The Washington times., 1917-05-26
CAR STRIKE VERSION
TOLD BY c. P. KING.
President Of Traction Com
pany Begins Testimony.
SAYS DEMANDS SHOCKED HIM
UiIity's Executives Eyes Misty as
He Recalls Mems FriendlineSs.
(continued from First PageJ

Continued from First Page.)
Sent King concluded this statment, and
raised his head, with his eyes stli
misty.
The witness testified that prior to the
presentation Of the demands by the en-
ployes in 1916. the best Of cordial good
feeling prevailed, with the company
giving Christfas tree parties for the
'vorkmen's children and doing welfare
work to promote a good spirit OF CO.
operation among them.
Finds Men Are Cold.
Asked what he did after the demands
were presented in 1916. President King
aaid they came as a complete surprise 10
him and his associates, and In view OF
, the manifest good feeling among the
employes he was at a loss to under
stand them.
II Immediately went to the company's
barns to get into contact with the men,
said President King. Il found the atrno-
epbere among them changed. There was
a coldness among them in their attitude
toward me"
aDid YOU have occasion to observe
LOYALTY among employees OF the company
All that timer asked Attorney Hoover.
YES" replied the witness. Il went
40 the East Capitol street school, where
we used to drill, and there saw sOo en-
moves from other departments than the
transportation department and hearo
Them volunteering to run cars.
Against Union Hearing.
The next day you were invited to the
District Building. What was said there
with regard to the union?" inquired
Attorney Hoover.
81 told the commissioners that II the
AmaICau1ated Association was eliminated
would confer with the employees" re-
piled President King. Il told them II
the AmaIgamated Association was not
eliminated there could be no conference
60 far as 1 was concerned.
Is In answer to other questions the
witness said Conciliator Blackman
struck the name of the Amalgamated
Association out of the proposed CON
tract and that It was understood this
eEas not merely the elimination OF two
words. but the actual casting out Of
the union from consideration
wage Question Easy.
Responding to another interroga-
tion, President King said:
.sThe negotiations in 1916 almost
failed at the eleventh hour because
of efforts to inject the Amalgamated
Association into the agreement again.
Conciliator Blackman was recalled to
Washington and settled the matter
with the elimination of the union.
The question Of wages was easily set
tied, but the injection of the union
threatened the entire negotiations"
& The high light of Secretary Bowen's
cross examination was his contradic-
fion of the testimony Of Commissioner
Newman as to whether the company
swas told the employees would agree
this year to a contract similar to that
OF 1916.
Capitals Contract Recorded.
Before Secretary Bowen resumed to
a copy of the contract made by the
Capital Traction Company with its
employees be incorporated in the rec
ord. This was done.
Secretary Bowen then identified a
letter from. the company to the Pub
lie Utilities Commission, advising
that body that a number OF employees
had signed an individual contract and
asking the commission to adjudicate
any grievances which might arise un-
der the terms of the individual agree
ment.
The witness corroborated William
nam . HGHAAAllOAg d uE-
monstration by non-union men in
Clarence p. Kings office when they
were told the union was not to be
recognized.
Again Discusses Contract.
Questioned by Senator Jones, the
witness reiterated his statement OF
yesterday, that while he prepared the
individual contract last summer or
fall he did not discuss it with King
until just before the strike this
year.
The witness said he objected to
ReZin Orr appearing as counsel for
the employees before the Public UtiIi-
ties Commission because Orr was one
Of the organizers Of the union which
the company had refused to recog-
nize."
After detailing the conversations
and events at the District building
on March 10, Secretary Bowen was
asked by Attorney Hoover:
Did the Commissioners at any
tine during that conference say the