The Washington herald., 1917-03-17
W.R.&E. SPURNS
PEACE PROFFERS
OF D. c. HEADS
Utterly Impossible to Treat
with Strikers as a Union,
Secretary Says.
WANT MORE PROTECTION
Any Destruction of Property or Inter
ference with Traffic Declared
Up to the Commissioners.

Declaring recognition of the striking
Garments union absolutely irreconcil-
able" s. r. Bowen, secretary Of the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany. early this morning replied to the
communication OF the Board Of District
Commissioners addressed to the company
and requesting that its directors meet
the Commissioners in conference this
morning at 1880 o'clock for the purpose
of endeavoring to find some way out of
tho present controversy.
The directors answered that they will
meet in conference at the stated hour.
The company states that its position
in refsing to deal with the union Is not
any different in principle now from what
it always has been.
The answer speaks of the constant
pressure. nagging. persecution and petty
annoyances to which employees not men,
bers Of the union have Teen subjected
by union employees"
Demand Protection.
As to the part of the Commissioners
letter which says that the safety of the
employees of the company and the public
is endangered by the present strike. and
that the police department Is being put
under strain to protect lives and prop
erty. the company replies:
This company has jeopardized no
mans property-and the company, in the
exercise of its lawful franchise. is en-
titled to the support and aid of the public
authorities"
Considerable attention was directed to
the conference between the employees of
the Capital Traction Company last night,
since midnight marked the expiration OF
the time for the signing of the new con-
tract between these parties.
Extend Time Limit Again,
For the second time the time limit was
extended. The contract between the en-
ployes and the Capital and the Wash
ingtsn Railway and Electric Companies
expired Sunday night. The former COM
pany, with the view of adjusting the
difficulties, agreed to an extension Of
time until Wednesday night Then two
more days were added. and now the Cap
ital company has until Tuesday noon
to sign the contract.
1t was decided last night that this fur
ther extension of time was not made be-
cause Of any dificulty in arriving at
an agreement. but that several more
days were needed in order that all claus
es OF the contract might be carefully
considered before being closed. 1t was
said thrt that part of the agreement
gone up to this time has been IA
vorab.y accepted by both sides.
Text of Letter.
The answer Of the company follows:
Hon. Oliver P. Newman, president.
board Of commissioners, D. c., Wash
ington, D. c.
Dear Sir: Your letter of this date, ad-
dressed to the board OF directors OF the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany. was delivered at the office Of the
company early this afternoon, affording
insufficient time to call a meeting of the
board, but conference attended by all
Of the directors in the city was held, and
they will be glad to avail themselves per-
sonally Of the opportunity Of calling on
you tomorrow at the hour suggested
IT am instructed by the conference to
state that the directors have read the
correspondence referred to in your COM
munication Of even date, and that the
action of Mr.. King. the president of the
company in the matters to which you re-
fer has been with the concurrence and
approval OF the entire board Of direc-
tors.
Recognition the Crux.
They desire me further to advise you
that the present point OF difference of
Importance between the company and
the strikers, and perhaps the only one
which Is absolutely irreconcilable, is the
demand of the latter that the company
enter into contractual relations with the
Amalgamated Association OF Street and
Electric Railway Employees. which the
members of the board are unanimous In
holding 1t cannot do in Justice to the
public, its own interests. or a majority
Of its employees, in view of the undis-
guised, openly declared. ultimate pur-
pose and design of that association to
force this company into an agreement to
emf 10y no men except its members, and
those, only, so long as they have not, by
the nor-payment of dues or other cause
fallen under the displeasure of the asso-
ciation or its officers.
''The position of this company is not
different in principle now from what Il
has always been. You say that by the
agreement Of March II. 1916 this COM
pany accepted the principle of collective
bargaining. and that MIR King in his
letter OF February q. 1917. indicated the
necessity of mediatorial services of the
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