New-York tribune., 1899-07-21
VICTORY, SAYS PARSONS.
HE SAYS MAYOR VAN WICK Is RESPON-
SIBLE FOR THE CONTINUANCE
OF THE STRIKE.

John n Parsons although ne was actively en-
/ pioyed until daylight yesterday morning in visit
| ing the various strike headquarters. at his
| office No 10 East One hundred and twenty
| ATHEIST before 10 o'clock. After receiving re-
| ports from the strike committees In charge of
the different headquarters he made the follow
ing statement:
"The strike Is practically Won Fifteen hun
dred men are out. and more going out
hourly The enthusiasm Of the men Is con-
stantly increasing Besides the mass meeting
at Grand Central Palace tomorrow evening
there will be two meetings Saturday night,
one in New-York and the other in Brooklyn.
Speakers will be present who will dare to tell
the truth ard condemn Tammany Hall for the
continuance of this strike ] consider Mayor
Van Wyck alone responsible for the continuance
of the strike in the two boroughs, for II he dared
to dispiease William c. Whitney. owner Of the
New-York line and Hugh J. Grant, owner Of
the Brooklyn line, he could settle the strikes
and their consequent disorders in an hour.
THE men directly affected by the strike are
surface railroad employees Of both lines, together
with thousands Of their friends among the
wage workers, who have given their support for
years to Tammany Hall and the Brooklyn
Democratic party. What spectacle now for
them to find that In their present trouble not
one man with any standing in public life in
either borough dares risk his chance Of dis
pleasing either Mr. Whitney or Mr.. Grant by
standing with the men.
Having seen Mr. Vreeland's statement in the
morning papers to the effect that he does not
care what organization a man belongs to any
more than what church he goes to, make this
reply: Mr.. Vreeland says a man can belong to
ha lonQ he rerfo
his work we'll he will be kept on the road. He
has never questioned mans right TO join any
thing he wants to. This statement on the part
of Mr. Vreeland is an absolute falsehood and he
knows II. l can uInish the names Of fifty men
who were discharged from the employ Of the
Metropolitan Street Railway. Company within
thirty days ostensibly for tho violation of its
rules but really on suspicion OF being mem
bers Of the Surface Railroad Employees Associa-
ton. The fmsy excuses given for these mems
discharges can be easily seen through. Among
those discharged many who had been in
the service Of the company for than ten
years without complaint or an accident and
when a man serves for twelve years without an
accident or complaint, and Is then dismissed
with Mr.. Vreeland's knowledge and approval
for running too fast over a switch, and this the
day after he Joined the organization OF his
socates, and another man. after ten years OF
faithful service without accident or complaint,
is discharged by Mr.. Vreeland for running his
too coal wagon, the falsity of Mr..
Vreelands statement is apparent. The names Of
these men are Michael Dwyer and James Eagan.
both OF the Second-ave division. Both Dwyer
and Eagan members of the organization.
and this fact was known to Mr. Vreeland while
men were retained by the company for their
loyalty to It's management whose record OF eff
cheney could be learned from the files of the
Coroners' office and the hospitals.
Not 10 per cent Of the SecOnd-ave. cars are
running. ana only about 30 per cent OF the
Madison-ave. line. The Madison-aSe. line will
be tied up to-day, and the Lexington ave. line
may be tied up If the committee of the en-
ployes OF that line carries out its purpose The
Columbus-ave. line Is not in any way involved
Il consider the assurances given to me by
many citizens that they will refuse to ride on
the OF the Metropolitan Street Railway
Company and to advise their wives and families
to do the same the strongest evidence OF prac-
tical support
THE contention between the employees OF the
Metropolitan Street Railway Company and the
company which has resulted In n strike has no
connection whatever with the situation in
Brooklyn. excepting through the afiiliation OF
the men in the same organization.