The Washington times., 1917-03-12


mission. as a means OF ADJUSTING the
dispute:
First. The company to withdraw the
individual contracts that they are DOW
trying to force their employees to sign.
and to reinstate the employees they have
locked out and discharged for being
members Of our organization. and not
signing the individual contracts. Then
let the present agreement that expires
at II. o'clock tonight be extended for a
period Of thirty days.
Second Let the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company select some
person to represent them. On the part
OF the employees we will select to repre-
sent us Samuel GOmpers, president of
the American Federation of Labor, then
let the Hon. Woodrow Wilson, Presi-
dent of the United States. act as um-
pire.. ...... ..-.
Let the question of contract and
what the terms OF il shall be be sub
] mitted to these gentlemen and a de
cision of a majority of them In writ
ing to. be final and binding upon both
parties, with the understanding that
il date from March IL, 1917.
eff these propositions are accepted
and the company so notifies your
commission, they will be recoIIimen nd
ed to our meeting tonightS. TO our
membership for their acceptance. II
this proposition or somes other. propo-
sition. cannot be .reacheu before IL
| o'clock tonight, we fear that 1t will
not be possible for us to restrain the
employees of this company from sus-
pending work, because our. agreement
expires at midnight, IL o'clock.
1.-The company is forcing the individ-
I a
some men and will no doubt discharge
others, and consider their contract
arrangements with us at an end. And
we feel that your. commission should
appreciate the situation that confronts
us. and not hold us responsible for
suspending work when to remain
longer in the service would mean
the complete Generalization and de
struction of our union.
Respectively,
GEORGE A. WILBURT,
M. T. SLATER
JOHN w. CAIN"
Sent To President King,
This proposal was Immediately sent
to President King at the Occidental
Hotel by the Commissioners.
Shortly before IL o'clock, Commits
sioner Newman telephoned to Presi-
dent King and inquired as to whether
or not the proposal was acceptable.
President King replied that the pro-
posal' was not acceptable anu that he
declined to entertain II or deal with
the union in any way. .-
After receiving this information
from President King the Commission
ers announced they had conclhded
their labors,~ and then went to the
office OF Conciliator Blackman.
Conciliator Blackman was with the
Commissioners at the District build
ing throughout the evening, and was
present at q conference with George
A. wilburt. NJ. T. Slater and John w.
Cain, representing the union, shortly
after o'clock 1t was after this
conference that the union made its
arbitration proposal.
Sent Automobile For Officials.
Arriving at the Departmental La
Dor building. about l:30 o'clock, the
Commissioners. sent one of the Dis
trict governments big automobiles To
the union headquarters In the WASH
ington. Loan and Trust Company
building to convey the union officials
to ConciIiator Blackman's office.
The unionists who went to the De-
partment OF Labor were George A
wiIburt and Frank NJ. Thompson, en-
ployes OF the Washington Railway
and, Electric Company and represen-
tative OF the local division, and Ed
ward McMorrow, a member OF the
executive board OF the international
union.
During the conference with Con-
ciIIator Blackman, Secretary Wilson
dropped in," and suggested holding
the strike vote in allegiance. Tho
unionists discussed the suggestion
briefly and went to the Lyeeum Thea
ter in the District automobile. There
w. D. Mahon, president of the inter-
national union, entered the machine
and went to the Department of La
Dor.
At 1870 o'clock this morning the
unionists announced they would de-
fer action on a strike II the company
would withdraw its individual con-
tracts and keep strikebreakers off
the cars. President Kings refusal to
entertain this suggestion was follow
ed by the strike vote.