
King and the union officials today.
George A. wiIburt, president OF the
union, said he and his associates had
gone as far as possible in the mat
ter. and that negotiations ended when
President King refused to recognise
/ the union.
So far as the Washington Railway
and Electric Company is concerned,
the unionists marked time, and waited
the coming of tomorrow midnight,
| when the working agreement entered
| into last March ends. 1t Is understood
| that after the meeting in the Lyceum
| Theater early this morning a unani-
nous decision was reached to call an
| other meeting on the last stroke Of IL
| o'clock tomorrow night for the union
| to give President King its reply to
his refusal to recognize the organiza-
tion.
Strike Only IL Forced.
The committee of unionists which
waited upon President King Thursday
afternoon was given considerable
more authority to act than 1t had be-
| fore the meeting early this morning.
and IL Is understood that no very
large percentage OF the Washington
Railway and Electric Company's en-
ployes will be needed at the meeting
afr midnight tomorrow to call a
strike.
Asked today fthe union would de-
clare q strike tomorrow night, Presi-
dent Wilburt said:
I'VE are not going to strike until
we are forced to strike"
Kings Statement.
Following the conference with the
District Commissioners President
King issued the following statement
bearing the heading:
"on February 23rd this company
was presented with certain demands
from an organization known as Divis-
ion No. $50, of the Amalgamated As
sociation of Street and Electric Rail-
way Employees OF America, with
which this company has had no direct
dealings.
These demands, while made os-
| tensibIy on behalf of all the employees
of the railway and its affiliated COM
penies, including the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Company, were actually
presented as the result OF O meeting
held upon call of the Amalgamated
Association. They Involve the future
relations between this company and
all its employees and the ability OF
the company to perform fits duties TO
the public and to maintain the char
acter and continuity OF its street car
service.
Public should Understand.
Under these circumstances, it is
right and proper that the public
should understand the situation.
The demands, as made. require all
employees, even against their will, to
Join the Amalgamated Association.
This association Is absolutely con-
trolled by individuals who have never
been in the employ of this company,
are unknown TO II and its officers, are
not interested in the welfare OF this
company and its patrons, and who do
not, so far as is known, expect or de-
sire to enter our employ.
"The first allegiance OF all mem
bers OF this association. according to
their own professions, is due always
and under all circumstances, right or
wrong, to the association, and in no
way to this company or the public.
Would Surrender Power.
1.-The demand now, in addition ito
certain questions OF wages and con-
ditions OF work-which questions we
are and always have been willing to
discuss and endeavor to adjust with
those directly interested-is that We
shall in effect surrender all sub
stantial voice as to the conduct and
discipline. and even the personnel, OF
all our employees, whether trainman or
not, and whether members Of the as
sociation or not, and that we shall
further agree, without cause or in
Quiry, and without reference to
length OF service os to the character
or quality of such service, to dis
charge on demand every employe who
IL not q member or who fails to me-
come a member OF this tyrannical as
sociation, or who fails after joining
to maintain himself in what they