Evening star., 1922-07-21
UNION CH|EFSF|LE
STRIKE COMPLAINT
Claim Pumping Station Men
Are Being Asked to Go to
Terminal Power Plant.
VISIT DISTRICT HEADS
Commissioner Keller and Engineer
Gordon Call Labor Leaders
Charges Lies"
VISIT DISTRICT HEADS

Complaint that employees of the
pumping station of the District were
being sought to leave their present
employment and enter the service of
the Washington Terminal Company
power plant by Master Mechanic
Frank Steele of the pumping station
was filed with the District Commits
sioners today by a delegation of labor
leaders headed by President Samuel
Gompers of the American Federation
of Labor. Secretary Frank Morrison.
Charles Frazier, representing local
machinists, and almost a dozen others.
The complaint, which was laid be-
fore the Commissioners during a
board session. will be considered by
Col. Keller, Engineer Commissioner,
who has jurisdiction over the pump
ing station.
President Gompers after coming out
of the meeting declared that these re-
ports had come to him directly from
persons who had been approached by
Mr.. Steele. He said that the delega-
tion did no more than lay the COM
plant before the Commissioners and
that they received no promises of ac-
tion.
Engineer Commissioner Keller said
IF such. action was taken by Mr..
Steele he did it under a misapprehen-
sion of what was desired"
Possible Action Uncertain.
Asked what action the Commission
ers would probably take in event that
the complaint was well founded, Com
missioner Keller replied: II can only
speak for one Commissioner. and I
don't know"
Sanitary Engineer Gordon earlier to-
day was asked whether such action
had been taken by Mr. Steele He en-
phaticany denied it. but added that a
canvass of employees of the pumping
station was taken and that it was
found all except one were members of
a union. The canvass was taken for
no specific or definite purpose. he
said, but in order to Inform ourselves
in the possibility of eventualities"
Among those who accompanied Mr..
Gompers to the District Building to-
day were Newton A. james, repre-
senting the stationery firemen and
boilers; Henry Miller, member of Gen.
tral Labor Union, recognized as one
of the leading local labor officials
Chester A. Wright and Guy Oyster OF
Mr.: Gompers' personal STAFF.
the District building Newton A
James. business representative of the
striking firemen and oilers, charged
that emergency efforts were being
made by the District government off,
cials to coerce surplus engineers in
the employ of the pumping station to
fill positions left vacant by the strik-
ers at the power plant. A number of
employees at the pumping station,
James said, were requested by certain
District officials to accept positions as
strikebreakers at the terminal power
plant, but all steadfastly refused.
Engineer Commissioner Keller.
Sanitary Engineer Gordon and termi-
nal officials branded James charges
as deliberate lies.
Gradual paralyzation of service at
the terminal union leaders claim. has
forced the railroad officials to utilize
every possible agency to maintain
normal train movements. Charles
Holmes, president of the local ma
chinists' union, stated that railroad
officials on the big eastern systems
are pulling big strings to keep the
terminal in operation" In this con-
nection. he said, Dewitt Tyler promi-
nent New York banker and one of
the big stockholders in the Pennsyl-
yania railroads. is in Washington aid
ing the terminal authorities in their
efforts to keep the terminal operating.
I'VE have laced the terminal nice
and tight" said Holmes. There are
a few men working. but they are not
mechanics The terminal officials have
tried to replace the strikers by pro-
noting men already in the service
who do know the rudtments Of me-
chanics." Fifteen men, 1t was claim
ed, are now working In the terminal
powerhouse boiler room trying to per-
form the duties OF two of the strikers.
Despite the claims of the union lead
srs, terminal officials maintain that
conditions are running along nicely
an fact" one official said, "the situ-
alton is much better than yesterday"
Following James statement, A. M.
Lawson. who is directing the activi-
ties of the striking engineers at the
terminal powerhouse. charged that
the special guards employed at the
terminal not only are insulting wom-
en-, but are intimidating negroes in an
effort to make trouble for the strik-