Evening star., 1917-03-12

do with the public rather than with
Its striking employees"
Reports Progress of Strike.
George Wilburt, president of the en-
ployes' union, arrived at the union
headquarters in the Washington Loan
and Trust building, shortly before noon.
after making n tour of inspection about
the city.
Mr.. Wilburt stated that from some re-
ports he had received cars were not
being run on schedule time and that
although some passengers were being
carried. there were not really the regu.
lar number riding
He declared that the strike was the
result of lockout by the railway COM
pany, as the men were told, he said,
that il they did not sign the individual
contracts they would not be permitted
10 work. IF the union had submitted
| TO such a thing it would mean the
death of the organization" he declared
1f the organization is TO die It win be
In legal way. not AZ rats or slow
death from strangulation," he core
tinued.
Union Officers to Confer.
The official said that he had no ap-
pointments with government oficials
today. and did not know IL he would
be called into any conferences with
them. He expected to hold a confer
ence with other officers of the union
this afternoon.
The telephone in the headquarters
was kept busy throughout the day. A
number of owners of automobiles
notified tho officials of tho ,,piou that
their automobiles were at the disposal
of the union. and in number of in
stances the offers have been accepted.
Several union members who own auto
mobiles used them today in carrying
passengers, but refused to accept pay
for the service.
Strikers as they called at union head
quarters throughout the day were dis
patched to various points in the city
with instructions to keep tab on the
car schedules and make other obserya-
tions to report later.
al Association of Machinsts of the
Washington navy yard. at a meeting
yesterday adopted resolutions favoring
support of the union. The resolutions
set forth that the organization offered
its support to the striking street car
men. with their best wishes of success
in the fight. A copy of the resolutions
received at union headquarters was
signed by william Broderick, as re-
cording secretary.
May Help the Strikers.
The machinists of the Washin gton
navy yard. Columbia Lodge. ia. are
to meet at o'clock this afternoon to
discuss ways and means of assisting
the striking employees Of the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company at
Naval Lodge Hall. 4th street and Penn
sylvania avenue southeast. according TO
a statement made today by n. +. Atlas
of the machinists organization.
When the last street railway strike
was CT in Washington the nIachinists
voted not TO ride on any of the cars
involved in the strike. About 1900
men are connected with the union.
Brewers Workers Union, Local No.
IS, at a meeting in Building Trades
Hall Yesterday issued an order pro-
hibiting it's members from riding on
the street cars of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company during
the strike. The penalty for the first
offense is a five-dollar fine, and expul-
sion from the union will be the punish
ment meted out to a member caught
committing a second ohense
Operating Most Of Schedule.
At 1915 o'clock the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company gave out a
statement saying that I'VE are op-
Grating a5 per cent schedule. Tho
statement of Mr.. Ham at ] o'clock gave
Sc per cent of the schedule
From observers at the barns today 1t
was learned that at least 1o0 of the
cars went out this morning. 1t also
was learned that the company had pre-
pared a special strike schedule more
than a week ago, and this special
schedule provided for the operation.
after the early rush hour, of about this
number of cars up TO o'clock, when
effort is to be made to put more cars
out. The "95 per cent schedule" claim
ed is said to be 95 per cent Of the
emergency schedule.
The Capital Traction Company lines
were taxed to their capacity. Every
available car, it was stated, was in op-
GRAFTON, and in some instances this
morning cars ran along Pennsylvania
avenue and on eth street ri less than q
block headway.
officials of the union this afternoon
gave out a statement addressed ITO
the Public" This WAS signed by Fl. A.
Wilbur NJ T. Slater and j. w. Cain.
1t began:
1--WE take this means of briefly
placing this situation of the striking
employees of the Washington Railway
and Electric Company before you. We
sincerely regret that we have been
compelled to suspend work and there