Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-29
CONGRESSMEN'S LETTERS
What They s|g About the Metropolitan
Street Railway Discharges
An Appeal to the Business Men for
A'd-nepfe-entat've H"Deoe1
Sees -Mr. Phillips.

the service Of the Metropolitan Railway
Company, by order of the board Of direct
ors, because, as alleged. they tried, during
the recent session of Congress, to defeat
the railroad company in matters of legisla-
ton sought by it, bids fair to get the COM
pany involved in correspondence with many
members of Congress unless the matter is
speedily settled.
The discharged men, in reply to questions
from Star reporter, said today that they
had not on any occasion, either as a COM
mittee, or individually, visited the Capitol
and opposed the company in anything it
was asking at the hands Of Congress; that
II was the general officers of the Knights
OF Labor who had pursued that course, and
the latter stated to the reporter that the
facts were as stated by the discharged
men.
Letters From Congressman.
Many letters have already been received
from Congressman in reply to the COM
munication sent out Saturday last on the
subject by General Secretary Treasurer
Hayes. and among those which reached
headquarters today were the following:
Represer tative Charles Daniels Of New
York; have written Mr.. Phillips con-
corning TIE alleged discharge of the officers
of the knights of Labor, requesting his in
reference for the redress of the wrong.
Senator Turpie of Indiana copy of let
ter to Mr.. Phllips)-''Allow me to call your
attention to the alleged dismissal of en-
I,loyes by the company for the reason that
they belonged to the order of the knights
of Labor. and to ask your thoughtful con-
sideration of the question, whether this Is
a just cause for their removal
Upon my own acquaintance with this or
ganization and the members Of it, l be-
Eeve 1t TO be composed of men who are
faithful, honest and capable, such as an
employer would select and prefer, and If,
fer their own objects and purposes. they
see tit to become associated with others In
an order of this character, 1t does not seem
Just that this should operate as a disqual-
ifcatiCn or as a reason for their dismissal.
Representative Kerr of Indiana. Copy of
letter sent to Mr.. Phillips) This may be
considered an impertnence, yet feel that
l have right to make suggestion In
connection with the subject about which I
address you. 1 am informed that a large
number of the employees of the company
have been discharged because Of their MEM
bership in certain labor organizations. You
will permit me to suggest that if there Is
no other ground Of discharge than that, the
action. in my opinion is unjustified.
Such compa MES as yours depend some
what upon legislation by Congress, and
expect, as you have right to. that your
interests will be considered upon a business
basis. AT the same time Congress has the
right to expect you to treat your men upon
the same basis, and that prejudice shall
iiot dleSl tlSli ellploy liltlit nope thai
no man will be discharged because he be-
longs to q labor organization, and if any
nave been discharged they will be rein
stated 90
Representative James r. Howe of Brook
Ign. N. y, sen4 Mr.. Hayes a copy OF q teIe-
gram which he seat to Mr.. Phillips. and
which was follows: Il am informed
that you have. dismissed from the service
of your company all officers of the local
assembly because Of their membership in
the order of the Knights of Labor. If this
be true, are you not antagonizing your EN-
ployes ana the interests Of your road?''
From Representative Grosvenor of Ohio
the following which is a copy of letter
sent to Mr.. Phillips. was received:
You will pardon me ii l call your atten-
ton to the fact. that your corporation looks
for its chartered privileges and rights to
Congress direct, and that, therefore, it is
not impairment that your men should look
to Congress-. also, to protect their rights.
mo man will go farther than / to protect
all sorts of employers of labor in the right
to demand and have good work and sub
think no one will go farther than I to con-
denim the persecution of men because of
their efforts to protect their own interest
by association and mutual support Or
CARNATIONS Of labor are just and fair to
all concerned as is the organization of cap
ital.
An Appeal to Business Men,
The executive committee of the Railway
Assembly have mailed copies Of the follow
ing appeal to a large number of business
men of Washington:
We ask your valuable assistance in con-
nection with our present trouble with Pres
ident Phillips and the Metropolitan Street
Railway Company. Twelve of our most
faithful members were dismissed from the
service OF this company for their connec-
ton with organized labor. This Is a gross
injustice and oppression in a country where
men are guaranteed life, liberty and the
pur suit of happiness. VIII you assist us to
maintain the right to organize in our own
interest and to seek employment without
our regulations being blasted by the damn
ing OF the corporation black list? A dis
charge for this cause means not only that
we are locked out OF employment by the
metropolitan company, but that we are
blacklisted, and cannot get work on any
other road VIII you write President Phil
lips and urge him Immediately to convene
his board of directors and reopen our case ?
We are of the opinion that we deserve at
the hands of the business community the
most cordial assistance in our present
method of conducting this contest The
grand and noble gathering of the Christian
Endeavorers in our city deserves the most
profound respect, and on this account par
ticularly we have refrained from in any
way inconvenencing them by causing q
strike at this time. We feel that upon ma
ture delIberation the directory of the Met
ropoitan company will be fully convinced
that they have bee misled by some false
statements or misunderstanding and if
they are honorable men, as we believe.
they will Immediately recede from their no
sition If investigation of the facts proves
our statements are correct.
This Is an opportunity for the business
community to show their sympathy and
render assistance to the cause of labor
The semi-annual election Of officers of the
Street Railway Assembly was held Satur-
day evening and all the old incumbents
were reelected as follows: Master Work
man, Thomas J. Lawrence; worthy fore
man, James Trainor; financial secretary,
William p Smith; recon ding secretary, W.
F. Dement,; treasurer, William Esler, and
Frank NJ. Dent chairman of the executive
committee. -.
No Strike Likely.
Some fears hive been expressed by citi-
zens that strike on the Metropolitan road
might take place asa result of the present
trouble but from present indications there
is not much probability of such an event.
The discharged men, express themselves as
confident, from ell the evidences that have
so far reached thenrs that the sympathy OF
the public is with them and they are not
disposed to do anything to forfeit this.
Mr.. F. M. Dent, ch :rman of the execu-
tive board of the StEeet Railway Assembly
this afternoon estatsd to a Star reporter
11<~,,k N Il.