The Washington times., 1917-05-21
STRIKE SANCTIONED
BEFORE VOTED HERE
Amalgamated Association
Acted Before Men Quit.
WILBURT TELLS MEMS SIDE
We're Willing to Waive Union
Recognition for More Pay.
CONTINUED from First PaEa.)

the best evidence a. to the latitude
the two contract committees OF the
union had.
con siderable length, regarding the cir
cumstanaces preceding, during and
subsequent to the strike last year
and bearing out the fact that the
committee purporting to represent
all the employees chosen at Conven-
ton Hall was In reality selected at
q union meeting At National Rifles
Armory six hours before the Con-
Vention Hall meeting was called to
order, Attorney Hoover took up the
beginning Of the controversy this
year.
Represented Only Uuioa Men.
Replying to questions. wilburt
said that It was distinctly underStood
that the union was not recognised
last year and that this was plain to
the unIonists when they began nego-
tiationos for q new agreement this
year.
The witness was next asked to tell
what happened when President King.
nFebruary ~. sent q letter to the
grievance cmomittss appointed at
Convention Hall last year. He re-
piled that the contract committee.
appointed By the executive board Of
the local union. went to see President
King at his office. The grievance
committee wHs composed OF Wilburt
Harry Thompson, and H. C. Jones.
The contract committee consisted OF
Wilburt. J. W. Cain, and II. Il Slater.
Didn't Mr.. King ask you II you
represented all the employees and
didn't you tell him you did?'' asked
Attorney Hoover.
mo-" replied the witness. II told
him ! represented his employees woh
were members of Division $50, Am
alganated Association OF Street and
Electric Railway Employees Of Amer
lea"
Didn't he tell you that he couldn't
receive you as q committee represent
ing the unlon?" asked the lowyer.
HE sal dhe wouldn't" responded
the witness.
What happened then7" inquired
Attorney Hoover.
Mr.. King produced q piece OF paper
on viii ch the closed shop provision
Of the memorandum was written"
said he witness. Mr.. King said,
That IL the most damnable thing ever
conceived in q human brain. Where
do you get that stun? What do you
meanY He then threw the paper
across the table, after rising to his
feet.
II picked up the paper and told
him / would explain the provision.
He said he didn't want any explana.
ton. told him that provision repre-
scented q twentieth century idea He
replied: If that represents . TWEEN
tiath century ida we had hetter turn
back the calendars q few centuries.'
I then placed the piece Of paper back
on the table"
Didn't Mr.. King tell you that
while he couldn't or wouldn't receive
you as a committee representing the
union he would be glad to receive the
grievance committee?" asked the at
torney.
"He made q remark to that effect,
and suggested that the grievances
committee meet him the next morn
ing at 10 o'clock. but there was
told him that I would telephone
him." replied the witness.
wiIburt then stated that he was
unable TO see the other two members
OF the grievance committee in time to
keep the tentative appointment. Later
he talked with his fellow members OF
the committee. and they agreed that
the grievance body had no authority
to discuss a new contract
wHburt testified that when he com
municated this information to Presi.
dent King the latter suggested that
the grievance committee come to his
office and talk over the individual
contract with a view OF recommend.
ing II to the employees for their sigma
ture. The witness said that the com
mittee did not accept this invitation,
believing the individual contract was
impossible" Wilburt said that II
was impossible because II was individ
uAl and because of Its phraseology."
Hints At Lockout.
Asked II his real reason for con
sidering II impossible was not because
II refused to recognize the union, he
replied in the negative.
"Mr. King told me that he wouldn't
discuss a renewal OF the 1915 agree
ment with any committee" stated the
witness, in reply to a question. He
also stated that he would not discuss
a renewal OF the agreement with any
Individual"
Attorney Hoover questioned the
witness closely as to when and where
he talked with w. d. Mahon. presi-
dent OF the Amalgamated Association
and Edward McMorrow, a member OF
the executive board of the parent
union. The witness said that he con.
ferred with them frequently, but did
not recall any specific occasions. The
company contends that the officers OF
the parent union dominated its en-
ployes.
In response to questions the witnes,
raye the committee the names OF two