The Washington times., 1917-03-24
KING SENDS STRIKE
LETTER TO CLERGY
President of W. r. & E. Tells
Of company's Side in Series
of Labor Troubles.

Four hundred and two Washington
from Clarence P. King, president of
the Washington Railway and Elec-
tric Company. setting forth the COM,
pany's side of the present strike.
The ministers were addressed by
President King to countefact an sp-
peal made to them by Columbia
Lodge. No. ia. International Asso-
citation of Machinists. to exert their
efforts in behalf OF the strikers.
At the office OF the company Il was
stated the ministers had been asked
to request their congregations to
sympathize with the strikers and
boycott the lines of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company.
Letter of President.
President Kings letter said in part:
"our management resents the i'm
putation that its employees are down
troddep and oppressed. On the con-
trary, this company has always been
active in welfare work in their behalf.
was, In fact, a pioneer in this work,
having organized its relief association
seventeen years. ago. Through the re-
lief association and the other activi-
ties OF the company we have extended
TO our employees many benefits, includl
ing sick benefits OF Sc a week, death
benefits Of $3.50, free medical and sur
gical attendance, a pension system by
which superannuated and disabled
employees are given pensions of from
S2O to $50 per month, a loan depart
ment to Keep employees out of the
hands of professional money lenders,
savings department in which em.
ployes receive 8 per cent interest on
deposits, annual excursions, and a
CHRISTMAS entertainment for the bene-
Mt OF the children of employees.
Up TO year ago our company Or
ganization was a contented one.
wages Of our trafnmen had been vol
UNFAIRLY increased on several occa-
sions. The splendid spirit between
the management and its employees
was generally remarked. Strikes were
unknown. Then, suddenly, about a
year ago, activity on the part of pro-
fessionAl organizers stirred up dis.
satisfaction and dissension, with the
result that a considerable number
Joined the Amalgamated Association
ana without notice to the public or
TO the company, a strike was called
oy that association, and all that had
been done for our employees during a
period OF many years, was seemingly
forgotten in a moment.
Charges Stirring of Strife.
an settling the strike last year
this company refused to enter into
any contract or have any dealings,
direct or indirect, with the AmaIgs-
mated Association, and 1t was with
that distinct understanding that the
men returned to work. But the Anal
gamated Association was not salts
ned. They aimed not only to domi-
nate the management Of the company,
but to force every loyal employe to
become a member OF their associa-
tion or lose his employment, ire
spective of his ability, loyalty, So
briefly, or length of service. Con-
ditions during the past year have
been intolerable.
'Strict discipline, vital to a trans
portation company responsible for the
comfort and safety Of its passengers.
became impossible. Loyal men and
their families have been subject to
coercion, intimidation. persecution,
and annoyance, all with the effort to
force employees to Join the Amalga
mated Association. A majority of our
employees refused to join, and petit
toned the management to protect
them against these, coercive and in
timidating practices, and, therefore,
at the outset OF the trouble this year
the company refused to make any
contract or have any dealings, direct
or indirect, with said association.
"And that is substantially the only
real issue. The question of wages
and conditions of employment are In
yoIyed only to a minor degree"