Evening star., 1896-07-02
NEW COMPLICATIONS
Settlement Of Metropolitan Road
Troubles Seems Further Off.
PROMISE OF CONFERENCE WITHDRAWN
Mr. French Has Something to Say
About the Affair.
LETTERS FROM CONGREssMEN

President Phillips of the Metropolitan
Railway Company has, as will be seen by
reading the copy Of a communication here
printed, indicated what steps the company
wants taken before the directors will con-
slider the question of reinstating the dis
charged members Of the Street Railway
Assembly to their former positions in the
service of the company.
The letter was addressed to Mr.. John w.
Hayes. general secretary-treasurer of the
Knights of Labor. but as Mr.. Hayes is at
this time IN Chicago the letter was opened
by Mr.. c. A. French of the general execu-
tive board, who in Mr. Hayes absence rep
resents him at the headquarters of the or
der in Washington.
Mr.. Phillips communication was as fol-
lows:
"Since the receipt Of your letter Of June
%, which states that you were strongly of
the opinion that there must have been some
misunderstanding of the causes which led
the directory of the company TO discharge
certain of its employees on June 20, and
that you request to be allowed to present
the case from your standpoint through
your authorized representatives, l have
communicated with the directors and am
instructed by them to write you that they
will receive any statement, argument or de-
or their representatives may desire to make
in relation to their dismissal, and that the
same will receive their careful and impair
tial consideration"
MIR. French Speaks Out.
After reading Mr.. Phillips letter, Mr..
French and the other members Of the gen.
eral executive board who are at present In
the city held a lengthy conference, and
when 1t was dissolved, Mr.. French said to,
a Star reporter:
THE unjust tactics of the Metropolitan
Railroad Company are clearly shown in
Mr. Phillips letter On the 25th of June
twelve of the Metropolitan's oldest and
best men were discharged without any
warning and without any reason being
given for such discharge. The men were
all members of and officials in the Street
Railway Local Assembly, knights of
Labor.
This is a very significant fact. and
as un-American as 1t is unjust, as the day
has passed when men can be denied the
right of organization and association for
rlutual protection and benefit
What have these men done to warrant
being thrown out of employment? Are they
dishonest? Are they incompetent? Have
they neglected their work in any manner?
1T has not been claimed that they We're
guilty of any such offenSe. Since their dis
charge have they ordered a strike or taken
any action that can be construed by any
fair-minded person as being inimical to the
interest of the company? Mo- They have
been COOL collected and reasonable: they
have refrained from any action that could
be construed as being calculated to injure
the Metropolitan Railway Company.
They have only sought to obtain justice
by peaceful methods, and what is the re-
suit? Mr.. Phillips the president of the
railroad company, after promising Repre-
sentative Babcock that he would call the
directors together and arrange for a con-
ference
after unnecessary delay, sent the general
secretary-treasurer of the knights of Labor
letter above quoted} which is virtual
denial to the men of the conference prom
ised.
"The letter is cleverly laid trap to en-
snare them into denial Of what? When
men are refused an explanation and given
no reason why they are discharged, how
can they deny having done a wrong or
make an argument against a charge that
has not been made?
No Mr. Phillips cleverly wishes to
dodge the responsibility of his despotic ac-
tion, and make the men deny some mag-
mary charge, so that he may have a
chance to defend his unwarranted actions
The men have nothing to deny; they
have no explanations to make; they are
not the aggressors in this business; on the
contrary it is the officials Of the Metro
politan Railroad Company who should de-
fend their position. if they can, and not
take this way to escape from the RESPONSE
bility Of their unjust actions.
The public will sustain the men: they
will not be fooled by the tricks of these
officials. but will place the responsibility
where it belongs
Letters From Congressmen.
Letters relating to the trouble from Con-
gressmen continue to reach the headquar-
ters Of the knights of Labor, and since the
closing Of the report in yesterdays Star
a large number have arrived there Among
them are the following: Representative
w. H. Moody of the sixth Massachusetts
district wrote: Il am decidedly opposed to
the discharge. of employees on account of
their membership in labor unions. In the
state of Massachusetts such an act is made
a punishable ofense. 1 should be glad to
sec the same law, or substantially
the same law, enacted by Congress ami
applied to the District of Columbia If,
during the coming winter, can be of any
service in that respect, 1 shall be glad to
do So.''
Representative Thomas c. McRae wrote
from his home at Prescott, Ark, this:
Upon receipt of information. that certain
employees of your company had been dis
missed because of membership in the order
of the Knights of Labor, telegraphed you
respectfully requesting their reinstate-
ment. My reason Is that, inasmuch as
Congress by the act of June 26. 1856, has
wisely recognized the right Of labor to
organize for mutual protection or benefit
act for corporation which obtained its
right to exist from the same authority to
discharge faithful, competent men solely
because of their connection with the order
cf the Knights of Labor.
'Laboring men have an undoubted legal
right within the District Of Columbia to
join together for mutual help and protec-
ton. and If for the peaceful exercise Of
their lawful right they are discharged by
concern which is confessedly subject to
the control and regulation of Congress, ana
which Is continually asking for new priv
ileges. then Sall insist upon such legis-
lation at the next session of Congress as
will prevent a repetition of this injustice
and wrong to organized labor"
Representative A. NJ. Dockery Of CALI
tin. Mo-, sent the following: your favor
of the 25th Of June received and contents
noted. I have written MIR. Phillips asking
just treatment Of the men to whom You
refer, and hope he will reinstate them"
General Outlook.
General Master Workman James r. Sow
ereign and Messrs. Hayes and Martin of
the general executive board of the X. of
L. are at Chicago, and it is supposed that
their visit at this time has some connec-
ton with the existing railway troubles in