New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-30
STREETCAR MEMS STAND
,o,,n pApsoNs HAS MADE DEMANDS
OF THE METROPOLITAN COMPANY
rpv,yo To ENLIST PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE
Union n THE EVENT OF A sTRIKE-PowhR

rnv,yo tn ENLIST PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE
UNION IN THE EVENT OF A sTRIKE-Po"hH
oF THE MASTER WORKMAN.
Jobn ~ Parsons. general master "oiN NJ,
KNIGHTS OF Labor. asserted yesterday ' -, no
,onol,tpn Street Railway Company was ai'e' -.
,rnirv 20 discharge men suspected OF being e"ue's
s''a,'s ~ .,ro.,car mems union. Mr. Parsons
s,,,.6 aIso that the demands of the men hao oee"
forwarded 10 the company. And. ne con''""'"
"i, no answer is received in a reasonape UNI 80
will no n public demonstration TO enhs' puo''o ''.
pothy in the cause OF the men. ana 10 give oo,
definite idea Of the way they are treated " s'l'N.
will no the last resort. ! have applied 10 so"' ="
the leading people OF this city to advise US ID 'ne
matter The men will abide by their deeisioh
We are ready 10 meet the company on any propose
ton and are ready 10 submit the whoe ques''o" ~
arbitration The Metropolitan company mas -"
very shrewdly in furthering Its own interests WIN
the help OF John u Crimmins and william G. WHIT
nev they secured valuable franchises in the cry
and then they got In Elhu Root and received some
valuable assistance In the Legislature NOW II we
do not receive fair treatment It may he that TINS
matter may become a subject for discussion dur'ns
the fall campaign The workingmen may be taught
TO 500 lust who and who are not their frehdS'
Mr. Parsons showed number OF letters received
from weil-known citizens offering their services 10
aid in settling the differences existing between the
employees and the companies. One man wrote that
tho railroad mems union should get out button 10
he inscribed ''I'll walk
RAILROAD OFFICIALS CONCILIAToRY.
The officials OF the Metropolitan company still IN
sist tina, they have received no communication OF
any kind from Mr.. Parsons. and maintain That the
only knowledge they have OF the reported dssatis-
faction among the men Is that gained from the
newspapers one OF these officials who was author
lied to speak for Mr.. Vreeland informed a Tribune
reporter that the company was perfectly WILING 10
consider any complaints emanating from the en-
p.oyes "They know" said The Tribunes Inform
ant that In the past when they have wanted some
thing remedied We were always disposed to meet
them halfway They know that they have only 10
come to us and talk matters over for satisfactory
agreement to be reached That being so, II Is non
sense to think that they vii! hand themselves over
to a professional labor agitator."
Tribune reporter in the last few days mas
talked to many conductors. In every instance
these said that they had no intention OF striN-
ing and denied that they belonged to the union
The Central Federated Union is evidently some
what suspicious OF the new union and has refused
TO accept the creden as OF rs delegates until the
organization can be more fully investigated. The
Central Federated Union would gladly welcome
into it's organization a union OF surface railway
employees but 1t does not want to be humbugged.
Several years ago man named Mcmahon came
from Philadelphia and endeavored TO organize a
union of the streetcar men. and had he succeeded
a strike might have taken place. He failed to
accomplish much. however. as the men were evil
IDENTIFY not in sympathy with his radical views Oh
wha: he insisted were their rights.
MEETING OF THE DISTRICT ASSEMBLY.
There Will be a secret meeting OF District AS
sembly No IS. knights OF Labor, which Ia COM
posed mostly OF railroad men, in Brooklyn to-
night. and tomorrow night similar meeting OF
railroad men will be held In this city. General
Master Workman Parsons will address both meet
ings II was learned last night that Mr.. Parsons
had written TO the Chief Executive Board OF the
knights OF Labor at Washington asking that he
have full control OF District Assembly No. 20. as
he now has OF the recently formed assembly N
This city. This Is regarded significant moe
By labor leaders although the lieutenants OF Mr..
Parsons imply that It Is merely precautionary
one on his part. Al present all questions relating
TO District Assembly No. Is are submitted to the
Muster Workman. who communicates them 10
the CHIEF Executive Board at Washington. Mr.
Parsons expects to he nble TO acquaint The mem Fem
bers OF the Assembly at the meeting tonight that
he has been Instructed to take full charge OF
both assemblies OF railroad men. with fun powers
10 unss upon all questions which may arise be-
tween the men and the railroad companies