Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-04
D. c. employees
VOTE To Defer
STRIKE ACTION
Accept the Commissioners
Promise to Follow the Navy
Wage Scale.

Eight hundred and fifty members of
night voted unanimously to adhere to
requests of the conciliators of the
Department of Labor and defer ac-
ton" on the question of a strike until
August 20
The reason of the non-strike vote
was the statement of the Commission
ers that they proposed to adhere to
their announced intention of review
ing the District wage scale after the
Navy Department wage board reports
on that date.
The meeting was addressed by the
three conciliators. Acting Secretary
of La Dor Rowland B. Mahany. John b.
Colpoys and Walter D. Davidge. Fol-
lowing the addresses d resolution
postponing action until August 20
was introduced.
Resolution Brings Discussion.
This started a round of discussion.
After member who had been making
known, by shouting in the rear of the
hall, his protests to even consider such
a resolution had been elected. jeremiah
Mahaney took the floor. His address
was the keynote speech from the
ranks. We have been going on in
this controversy for more than three
weeks" he said. with all respect
due to you. l say abide by what the
iconciliators say. and if you do wen
win in the end as sure as the stars
are in heaven. l say stick to what
the Labor Department says-to the
last man and to the last minute.
All of the conciliators voiced the
advice. Don't strike" 1t was the
note of appeal which characterized
all of the addresses.
Mnhany Quotes Records.
In the first address Mr.. Mahany
quoted extracts from the records OF
congressional committee hearings. in
which the Commissioners had pledged
themselves to follow the Navy wage
scale as the basis for his stand in
the matter He cited pages and sec
lions of the reports to verify his
claim. ......
1T is very doubtful thing" he
said. for men. or a body of men. TO
body of equally reputable men had
made utterances which We're I'M
dualihedIy false especially when the
records proved that the assertions
are true.
the congressional hearings to clear
the record We have come here to-
night 20 tell you that YOU have won
a victory. At last. for the first time
since you were an organization. you
have public opinion with you.
you have the opportunity to do
the big thfng-the great thing. You
can say to the citizens of Washington
that YOU believe in the Justice of the
public. the city government and even
the Commissioners.
Mr. Colpoys Comedies.
Mr.. Colpoys made short address.
in which he conceded with the. views
of Mr. Mahany. ending with the
words: Don't strike.
A brief talk also was given by MI
Davidge, who declared that after all,
il was difference of opinion that made
a horse race
Following the presentation of the
resolution postponing action. several
addresses were made from the floor
Ali of them. made by members of the
association and leaders of various
groups, urged the meeting to, abide
by the advice of the concrffators.
Frank j. sBresnahan, member OF the
wage board. declared he thought. IN
all Justice to the men who nave
taken up our cause. the matter
should be left in their hands.
Not a Dfsxehfing vote.
when the vote. came. not dis
senting voice was heard. n
A resolution of thanks td0he news
papers of Washington for the fair
ness of their stand in reporting the
news of the situation and resolu-
ton thanking the conciliators for their
efforts were adopted.