Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-01

showers, Is Indicated in the lower lake
region, the Mississippi valley and the south
Of Labor, an organization established to
maintain the dignity of labor and to secure
fair days wage for fair days work.
The Metropolitan street railway, like all
similar stock companies, is an organization
Of combined capital, while the Knights of
Labor is an organization of combined labor.
Each organization has been established for
a specific purpose, and by mutual conces-
sions the two combinations can work to-
gether in perfect harmony, to the mutual
benefit of each other.
Il believe my dear sir, that the day has
passed in this country when combined capt.
tai has moral or legal right to strike down
or attempt to degrade organized labor or
vice versa.
"Therefore, in view of the power of Con-
gress to legslate for the District of Column
bia, I suggest that it would be well for the
Metropolitan Company. which is always
rappins at the doors Of Congress, demand
ing legislative favors and concessions. to
agree to at least arbitration Of the differ
ences existing between your company and
the knights of Labor.
LAS member of Congress, / was cor
daily in favor of the provisions of the Phil
lips labor bill, that passed the House near
the close of the recent session of Congress,
and which will pass the Senate at the next
session. bill which. think. is calculated
to amicaby adjust all differences which
may arise between capital and labor. pre-
venting strikes and the destruction Of prop
erty. and giving to both capital and labor
their fullest earning capacity consistent
with fair dealing and a mutual regard for
the rights Of both.
Il regret, sir, that you CHI ose a time
when Congress was in recess to peremp
torily discharge these men for no other
assigned reason than that they are men,
bers of the Knights of Labor, and l be-
lieve 1t would be to the best interests of
your company and the street car patrons
nf ho oil v IF Nyoc ro-
instate these old and faithful employees.
I'm many states we now have laws max
ing 1t misdeme>Anor for an individual en-
ployer or a corporation to discharge en-
ployes solely because they do or do not
belong to labor organizations, and for one
I shall cheerfully advocate and vote for
such a measure in Congress which will ap-
ply to the District Of Columbia. 1 trust
that your company can see it's way clear to
reconsider its hasty action in discharging
these men,
What Senator Burrows Says.
Senator Burrows Of Michigan sent from
Kalamazoo the following:
Il notice with great regret that since
the adjournment of Congress large num-
Der of employees of the Metropolitan Stree.
Railroad Company have been discharged.
and 1t is stated that this step was taken
because they are members of the Knights
of Labor. OF course l do not know the
company, but 1 suggest if the only ground
for their discharge is the fact that they
connected with the X. of L. such rea-
son will not appeal with much force to
the sense of justice of the American Con-
gress. 1 earnestly ask that the discharged
men be reinstated."
In a private note to Mr.. Hayes, which
accompanied the copy Of the letter to Mr..
is any possible way I can render you fur
Their assistance please advise me-"
Representative Mahaney's Statement.
Representative r. B. Mahaney sent the
following from his home in New York city:
your company Is indebted to Congress for
your privileges; your employees are justi-
fed in looking to the said body for protec-
ton Of their rights; they are as much en-
titled to seek favorable legislation as you
are to influence legislative action.
'They can only do SO through organiza-
ton, and in speaking with due regard to
the perplexities and difficulties Of great
corporation like your own, I regard it as
an outrage that you should discharge EN-
ployes because they belong to the Knights
of Labor, or to any other organization hav-
ing similar aims and purposes.
Il beg leave to call your attention to the
fact that 1t is an ominous sign when at the
seat Of government itself men are pro-
scribed because they exercise rights es-
sential to the preservation of their rights"
Represe NATIVE Benson Wood Of Effing-
nam, ILL.,, SAID IN MS communication TO
Mr.. Hayes: Il have written to Mr.. Phillips
and trust that the members of your order
may be reinstated. I have urged-upon Mr..
Phillips that this be done.
Representative ]. A. Hemenway Of Boon
vile, Ind, sent a note to Mr.. Hayes, stat
Ing that he had written to Mr.. Phillips
requesting him to reinstate your men, and
suggesting that 1t could do no good to his
company by discharging men because of
their membership in the labor organiza-
tions."
Federation of Labor.
The Federation of Labor at their meet
ing last evening discussed a proposition to
take action against the Metropolitan COM
pany for the discharge Of members Of the
order Of the X. of L., but on account Of the
prospect which Is believed to exist that the
troubles are nearing settlement action was
deferred until next meeting.
1t was today stated that the members of
the executive board of the Street Railway
Assembly are being constantly urged to
place the Metropolitan road on the unfair
list but that this will not be done for the
present.
The executive board of the Street Rail-
way Assembly held meeting this after
noon and accepted an offer from Capt.
Harry Randall for an excursion for the
benefit of the discharged members Of the
assembly on the Goth instant
Should those now locked out be reinstated
in the employ Of the railroad company be-
fore that date the proceeds Of the excursion
will be placed in the treasury of the as
sembly to be credited to the strike, lock-
out and sick benefit funds.
To Attend the Pennsylvania Encnmp-
ment.
Col. John 8. Poland. 18th Infantry, and