New-York tribune., 1886-04-02
NOT AUTHORIZED KNIGHTS.
AN APPEAL FOR THE BROADWAY ROAD
MEN REPREsENTiNG THEMSELVES As A COMs.irfrr
Frou rHr KNIGHTS oF LABOR.


New York. to-day demanded of the members OF the
Legislature her promise that they will kill the bill to
annu the charter Of the Broadway Surface Railway Com
pany The demand made the ground that II the bill
becomes law the railroad will stop running and the
conductors and drivers be thrown out of work. The
knights seemed of the fact that the annument
bill provides for tho sale Of the railroads franchise 70
another corporation, aud that will not stop running
for day The Senators chiefly made the object Of
this extraordinary attempt OF the Kn ht. OF Labor to
Interfere with legislation Interference that Is for
Ddden by the rules OF the Order. Perhaps
! General Master Workman P0wdcrly will ind
il convenient to return from Scranton aud
stop the effort OF the Knights save
to Jacob Sharp his beloved and costly railroad There
general tstonishment that the Knights should be
willing to become Mr. Sharp tools When the Senators
arrived In the morning they told that committee
| OF the Knights OF Labor would like to them.
Few beyond the NewYork Senators needed this request
Senator Cullen the first OF the Senator'S who en-
tered the room and he afterwards introduced his follow
Senators the Knights. All the Senators struck
by the dctatora tone assumed by the Knights and they
al once resented The Knights also freely indulged In
threats as to what they would do the polls II their
| demand not complied WITH and some uttered
communisc threats. saying that they would dethrone
! the Governor" for having favored the annulment bill
In message to the Legislature Tho spokesman of tho
Knights was man who said his name WAS Freeman
| Huntington. lie presented document to Senator
DAILY who had followed Senator Cullen into tho room
which stated that special private meeting OF the
Knights of Labor employed by the surface railroads OF
NewYork City, resolutions adopted empowering
committee to such means as they may ueem nece'-
sary prohibit the annulment OF the charter OF the
Broadway Surface Railroad.
Mr. Huntington said that he employed by tho
Broadway Railway and that his associates we're William
Charlton, OF No. 1913 seventh-ave Bernard Cummings
of the Broadway Surface Railway Company; Leonard
Fuller of tho Forty-sec0nd and Grand Street
line George Bouvele, OF the Bleecker Street
railroad, William Cummings of the Broadway Surface
Railroad. James Garty, whose railroad was not given
Patrick Gllon, Of the Belt Line, Albert j. Benedict, OF
the Eighth Avenue Railroad john Cummings. OF the
Belt Line; James Reynolds railroad not given. and John
Hennessy, Charles simmons John Devne. Richard
Keeer and william Chatton, all OF whom refused ostate
by what railroad they employed. Mr. Huntington
stated Senators Daily and Cullen that the committee
desired them to give pledge that they would not vote
for the bill annung the charter Of the Broadway sur
face Railroad Company.
"What arguments you bring forward, gentlemen,
to fortfy us IN the course you recommend for us T. in
quired Senator DAILY.
"The Cable Railroad Company will got possession of
Broadway" replied several OF the Knights.
"Oh no." said DAILY. "n you had read tho papers
the past few days you would have seen that the Csbe
road has exis.crce that the courts have decided
against it,
wel" said one OF the Knights. "then the charter OF
the Broadway and Seventh Avenue Railroad would be
stopped from running AMI 500 men be thrown out Of
employment"
"Thc bill does not touch the Seventh Avenue Railroad
Company" said Senator DAILY.
Anyhow TIE Broadway surface Railway Company
dissolve and therefore Its would stop run
ning" said several of the Knights in tho breath.
mot wOnid stop running ou Broadway said
Senator Day, seemingly astonished at the ig-
norance manifested Not would stop run
ming Tho annunent bill provides for the sell
Ing Of the franchise another railroad corporation
The rails will not be torn up The cars VIII run as usua,
and every at work on them will continue at
work cannot SEQ the bills interfere with you at
ALL and II hoy did. Of tho senate must do our duty
and pass them. What your credentials, gentlemen
do not doubt what you say TO your authority for
your appearance nere but what you to identify
yourselves I"
ave have the seal OF the ORDER" said Mr. Huntington,
pulling roll OF paper and turning up one leaf on
which there was bit of Senator DAILY desired TO
examine the SEAL but Mr. HUNTINGTON declined to permit
him to see It, sayngi 1--WE not permitted to let 1t
pass OF our hands"
"wil you let me see your Dadgei" inquired Senator
DAILY.
Tne rules Of the order forbid my showing badge"
said Mr. Huntington.
Senator Daily then said to the Knights swell. gentle
men, repeat intend for these bills. and moth
Ing that you say will from that de-
termination"
Senator Cuon also addressed the Knights, saying
al shall for the bills, and will repeat what Mr DAILY
has sad that rothing can do or say Will deter me
from acting have Indicated"
The knights then threatened Senator Cullen " You
may well give up hope Of further political prefer
uIent IL you vote for that bill"
csntlemen your threats cannot deter from doing
what think the peo lie of NewYork desire to do Have
you read Governor LI's message Oh this subject Do
you not know he favors those billsP
'Ycs said one OF the knights, but we will compel
the Governor 20 cha ge his views"
.He has hold OF tLs helm the State" said Senator
Cullen and don't think you change the direction
OF the ship as he ia guiding it, How are you going to
get him to ehange his opinion Oh those bills T.
There was chorus Of answers from the Knights
One man said: We don't for the opinions; we'll
pull him out OF his char" Another said: "Wo'll de-
throne him"
But what are you going to do with the Governor,"
inquired Senator Clllcn persistently.
"W, Il knock him out say" said one or the knights.
1--WE have 100000 votes than ho had for Gov
ernor ana VIII pat good fellow like you Jack Cul-
The other New-York Senators. Murphy, Traphagen,
ReiiIy. Durham and Iiunkitt shorty Iitgr%ard came
say but said nothing In reply All the
while members OF the Knights OF Labor di not repre-
sent organization, but only themselves personally
IL was also the opinion OF the senators that the broad
way Surface Railway Company and jacob Sharp had
instigaed nor visit TO Albany, ana Indeed had pInneo
James Connolly, leading member OF the knights OF
Labor confirmed this suspicion. lie said that the pre-
teadcd authority the knights OF Labor OrgsnZa-
tion In New York clearly fraudulent. In order
To show the pretended Knights OF Labor Committee
was n spurious Senator Murphy invited It's members
10 appear before Senators this evening The
invitation accepted. Then Senator Murphy asked
Mr.. Connolly and two other members OF tne hhghts |
of Labor now here, owen Smyth aud Joel W. Hopper.
of New York. Oe present AZ the hearing and see
they could identity tue members OF tho delegation as
knights OF Labor Mr. smytb who Is prcsideut OF the |
Executive Engineers Association, made an lnVestlga-
uon before the meeting held He then |
said TO TIE TRIBUNE correspondent, "Ihey |
Lain hut
Ie that they authority from the order TO repre-
sent II here. The order goes before Legislatures
an such nissou this which TO defend fraudulent
railroad think they all great risk of being e1-
sattue thai ian Wallace, mrluber OF the Knights
of Labor said that the Knights III Albany did lot
represent the order and would be expelled from II
Nnrr -NnrL Snn InrL