Evening star., 1896-07-07
Open Letter Regarding the Metro
politan Railroad Trouble.
SOME DENIALS AND CHARGES
Affidavits Form Part of the Docu-
ment.
LETTERS FROM CONGRESSMEN

Assembly, took In charge the matter of
replying to the statement of the directors
of the Metropolitan Railway Company, as
printed over the signature Of Mr.. William
| ]. Wilson, secretary of the board, in The
Star Of Saturday last, and, after meeting
this morning, furnished the following state
ment to The Star. A copy of 1t was also
sent to President Phillips:
An Open Letter.
To President 8. L. Phillips and the Board of
Directors Metropolitan Railroad Company,
Washington, D. c.
Gentlemen:
The controversy existing now for some
months between your company and the Or
der Of the Knights of Labor regarding the
ill-treatment and discrimination used
against our members eliminated on the
25th ultimo in the peremptory discharge,
without explanation of twelve of the most
prominent officers and members of Local
Assembly, 1895, knights of Labor.
We have, as you are aware, made every
effort to obtain some explanation of this
| matter; We have most patiently and persist
emily sought personal interview with your
body. believing that 1t only needed a meet
ing face TO face to convince every reason
able man that our organization and MEM
bers were being miS1udged and deserved
letter treatment.
The only response to all our requests was
one evasive letter on the I'd instant. and
the published statement of Secretary VIM.
J. Wilson, on July 8, which we presume Is
official. although we have had nothing di
rect. In that statement your board, through
the secretary, asserts:
THE company wishes it distinctly under
stood that no man has been discharged for
the reason that he was known supposed
to be Knight of Labor.
THAT any such assertion is in every re-
spect wholly unwarranted false and mis-
chevous."
You state further that ''it was believed
by the directors that the large majority of
| these men have for the last eighteen
months constantly, and In almost every
conceivable manner, endeavored to agitate
and excite discomfort against the company,
among their fellow workmen, until the di-
rectors were convinced that the peace Of
almost all of the employees was being more
or less destroyed. and the men incapaci-
tated for doing their duty to the COM
pany.''
You also state that one of the main rea-
sons why the discharge did not sooner oc
cur was because they 0he directors) knew
such discharge would be followed by mis-
representation, denials, efforts at strike ani
public clamor, all Of which they have
shrunk from precipitatng."
Mr.. Wilson says that the directors have
been Informed that since the adjourn
| ment of Congress some of these men have
been particularly active in fomenting dis
| satisfaction and INSTRUMENTATION, and in
some instances attempting to terrorize
other employees
The directors are represented ap-
preaching the consideration of the matter
with anxiety, because they foresaw the
Misrepresentation and public notoriety
which have taken place. and 1t was only
after the most anxious and indeed chari-
| table consideration that they determined
| the welfare of the company demanded the
dismissal of these employees"
In your public reply you also make the
charge that some of your best drivers con-
GuctOrS mOtOrmeQ
pressed alarm when 1t has been reported
that these men would probably be rein
stated"
The directors also affirm that "acting
under a deep sense Of their responsibilities
| to the stockholders. to the public and to the
employees, the discharged men included,
have the approval Of their own consciences
etc"
We have not quoted the secretary's state
ment IN full but we have given such ex-
| tracts as contain the meat of the docu-
ment, and now desire to submit our case
to your body and the general public, to
whom the stockholders look for a re-
munerative investments
| The charges made are extremely serious
| ones, and not only deprive the men of pres
| ent employment but brand them with n
| stigma which is calculated to act as a de-
terrent to their securing any future en-
| ploymcnt.
Because of this fact, we respectfully sub-
nit that a ten days delay was not only
unnecessary. but was almost criminal on
| your part, If you had scintilla Of evidence
upon which to support the case.
The misrepresentation, foreseen by Won
which has since been INDUCED in, on our
| part, has been the assertion that the men
| were Disseminated against because Of their
membership In labor organization and
| that no other charge could successfully lie
| brought against them.
This statement is now, as 1t was then.
absolutely correct and true and is not as
| your secretary insists, wholly anwarrant
| ed, false and mischievous"
We have claimed that for months the
same spirit OF discrimination has been
shown against union men. and all our ef-
| forts to secure hearing have failed Of ef-
| feet.
Even ON June q. when Mr. Phillips was
finally located and informed of the desire
| of Representative J. w. Babcock to meet
him and discuss the matter he pleaded
important business" and then proceeded
TO-. and did, walk distance of several
| miles to Silver Spring, where he took a
| train for his home in Rockville all done
| apparently to evade the issue and keep up
| the suspense.
To demonstrate the fact that we know
| whereof we speak, and to convince the d.
rectors of something they may not be at
| present awsre Of we submit the following
aff1davits from well-known and honorable
disinterested citizens In the District Of Co.
iumbia. showing Mr. Phillips animus from
| the beginning:
| District of Columbia, County Of Washing
ton, IS:
| Personally appeared before me this 9th
day of July. A. D. 1896. James E. Gessford,
| who. being duly sworn. deposes and says:
That he is engaged in business at 9th and
| U streets northwest. in the city of Wash
| ington, In keeping a drug store That af-
| ter the 9th street electric cars were started
| he was requested by Mr.. Taliferro who de-
| sired to secure an appointment as motor
| man, to see President Phillips and recon-
| mend him personally for appointment. That
afiant called on President Phillips at his
| Office. together with Mr.. Lewis J. Brown
| and Mr.. Taliferro. President Phillips prom
| ised US his appointment conditioned, as he
| said. that you will promise me that he
(meaning Taliferro) shall not join the Rail-
! way Street Assembly, as 1 intend to get
| rid of all those union men in such a way
| that they will not know how 1t was done,
and If you learn Of his joining any such
union you will report it to me and 1 will
| discharge him.
GigneD JAMES e. GESSFORD.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
| 6tk day Of July, 1895. OSCAR NAUCK.
| Notary Public. D. G.
| District of Columbia, county of Wash
| tngton, S.: Personally appeared before
| me, this 9th day of July, A. D. 1896. Lewis
]. Brown, who, being first duly sworn, de-
poses and says, that he went to see Presi-
| dent Phillips with DR.. Gessford to secure
| the appointment of Mr.. Taliferro as motor
| man on the 9th street cars, and that Presi-
Il