Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-11
DENIES RECOGNITION
REFUSAL A CAUSE
Edward McMorroW Says Issue
Was Not Governing
Factor in Strike.
UNION FOR ARBITRATION

A fiat denial that the Amalgamdteu
Street Car Employees Union had sane
toned the strike on the Washington
Railway and Electric Company lines be-
cause the company had refused recognition
of the union was made today before the
Senate strike Investigating committee
by Edward McMorrow, a member OF the
general executive board of the Anal
gamated.
George P. Hoover. counsel for the
company, questioned Mr.. McMorrow
again and again on this point. He call
ed to Mr.. McMorrow's attention the
fact that the general board had sane
toned the strike here after receiving
a telegram from officials Of the union
stating that the company would not
recognize the union.
Was any other reason given the gem
eral board for sanctioning strike
here?" demanded Mr.. Hoover.
Mr.. McMorrow replied that there
might have been, that he had no per-
sonal knowledge. He insisted that the
general board always had confidence in
handling strike situation. and that in
this case. with President Malone here,
whose word is law the sanction was
of course granted.
Recognition, Not Sufficient Cause.
MT McMorrow told the committee
that the mere question of recognition
of the union had never been considered
sufficient grounds for ordering a strike,
anywhere. To a rapid fire of questions
regarding some fifty strikes of the va
rious locals of the Amalgamated since
the fall of 1915, in various cities, Mr..
McMorrow insisted that none had been
called because recognition of the union
was refused. and also declared that, go
far as his knowledge went, none of
strikes" He said that the organization
did not believe in sympathetic strikes.
He testified that the men here had
complied with the rules Of the ANAL
gamated as far as possible" regard
ing the ordering of the strike.
Mr Hoover pointed out that these
rules call for a secret strike ballot.
and then a request to the general
board to sanction strike. The sane
tion, he said. was granted by the
board, at the request of President
Malone. several days before the men
voted to strike.
We didn't want you to eat US up
before We had our eyes open," replied
Mr.. McMorrow: There was no time.
You were seeking blood. and we didn't
want to be caught mapping.
Denies Violence Was Intended.
Mr. McMorrow denied that Frank
O'Shea had been brought here from
Buffalo during the strike to incite the
men TO violence. though he admitted
that he was here to attend meetings of
the strikers and to instruct them as
regards picket duty and other mat
ters. -----+..-s. !.
Did he tell the men to yen .scab' at
the non-union men operating the cars"
asked Mr.. Hoover.
Mr.. McMorrow said he did not know
that he did.
strikers were on duty at the Union
station for month or moro after the
strike began calling scab' and urging
citizens to ride on cars other than the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany's. were they not asked Mr..
Hoover.
Mr.. McMorrow said that he had no
knowledge of their calling "scab." He
and If he had his way they would still
be there.
"Scab is the college yell of your or
ganization. is it not" asked Mr.. Hoover.
Mr. McMorrow denied this.
The witness insisted that the Anal
gamated always sought to avoid trou-
BILE and strikes.
1T is a militant trades union" he
said. 1T stands for progress. 1t has
met opposition. and where opposition
&lash, especially when the organization
runs up against people like the Wash
Jngton Railway and Electric Company"
Arbitration. Mr.. McMorrow insisted. was
Sc corner stone Of the organization. 1t
9lways insisted that arbitration be tried
before a strike was called.
Mr.. Hoover asked Mr.. McMorrow many
questions regarding violence alleged to
Cher cities where strikes of the Anal
gamated were under way. While admit
ting that he had read newspaper stories
of such violence the witness insisted that
he had not seen any himself.
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