Evening star., 1896-07-03
IN CASE OF A STRIKE
President Phillips Thinks Most Of the Men
Will Stick.
Members Of the Assembly Believe
Dinerently-MOre Letters From
COngressmen On the Subject.

any reply from President Phillips to the
letter of General Secretary-Treasurer John
w. Hayes, which was sent to Mr.. Phillips
yesterday, and in which Mr.. Hayes, among
other things, said: I'VE should like to get
definite understanding of the position of
the company by tomorrow (Friday) even-
Ing" and the impression prevails in inter-
ested quarters that no further action rela-
tive to the matter will be taken by Mr..
Phillips during the present week.
Will Stand by the Company.
The Information was given today to
Star reporter by some of the conductors
who are heartiest in their praise Of Presi-
dent Phillips for the manner in which he
has dealt by them. and who stated that
they would stand by the company under
any and all circumstances, that a quiet
canvass has been made within the past
day or two Of the conductors and motor
men in the employ of the company, and
that 1t was ascertained that in the event of
trouble. there were $50 who would stand by
the company.
Whether or not this canvass was made
by order of Mr.. Phillips could not be ascer-
talned but 1t Is asserted that the inquiry
was made by members Of the railroad COM
panys own Protective Association. of
which most of the employees are members,
and 1t was further stated that many Of
to the company and SO express themselves.
are fearing that a strike will be ordered
by the executive board Of the Street Rail-
way Assembly.
qIerters, is contemplated at this time at
least, although the board has been urged
TO take this course, especially In view OF
the fact that report today reached the
headquarters of the discharged men that
Mr.. Phillips would be willing to reinstate
them to their former places without much
further delay were 1t not for the fear that
should he do so the members of the gen.
eral executive board Of the knights of
Labor would herald the event throughout
the country as a great X. of L. victory.
Messr Lawrence and Dent, master work
man and chairman Of the executive board.
respectively. of the Street Railway Assem-
bly,, Speaking today for themselves AMI
their colleagues. said they wanted to deny
IN the nest emphatic terms that they had
ever signed petition which had for its
OBJECT the defeat Of legislation asked Of
Congress by the Metropolitan Railroad
Company.
Mr.. F. H. Thomas, supervisor Of trains
on the 9th street line of the METROPOLITAN
company, today denied the statement male
al the headqu lrters of the discharged men,
and there told to Star reporter, that he
was informed by competent authority that
no. men would be hired by the company
for any purpose until after the 4th instant
psa tirday), and that the knights of Labor
who. we're discharged would not be rein
stated Mr.. Thomas denied further tn II
ne was at the office Wednesday evening
VIXEN the remark attributed to him is said
to have been made.
A Different State of Things.
In reference to the statement that there
are $50 conductors and motormen who will
stand by the company under all circum-
stances. members of the executive board of
the assembly said they were inclined 70
think should an order to strike he issued
the company would find a different state of
affairs. These officials claimed that tn,
great majority Of the men row emf, loved
on the cars of the metropolitan company
nao answered the questions propounded by
lhe company's officials favorably to that
siue because they were instructed so to do
by the assembly, and not because they
were any more disloyal to the latter now
than In the past. and they asserted with
nuch positiveness that if strike is or
dered 1t will be made effective. They fur
ther believe, they say. that public opinion
and sympathy are so strongly with the dis
charged men that the latter are very con-
hdent that few If any Of the 100 supposed
10 De loyal to the company would take a
stand against their former comrades in
case of strike
The COmpnny's Friends,
Friends of the company, on the other
hand. assert that if the Street Railway As
sembIy orders a strike and the order is
obeyed the only effect will be to cause the
strikers to lose their job, as Mr. Phillips
has, 1t Is said, enough men to supply the
place Of every man on the road who would
STOP work, and that the running of the
line would not be delayed for three min
utes.
A Messenger From Mr.. WellinxtOn.
1t is stated that a messenger from Cnite.l
States Senutor-elect George L. Wellington
of Maryland today called on the discharged
men and assured them that Mr.. Yelling
ton would be in the city in a Gay or two
and would then do all in his power to aid
them in getting back on the road The
following letter was also received from Mr.
Wellington today: Your favor of the Both
ultimo is at hand. 1 have communicated
with President Phillips and hope that we
may be able to effect an amicable arrange
ment by which the workngmen in which
you are interested can be taken care Of
! snail be glad to do anything in my power
to help you"
Representative Hnrmer's Letter.
This letter came from Representative
Harmer of Philadelphia, who wrote from
Brigantine, N. j., where he is spending a
few days:
Il am in receipt of a statement today
that you have dismissed from the serv-
ice Of the Metropolitan Street Railroad
company a NUMBER OF your employees be-
cause of their membership in the order of
the Knights of Labor. which 1 trust may
be incorrect. While it may appear to you
that l have no right to inquire into the
preference you may exercise In the Sc
lection of employees of your company, yet
as one who has always manifested a de-
sire to promote the success of your road 1
should feel that l were remiss in giving
evidence of that desire if 1 were not 10
inquire into the facts of the case and urge
you against doing an injustice, if such were
so. to an organization SO honorable and
worthy in its objects and practice as 1
know the Knights of Labor to be-
Il can scarcely think it possible that a
1. gentleman who has impressed me so favor
ably in the interests Of equity, fairness
and justice in matters of legisla ton coming
before Congress could have committed so
grave an error to dismiss employees be-
cause of their membership in the order Of
the Knights Of Labor.
"If, however, this mistake has been made
appeal to you in the interest of all con-
cerned to correct 1t at once, and am sure
the future will give evidence that the sug-
gesticns l submit that of a friend"
What Representative jenkins Says.
Representative John j. Jenkins sent the
following from Chippewa Falls, Wis :
Yours of the 25th ultimo came while was
1foH frnn Mr.