Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-12
THINKS PRESIDENT WOULD
HAVE ARBTRATED STRIKE
Almagamated official Expresses This
Opinion at Senate Hearing-Tes-
timony Nearly Completed.

President Wilson would have been
delighted" to have served as an arbitra-
tor between the Washington Railway
and Electric Company and its striking
employees. in the opinion of Edward Nc
Morrow, member Of the general ex-
ecutiye board Of the Amalgamated. Mr..
McMorrow's cross-examinatton before
the Senate committee investigating the
strike was continued today.
He expressed this opinion when
George p. Hoover, counsel for the com
pany. asked him II strikers had not
been merely bluffing when they sug-
gested that President Gompers OF the
American Federation of Labor. man
Wilson arbitrate the difficulties between
the company and the men.
Weren't you really just putting up
bluff when you suggested President Wilson
was and weren't you trying to put Presi-
dent King before the public as defying the
President Of the United StatesT' asked Mr..
Hoover
NO, we were not" replied Mr. McN1or-
row. Later the witness stated that Presi-
dent Wilson had used his influence in
New York to bring about a settlement OF
the street railway strikes there. He ad-
mitted. however. that the President did not
act as an arbitrator.
Arguments May Start Tomorrow.
When the committee adjourned until
SoV . cloCh statements maze
by counsel on both sides indicated that
all testimony would be completed to-
morrow and argument would be begun.
Mr.. McMorrow told the committee he
believed that the individual contract
offered by the company meant return
to "61, meaning the days of slavery.
isn't the ironclad oath prescribed
by the Amalgamated more calculated
to bring about slavery than the indi-
vidual contract" asked Mr. Hoover
No said Mr.. McMorrow. at is not"
NJ Hoover suggested that the oath
required tho members to observe their
duty to the union before any other
party. This Mr.. McMorrow denied.
Mr.. McMorrow spent most of the time
denying matters suggested to him as
the long list of strikes which have oc-
Cured In the last two years on stree,
railways in this country. and in which
the Amalgamated has been involved
Repeatedly he asked Mr.. McMorrow il
this or that strike had not been called
because the company in question re-
fused to recognize the union.
Invariably Mr.. McMorrow said NO
and finally he said with asperity,
what's the use Of your asking me this
Pay Roll Dwindles.
Mr.. McMorrow testified that the first
had been called included more than 900
men. though the list sent in had LOO
names. He explained that some of the
men had gone to other cities or taken
week ago. contained the names of be-
tween 500 and 500 striking employees,
he said.
Mr.. McMorrow explained to the COM
mittee that the Amalgamated did not
insist upon the closed shop principle
because 1t could not furnish members
to the companies operating the roads
whenever they were needed and in as
large numbers. In this. he said, the
Amalgamated differed from the ordi-
nary trades union.
In reply to question, he said that
the union did not aim eventually to
make all companies in the country
CLOSED shops"
Mr.. McMorrow insisted that he had
been Suspicious Of President Kings let
ter of February 81 to the men, urging
them not to strike before March 4. be-
cause 1t appealed to their patriotism.
you understood from that letter that
the company would not recognize the
! union?'' said Mr.. Hoover.
Il didn't give the matter any
thought" replied Mr.. McMorrow. peace
between the men and the company
meant more to me than recognition Of
the union. A rose by any other name
would smell as sweet"
The witness testified that he had met
other men just as determined and hos
tile to the union as Mr. King and tina,
'oter thew had changed their minds
Ha denied that he had any persona
feeling against Mr.. King, and said h
would be just as willing to deal witt
him as any one
Mr.. McMorrow was questioned by Mr.
Hoover about hts visit to Secretary
Tumulty. The witness said Mr. Tumulty
said that he did not think he could do
anything to aid in bringing about a
settlement of the controversy, and
pointed out how busy they all were ar
the White House. He said he did NOT
ask Mr.. Tumulty to arrange a meeting
between him and President King.