The Washington times., 1919-10-20
WALK STRIKE
URGED TOCUT
D. c. CAR FARE
All Persons With Two Legs
Called on to Protest Latest
Gift to Companies.

L. w. W.ism mas nit sshington
| with a bang.
Partially recovered today from the
blow dealt her by the Public Utilities
| Commission. Washington has her jaw
set for action.
Saps service, sans sufficient cars,
sans seats for all patrons, the street
| railway companies of the District have
about worn to a frazzle the patience
Of long suffering public,
Thousands of Government workers
here have not had a seat on street
car in years. although technically they
ride to and from work.
The reply of the Public Utilities
comission to the wall of the water
logged w. r. & was the last straw.
Given Sunday to moil over the mat
ter, Luther Steward, who shapes the
destinies of the National Federation
of Federal Employees, today brought
forth proposal for a new organize
ton. which he believes can be made
one of the most effective Washington
has ever known.
Wants Club of Walkers.
Persons eligible, says Mr.. Steward,
are those who have two legs and a
! Willingness to assume a simple obli-
cation.
IN erect, this Is the obligation he
| suggests:
II promise to put forth every rea-
sonable effort to walk to and from
work each day of the week: to en-
| courage my associates to follow my
| example. Should ward organizations
private individuals or cooperative as
sociations inaugurate system of
buses. 1 promise to patronize them
| whenever circumstances permit"
The name of the new Organization
will be international Walkers of
Washington"
The slogan Mr.. Steward suggests is:
II walk to work"
Radieahsn All May Approve.
This is a brand of i. w. w.ism that
| even the most conservative should in
dorse," says Mr.. Steward.
The various Citizens' Associations
can make no move. that will hasten q
solution of the street railway prob
lem here better than to get behind the
Walkers
"Since the Public Utilities Commis-
sion saw fit to be so generous to a
corporation that has not merited any,
consideration at the hands of the pub
| lie, j fail to see why il did not go
the limit and award them a 1e-cent
| fare 7-cent fare is going to make
| the people think: 10-cent fare would
| drive the lesson home with more force
Federation employees in the Dis
trict of Columbia are urged to walk
to and from work whenever possible.
This will give them more time in
which to think. At present. they ride
the cars. The problem of how to keep
on their feet and hang on a strap now
occupies their attention. BY walking,
their minds will be free to think. Let
them turn over in their minds the
injustices that are heaped on them by
the street railways and prepare q
course of action"
Suggests Community Bssses.
Mr.. Steward suggests tn , the vari-
Gus citizens association organize
within their organizaticI.J "co-opera-
tive bus associations.
Abus, with q seating capacity of
twenty to thirty persons, may be put
into service for use of Federal em-
ployes and others during rush hours,
and be used for general Jitney serv-
ice during other hours of the day"
says Steward.
Mr.. Steward says stock could be
cold for SIS to $40 a share, and that
each stockholder would be certain to
ride the buses and make them a pay
ing proposition.
Miss Ethel Smith, executive secre-
tary of the Washington branch Of the
Woman's Trade Union League, was
one of the first volunteer organizers
for the "Walkers."
"I had already made up my mind to
walk," said Miss Smith, ''and now that
there is to be an organized move in
that direction. 1 intend to urge every
person / meet to Join. 1t will be
rather hard on shoes, but IL will
mean much to health and peace of
mind"
Conxressmen to Walk.
Members of Congress are expected
to adopt the plan of the walkers"
In fact two committee chairmen al
ready are walkers.
Congressman Carl Z. Mapes of the
House District Committee. walks to
work daily. a distance of more than
two miles.
IF more Washington people would
walk to work, there would be less
sickness here" says Mr.. Mapes. "I
attribute my continued good health
here to the fact that / walk to work"
Congressman Phil Campbell, chair
man of the House Rules Committee,
walks four miles to work each morn
ing.
II do not have time for golf or
other forms of recreation, so 1 walk"
says Mr.. Campbell. walking on a
crisp morning keeps me fit 81 find
that lose very little by walking, be-
cause the street car service is fire.
quently tied up, and while I am walk
ing I see others sitting on stranded
cars"
The life OF the proposed new or
ganization of walkers may be a few
weeks. six months, or 1t may be per-
manent. Mr. Steward believes that
once tried, walking to and from work
will' become so popular that many
will continue the practice even after