The Washington times., 1917-03-12
STRIKERS POSITION
STATED TO PUBLIC
Union Presents Its Case as
Against That of the Trac-.
tion Company.

The following statement to the pub
lie was issued at the headquarters
of the striking street car men to-
day:
I'VE take this means of briefly plac-
ing this situation OF the striking en-
ployes OF the Washington Railway
and Electric Company before you.
We sincerely regret that we have been
compelled to suspend work and there
by discomode our fellow citizens, and
We assure you that this action on our
part was only taken after all hope OF
reaching an understanding with the
company that would give us the right
Of collective bargaining and the pro-
lection of our labor was exhausted.
First, we offered to accept the same
contract and conditions that was agreed
TO between the Capital Traction Com
pany and their employees. TEen We Of
fered to accept the Commissioners Of
the District of Columbia as the medi-
ators and arbitrators and let them de-
eide what our contract relations should
be. This was refused.
The Proposition.
we then submitted by letter through
the commission the following propo-
sition:
That the company withdraw the in
dividuaI contracts that they are now
trying to force their employees TO sign
and to reinstate the employees that have
been locked out for being members oil
the organization; then let the present
agreement be extended for period OF
thirty days.
Second. Let the Washington Raj
way and Electric Company select
some person to represent them. On
the part OF the empfOyes we viii Sc
lect Samuel GOmpers. president oi
the American Federation of Labor
Then let the Hon. WOodraw Wilson
President Of the United states act
as umpiref Let the question OF q
contract and what the terms OF II
shall be. be submitted L" these gen
tIemcn, and the decision Of a major
| ity Of them shall be final ana pima
| ing upon both parties.
The propositions proposed In this
letter were absolutely refused By
/ President King, Of the company.
Following this william IL. Wilson
I Secretary OF Labor, offered prop
osition that the company withdraN
their individual contracts and let th'
| old agreement remain for seven day!
and in that time to get together an'
| try to reach a settlement. This prop
osition was absolutely refused b,
| President King.
"NothIng Left Hut strike.
sour contract expired at L. o'cloci
last night. There was nothing lcf
! for MS to do but to suspend worl
| and struggle to perserve our unloi
or accept the individual condition
| proposed by the company. whicl
| meant the disbandment Of our union
50 We were compelled to suspen'
/ work.
! "Our struggle is for the right OF col
Iectiye bargaining. We worked 70
! y.nrs under individual conditions; tn
! rasuIts were that we We're among th'
lowest paid street railway employe
I'm America, with working condition
that were depIorable. and We know b.
that sad experience. II we gave up ou
union We must return to those forme
conditions.
..Tbc Capital Traction Company ha
racopnized andNconceGed our just de
nands and We appeal to our fellow
citizens to stand by and assist us Il
this struggle for our God-slVen an
constitutional rights.
"Committee OF Employees. Washingto
Railway and Electric Company,
I'll. a. WILBURT,
M. T. SLATER,