The Washington times., 1917-03-12
NOONE EDISSENTS AS
STRIKE IS DECREED
More Than 1900 Rise When
Formal Motion Is
Offered.
CAPITAL MEN PARTICIPATE
Determining Vote Became Ef-
fectiVe Immediately Upon
Its Declaration.
CAPITAL MEN PARTICIPATE

Decision Of the unionized employees Of
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company to go on strike was made
known by a unanimous rising vote at
2:50 O'Clock this morning in a meeting
at the old Lyceum Theater.
Among the l.5OO or l.6O0 men who arose
to sanction suspension Of work on the
companys lines we're GOO employees Of
the Capital Traction Company. who are
are at work today and who will not be
affected by the strike.
The motion Il declare a strike was
made by one Of the several motormen
and conductors who clamored for recog-
milton after hearing the report OF the
committee which attempted TO deal with
President King.
Garth Calderhead, financial secretary
Of the union. who presided at the meet
ing. recognized a motorman with sew
eral service stars on his coat, who said /:
Score second strike Motion
I'm view OF the Inability of our COM
mittee to obtain a conference with Pres
ident King and the refusal OF the COM
pany TO deal with our representatives
in any way. move that the members Of
this union suspend work on the lines Of
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company. in its barns. car houses. shops
and elsewhere"
A score OF motor1nsn and conductors
seconded the motion Uhereupon Secre-
tary Calderhead asked that AL In favor
Of it arise The satire ASsemblAgs
arose.
Secretary Cal6erhead then asked
that those opposed 20 the motion arise.
Everyone in the theater remained
seated. Calderhesd said today that
had one man arisen in opposition to
the motion a regular ballot would
have been taken.
= Immediately after the strike had
been declared, to become effective at
once, motormen and conductors drew
from their pockets small slips of yel-
low paper. on which was printed the
legend, strike On" These they at
tached to their caps and coats.
Following the recording of the
strike vote, the men were addressed
by w. D. Mahon, national president OF
the Amalgamated Association OF Steel
and. Electric Railway Employees, and
by Edward McMVFrow and ]. W. Fitz-
gerald, members of the executive
board Of the same organization.
S0unSeI Against violence.
These speakers, as we'll as George
A. Wilburt, president of the local di-
vision, counseled the strikers against
violence and disorderly demonstra-
tions. All were urged to conduct
themselves in an orderly, quiet, and
gentlemanly way and not to engage in
difficulties with strike breakers. The
strikers were particularly warned
against molesting the company's
property.
President wilburt then appointed
committees OF strikers to picket the
several barns, shops, and other build
ings of the company. Five men were
assigned to each building for a tour
of picket duty Of several hours. Each
squad is to be relieved at intervals
during the day and night The pick
cts were instructed to keep of the
cOmpany's property and to use only
Uoral suasion in their endeavors to
augment the ranks OF the union.
The meeting was conducted in a
businesslike fashion, and the men re-
mained unusually quiet during the
long wait while officials of the union
were in conference with Secretary of
Labor Wilson. The crowds of WASH
ington Railway and Electric Com
pany employees were swelled from
time to time by throngs of motormen
and conductors from the Capital
Traction Company. Although the
meeting was scheduled to begin at
midnight. it was after . o'clock when
the union officials abandoned hope
of averting a strike, and appeared at
the theater to make their report.
Police Simply LOOkeBs-On.
The biggest crowd of unionists
reached the theater in taxicabs and
on Capital Traction cars a few mo-
meuts before the strike vote was
taken. Many OF the unionists used
automobiles to reach the theater and
to return to their homes after the
meeting.
Outside the theater quiet and or
der prevailed in the darkness. A
handful OF persons who said they
were Just curious" remained at the
entrance to the playhouse until after
the vote was taken.
Police Lieutenants Hartley and
Wilson were present from the con-
vening to the adjourning the meeting,
as were Detectives Kelley and Bur-
lingame and several uniformed po-
licemen. They did not find il neces-
sary to even issue a warning to any
of the strikers.