The evening times., 1896-07-01

1 The letter of President Phillips of the
/ Metropolitan Railroad Company yesterday
1 in answer to the suggestion of Chairman
| Babcock Of the House District Committee
| that the men discharged on last Thursday
| be given a herring by the directors OF the
| metropolitan Company has not yet led to
| any results.
IL was expected that q meeting of the di-
! fectors would be called today in accordance
| with Mr.. Phillips statement in the letter.
| But when the question was asked at the
| general office Of the Metropolitan Company
whether the meeting would be held the
clerk answered positively it would not.
| He said 1t would be useless to ask Mr.
| Phillips about 1t for certainly no meeting
\ would be held.
| Public sentiment continues strong against
] the unwarranted Interference with the
! right or labor to organize. A number of
4 sympathizers with the discharged men
have urged that boycott be declared
| against the Metropolitan Company, but %
4 is considered by tie executive committee
\ that negotiations are pending for settle
ment OF the difficulty, and 1T would be
wrong to take such action under the CIR
4 cumstances.
III the meantime many persons who
| would take the Ninth street and F street
cars under ordinary conditions are going
TO the Capital Traction and the Ecking-
| ton lines. The Metropolitan carries fewer
] than usual TO the hall game, and it is con-
fidently stated that the road is losing not
less than 500 day by reason OF the stand
| II has taken in denying the right OF work.
| lngmeD TO organize.
! THE DIRECTORS SYMPATHY
| THE directors OF the Metropolitan are
| Messrs. R. b. Weaver of the Weaver,
| kengla Co.; Marshal A. A. Wilson, W. B.
| Gurley, John Cammack, s. L. Brown, G. P.
Green well, DIR. Daniel Il. Clark and Presi-
| dent Phillips. 1t is not believed by those
/ active in the interests OF the1nen that more
| than one or two, at the outside, will sustain
| Mr.. Phillips in his position that he can die
| tate to the men their action as private in-
diyiduals in Joining any organization.
1t is argued by the discharged men that
II Mr.. Phillips has the right to dismiss
| them because they belong to the knights
of Labor. he has right to dismiss them
because they belong to the Good Templars
| or Masons or any order any action OF which,
| whether with their approval or In the face
| OF their opposition, may he interpreted by
! Mr.. Phillips as injurious 10 the company.
This is practically saying, they assert.
| that the president OF a corporation has II
| right to control the details of the lives
| OF its employees and TO discharge those
| who decline to be so ruled.
| That many Congressman do not agree
| with Mr.. Phillips IN this, is shown by the
| letters continuing to come in at Knights of
Labor headquarters, No. 43 b street north
| west.
| In this mornings mail was the following
| from the representative OF the Second In
diana district. 1t was accompanied by q
letter of strong encouragement to the men.
| CONGRESSMAN,SL LETTER.
| washington, Ind, June 20, 500.
| President Phillips, Metropolitan X. w:
| MY Dear Sir: have read an account of
| the peremptory dismissal from the service
| OF the Metropolitan Street Railway Of "a
| number OF its most faithful aud trusted en-
ployes for the sole reason, apparently,
i that they. in the full exercise Of their rights
| as American citizens, have found tito their
| interest to connect themselves with the
| Order OF the knights Of Labor an or
| ganzation established to maintain the
| dignity of labor aud To secure fair days
| wages for a fair days work.
| 1.-The Metropolitan Street Railway like
| all similar stock companies. is an organ
ization of combined capital, while the
!. knights of Labor is an organization of
/ combined labor. Each organization hes
1 been established for specific purpose,
i and by mutual concessions the two combiIa-
| tioDs can work together in perfect har-
/ mony to -. mutual benefit of each other.
II believe. my dear sir, that the day has
| passed in this country when combined capi-
| tai has moral or legal right tb Strike down
4 or attempt TO degrade organized labor or
| vice versa.
| Therefore. in view or the power of Con
! gress to legislate for the District of CO.
| lumbia. / suggest that 1t would be well
1 for the Metropolitan company, which is al
| ways rapping at the doors OF Congress, de-
1 mandine legislative favors and concessions,
4 10 agree to ut least an arbitration OF the
4 differences existing between your COM
4 pany and the Knights OF Labor
\ LAS a member of Congress was cordially
| in favor OF the provisions of the Phillips
1 labor bill that passed the House near the
1 close Of the session of Congress, and which
/ will pass the Senate at the next session, u
i hill which think is calculated to amicably
adjust all differences which may arise be-
1 tween capitals and labor, preventing strikes,
1 and the destruc tion Of property, and giving
both capital and labor their fullest arni:tg
capacity, consistent with fair dealing and n
| mutual regard for the rightsnf both.
MR. HARDY's REGRET.
II regret. sir. that you chose a time when
| Congress was in recess To perempterily dis
charge these men for no other assigned
reason than that they are members of the
| Knights of Labor, ,-and 1 believe it would be
| to the best interests of your company and
1 the street car patrons of The city of Wash
| ington II you would reinstate these old and
i faithful employees.
In many States we now have laws max
1 ing it a misderileanor for an Individual
1 employe or a corporation to discharge en-
| ployes solely because they do or do not
belong to labor organizations, and for tine
1 shall cheerfully, advocate and vote fer
such a measure in Congress which will ap-
| ply to the District of Columbia.
| Trusting that your company can see
| its way clear to reconsider its hasty action
1 in disoharging these men, 1 am.
Very respectfully, '
| "A. n. HARDY"
Senator Burrows, writing from his Michi-
gan home, says il there is any possible way
| in which he can help the men in pro-
tecting theft rights they need only call
on him. He ineloses a copy OF the letter
he has sent to President Phillips. 1t is
| as follows:
.Kalamazoo, Mich, June 80, 1896 /,
'.Mr. Phillips:
Dear Sir: / notice with great regret
that since the adjournment of Congress a
large number of the employees of the Metro
Epolitan Street Railroad Company have been
discharged, and it is stated that this step
was taken because they are members of
| the Knights of Labor
''0f course ] dos not know the reason for
| this action an the part of your c0fnpauy.
~~s..lr r.- Alns