Evening star., 1917-02-27
REQUEST employees
TODELAY DEMANDS
W. R. & e. Officials Decline to
Consider Issues Until After
Inauguration Day.
OWE DUTY TO THE PUBLIC

- -
Urging that the matter of demands
made by the Amalgamated Association
Of Street and Electric Railway En-
ployes, Local No. $50, upon the street
car companies. cannot be calmly con-
sidered until after Inauguration day,
Clarence p. King, president of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company. today sent communication
to the grievance committee of the en-
ployes of that company.
The communication ignores the en-
ployes' union, in that it is addressed
to George A. Wilburt, president of the
association; Harry f. Jones and Frank
M. Thompson, personally, who consti-
tute this grievance committee.
The communication begins with the
statement that the railway company is
In receipt of the recent communication
from the association. "in lieu of the ex-
listing contract with our employees, to
consider the making of a contract with
the Amalgamated Association, with
which We have had no agreement"
Cites Present Agreement.
Continuing the communication is as
follows:
The existing agreement between this
company and it's trainmen, which you
signed as you are aware, does not ex-
pire until March II, 1917, and was en-
tered into through the mediation of the
Board of Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia. who, at the sacrifice
of much time, who. at the sacrifice
their efforts to the consummation there
of. You participated in those efforts
as representing all of the trainmen.
and know that the proper adjustment
of the many questions which will arise
as a result of any effort to modify OIL
ment will require the cool, careful and
the undivided attention of all parties
directly interested as well as the entire
time of mediatorial board.
You know further that the board of
Commissioners Of the District of Colum-
bia, each officer of this company and
every one of it's employees must from
now until some days after the inaugu-
ration of President Wilson devote their
time. attention and energies to the
duties and obligations which all and
each of us owe to the entire country in
properly caring for the visitors who
wish to attend that Inauguration. This
is especially true of our trainmen, to
whom the safety and comfort of so many
visitors to their National Capital is com.
mitted.
Unusual Conditions Already Met.
The company. its officers and en-
ployes are even now called upon to
meet the unusual traffic conditions tha,
arise from the influx of people who
wish to attend the inaugural cere-
monies, and we therefore trust that al
of our employees will not only prove
loyal to the company, but to the city
and country in contributing their share
for a successful inauguration. When
we shall have discharged this duty
which all of US owe to the Presiden,
and the nation, we will have ample
time to calmly consider the situation
and shall be pleased to take up any
matter pertaining to the interests OF
our employees, as We have always been
willing to do"
Wilburt Declines to Comment.
In connection with Mr. Kings letter,
George A. Wilburt, president of the local
division of the employees union, who re-
ceived a copy at the union Office in the
Washington Loan and Trust Company
this afternoon declined to make a state
ment Mr.. Wilburt said he would first
have to submit the communication to the
committee.
committee of the Capital Traction Com
pany employees and George E. Hamil-
ton. president of the railway company
was held today in the office of the
latter. The outcome of the meeting and
what matters were gone into could not
be learned.
That the Washington Railway and
Electric Company has brought strike
breakers. into the city was the state
ment today of an official of the em-
ployes' union. I'VE have definite
knowledge that forty men have been
brought here and number of them are
being broken in on the cars" he said.
Cxiticises Action of Company.
Mr.. King asks us to be loyal to the
company and look after the care of the
people during the inauguration period"
he said, but / don't believe it is fair
to the employees to go out and bring in
men at this period. 1t is only done to
agitate our men. We are all loyal to
the company and have not said that
ing the inaugural period. The only
mention of strike has come from the
railway officials"
A meeting of the local union of en-
ployes is to be held Thursday night at
Topographic Temple. 1t was stated
by Bert Calderhead. secretary of the
union, that the meeting has nothing to
do with the present situation. He de-
clared it was a regular meeting of the
union.
PLANS OF REPUBLICANS