Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-14
Unions tOHOldJO
Meeting Here for
Final Action.
NO RECOGNITION
ISSUE REMAINS
w. r. E. Employees to
Have Full Support
of Light Workers.

Have Full Support
of Light Workers.
Whether there is to be strike OF
kmployes of the Potomac Electric
Power Company and the Washington
Railway and Electric Company VIII
be decided at joint mass meeting o,
the union men Of both companies III
Waters Hall, 71s Sth street north
west. at midnight.
A committee representing the en-
gineers,. firemen. oilers and machln-
lists of the Potomac Electric Power
Company conferred for nearly three
hours today with l. e. Sinclair. gen
eral superintendent OF the company
Mr.. Sinclair stated after the con-
ference that he told the men the com
pany was willing to discuss the ques-
zion of wages and working condi-
tions. but not the demands Tor a
aligned contract with the union.
The men stated that the question
of a contract was regarded as essen
tial by them. and that the emp,oSess
40 a whole would have to decide q.
will waive the demand for contract
Pewer Force Backs Car Men.
Newton A. James, representing the
arHnen and oilers. stated that the
employees Of the electric light COM
pany would stand by the carmen OF
the washington Railway and Eiectfic
Company II the latter remain nrh III
the demand for q contract.
The directors OF the companies are
TO meet at 3:ls o'clock THIS aI,en9on' a,...t;on
While they will discuss the sttuaeion,
there is no Indication as to Wnat
action will be taken. II any. .,
At the conference today, Mr.. SIN
clair discussed at length with the
men the willingness OF the electrlc
light company to consider wage
increase and Improved working con.
dition. with the men. He urged that
any further action by the men be
postponed until the Public Utilities
Commission renders its decision on
the street car fare. On this oecision
hinges the question wnetner tnc
washington Railway and Electric
Comnany will be able to grant its
men higher wages.
Ceanittee PeFsssssl.
The committee which called on Ar.
JoAn Lorch. John Ncohl, =. M Law
son and Thomas Jones oe the engin-
eers: Newton A. James % the nre-
men and oilers. and Charles Frazer
of the machinists.
Mr.. James made It clear that the
union men Of the electric hgnt com
pany have specific demands as well as
the carmen, and that 1t Is not ques-
tion of q sympathetic movement by
the electric light employees to support
the carmen He said the electf1c
light employees want q signed agree
ment with the electric light company
as earnestly as the carmen want
.,.,h on oUreement with the w. r.
and e.
statenent BY A. e. Jones-
A. e. Jones, international vice presi-
dent Of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton Street and Electric Railway
Employees. of which the Washington
Railway and Electric men are mem-
bers, said today that wages were not
the men were willing to await the
verdict of the Public Utilities Commits
sion before pressing demands for the
increased wages.
What we want before midnight to-
night" declared Mr.. Jones. lis an
agreement in writing that the com.
pany tthe Warrington Railway and
Electric) will recognise the union
take part in the appointment Of an
arbitration board for the settlement OF
wages al soon AZ possible: II neces-
sary, waiting until the utilities COM
mission has acted
That IL what is being asked. If II
is not granted or the men not notified
before midnight tonight action will
probably be taken"
Members Of the executive board OF
the union were positive in predictions
OF a strike at midnight unless an
agreement from the company was
forthcoming.
United Action Predicted.
Az a result union officials declare
that a simultaneous strike by work
ers of the Potomac Electric Power
Company and the Washington Rail.
will grip Washington tomorrow un
less action to forestall 1t through the
signing OF an agreement to contrac
with the men Is taken before thai
time.
The vote to strike already has beer
chance will be presented for the mer
to annul this vote. II they desire, bu
a general survey of conditions indi
Gates that they will not recede.
Department OMers Mediation.
In an effort to prevent the threat
ened strike the Department Of Labo
late last night appointed r. b. Ma
haney, representative of the division
of Cancellation, as mediator.
The appointment was made in an
swer to a telephone request fror
President Ham.
No report has been made to tn
department by Mr.. Mahanney toda,
Oficials. however. expressed the be
lief that the strike which would Gu
of all electric power from the busi
ness, industrial and governments
plants probably would be ayerted b
ahe mediating influence of the depart
ment
Union officials declared at noon to
day that Mr.. Mahaney had not cor
1erred with them.
Power Employees Meet.
Action at two meetings Of unio
employees of the Potomac EIectri
Power Company last night placed tn
decision for a strike in the hands q
business agents.
The Firemen and Oilers UnioI
meeting in Painters Hall, EOS Joh
Marshall place. granted N A. Jane;
business agent, the authority to spea
Tor the union in regard to the de
mands for a union scale Of wage
and, with no further action on tn
part of the association, to call me
off their work at midnight tonight,
necessary
The Brotherhood of Steam and Oper
ating Engineers. claiming 80 per Ger
OF the engineers and substation en-
ployes of the company. placed til
matter III the hands of committe
consisting of President j. H. Lorsl
Alonzo Lawson and Thomas II. Jone