New-York tribune., 1899-07-31
COULDN'T FIND ANY UNION
C. F. L. FAILED TO DISCOVER SIhEhI
RAILWAY ORGANIZATION.
PRACTICAL DECLARATION THAT PAf''O>'
"a FA11rRE AS A STRIKE LEADER
INSIDE HISTORY OF THE RE-
CENT TROUBLE.

CENT TROUBLE
Some inside history OF the recent 60,
some of the Metropolitan Street fai'""' .,
panvs employees was aired at the -
the Central Federated Union yestefu"' -,
noon Not only was John ~ Parso"s a.
Master Workman OF the knights Oh A" -.
c,arod 70 no n failure as strike leader pu'
serious doubts were cast on his r.osi.
a union of streetcar men ever existed '.
dor, prince ~ the Central Federated unioh'
who II IS said wants office under lai'i'"a"'
Mi rd who denrecated Mr. Parsons's luea
OF orranizing a new workingmen's politlcai pa'N
n week ago was the leader Of the attack o'' ~
Parsons yesterday. The latter was "'' O"
meeting to deferd himself and, althoue"
ert Winston and few other delegates
ed TO do so, they were roughly hanoieu' ~
phorically speaking, and compelled 10 'HN' "
seats ,.o
The trouble began yesterday wheh De
Winston got the floor to inform 'he
that Mr. Parsons at meeting at SeVeh'! ''
ct and Third-ave had enrolled 300 motormeh
and conductors of the Metropolitan street na"
way Company in the new union. Mr.. winston
added:
There IS strong Indignation against pres'ue"'
Prince for the language he used at the meeting
OF the Miscellaneous Section last Tuesday nlsh'
/ He declared that Parsons had turned over
corpse when he got us 70 appoint treasurer
for the strikers fund, and he objected 10 oei"e
appointed on Parsonss Relief Committee Oh
| Fifteen. 1t was a strong speech for a man VIM
! Inst surdav advocated the Independent politi-
| cal action of workingmen and it threw
damper on all the plans to aid the strikers
At the close OF Delegate Wnston's remarks
President Prince left the chair to reply, ana he
declared that he was not only the Prince VINO
| had spoken at both the meetings referred 10 pS
Winston. but that he was prepared to stand by
what he had said
Il am in sympathy with the men who went
on strike" he said. There was a strike put
one thing | won't do. and that is mix mp with
dead strike | am not here to build up the
Knights Of Labor. While | am trades union
ist | belong to the American Federated Union,
| and II I have some time to lose will not waste
/ IL on the Knights Of Labor. Parsons wanted 10
sell US a gold brick when he wanted us to take
Z the strike off his hands. | am dealer III HNe
stock. and | don't want any dead ones IN NINE
| | am in favor of an independent political lapor
| party but not like the proposed by Parsons
/ with 500 600 behind 1t to keep the boys In good
humor | have not criticised the strike. but l
will not go on Parsons's committee now that
the strike, such as it was is over
Delegate Foley then got the floor to ask If a
b union OF street car enployfS Ipihi'N ~ t'A''
Parsons had not received credentials from the
! Central Federated Union
President Prince said no
Herman Robinson, chairman Of the Creden-
tials Committee. Of the Miscellaneous Section
was then called upon to explain things. and he
did 80 as follows
IT believe now in coming out openly with
facts When the strike talked Of COM
mittee from the Miscellaneous Section was ap-
oointed to investigate the standing of the al
legged union Of the Metropolitan Street Railway
Company's employees. but the committee was
unable to report. stated in meeting that l
was opposed to a strike but did not say so
publicly as / did not want to harm the men
chances.
"On at least two occasions Parsons declared
to the Investigating committee OF the Miscei-
laneous Section that his union Of street rail-
way men was in good standing and a bona hde
organization but at the same time he failed
70 keep appointments made with the committee
to prove what ne said. No proofs we're ever
given by him that such a union existed. | be
lieve that in this matter some very question
able work was done by some knights Of Labor
men"
At the close of his explanation Delegate Rob
inson was attacked by Delegate William j.
O'Brien, who said.
You should have said what you thought
about Parsons and his union at first. There is
no doubt that the motormen and conductors ir
the employ OF the Metropolitan Street Railway
Company tried to better their condition. and TINS
kind Of talk is not likely to help the strike fund
was appointed treasurer OF the fund last Sun
, day and up to date have only received s-lo'
A delegate wanted to know what had peer
done with the credentials OF the alleged unior
OF surface railway employees.
They were laid over until We could hnd on
n there was such union" replied Presiden
Prince. There are supposed to be two dele
gates from the union TO represent II here Du
2 neither OF them was a surface railway man
0 We couldn't get any explanation out OF Parsons
s He broke one appointment to meet the nvesti
- eating committee and then made another for
= saturday night to introduce to the new
@ union We went to the place of appointment
l.. | and although we waited there until I'D p. m
s neither Parsons nor anybody else showed w
h Parsons has not made any endeavors since u
9 prove to the committee that his street raiiWa.
mems union was anything but paper organi2a
ton. have no use for labor leader Of meth
DDS like those Of Parsons
. Delegate Egan. OF the Letter Carriers Union
Il arose TO inquire If the delegates OF the stree
;. railway mems union were not seated In III
meeting.
A reference to the secretary's books showe
that their credentials had never been accepted
employers will be glad to hear OF this spr'
N In the ranks OF organized labor" said de'e
gate ,,o.
IT'S a good spit" declared President Prince
l. Il have only stated facts. and do not car
= whom they hit" ..,
The report of the inability OF the invest
Is eating committee TO find any organization
l. street car men was then put to vote ana AZ
e cepted This WAS practically declaration ti,a ,
~ the Central Federated Union was OF the op,i
: | ion that Parsons was a failure as a LABOR eaus
y and that his alleged union was myth anu '"'
il existed only in his own mag sif,,atlon. ezra