New-York tribune., 1899-07-22
STRIKES LAST GASP.
MASS MEETING LITTLE BET.
TER THAN A FIZZLE.
Mr.. PARSONS's PANACEA PROVES TO BE
A NEW LABOR PARTY-AID FOR
THE MEN ALMOST LOST
SIGHT OF.

General Master Workman Parsons called a
mass meeting OF labor men at the Grand Gen.
trail Palace last night at which he said in the
afternoon arrangements would be made to have
one hundred thousand men march to the City
Hall and demand from Mayor Van wyck that
he withdraw the police from protecting the rail-
way employees who refuse to strike. II also
intimated that many other labor unions would
there declare their intention Of striking in sym
pathy with the trolley men. This programme
was not carried out in any respect.
About eight hundred men gathered at the
meeting. Probably two hundred Of them were
there to represent labor unions. The rest came
as individuals. Mr.. Parsons after consulting
with the union delegates decided to drop the
procession and the demand and instead OF urg-
ing any sympathetic strikes spoke in favor Of
the organization Of a new labor party, to be
called the Greater New-York Labor Organza-
tion. which should enter the political field and
try to swing the labor vote to the support OF
labor candidates at all elections
Parsons seemed to lose sight of the immedi-
ate necessities Of the strikers and was
hemently reminded by several OF his hearers
that something must be done for them at once.
and that the form alton Of new labor party
might we'll wait After several speeches the
meeting resolved to adopt both suggestions. All
labor delegates present were instructed TO rec
ommend TO their unions the voting Of substan-
tal financial aid to the strikers at their next
aoIIa
convention for the organization of the new labor
party he desired at date to be fixed by himself.
In his opening address Mr.. Parsons spoke OF
the Brooklyn strike and said If the police went
away the company would not be worth ID
cents Not because Of any danger to the prop
erty." Mr. Parsons continued. but because they
could not get men to run the cars. The assist
ance the company wanted and got was night
sticks. Devery is more of abject slave TO the
corporations than any man who Is still on the
cars Mayor Van Wyck is waiting for the ship
to come in. 1t was never intended that he
should interfere in this matter. He is too busy
watching the stock ticker. William C. Whitney
owns the Metropolitan road. He pay his
Jockey $4,000 year, but can't pay his motor
men living wages. He is conveniently in Eu-
rope now and It would be small loss II ne
stayed there. And ! hope to visit cemetery
soon and find Croker buried, and Platt set up
for a headstone."
There is not a single man." Mr.. Parsons
went on, employed the cars of the Metro
politan Traction Company that is not working
contrary to law. I will give, through the as
slstance of a friend, $1,000, to any who will
produce conductor on any line of that system
who is working according to the Ten Hour law.
.,~lr1
he would send out and get the facts. But II he
did-he would not be District Attorney.
I'VE are told thet the militia has been
dered to hold themselves In readiness" "a
voice Send US the 1thrO "Well, If my sugges-
tons are followed tonight we will leave here
in good shape to meet the 7th Regiment or any
thing else.
TO LAST UNTIL ELECTION DAY.
LET me tell the politicians Of both parties.~
said the General Master Workman, that this
strike will stay on until the ballots close
Election Day. II you Will join the movement
1 am going to propose, the single platform
of organized labor and its right to organize.
can raise 100000 in the next ten days to
back IT.
Mr. Parsons then went on to unfold his plan
as follows:
"Organized labor has lost confidence IN the
judiciary In consequence determined
that our forces will be united for the purpose of
electing in the November elections the judges to
be balloted for in New-York and Kings counties
without regard TO politics.
The next thing is the selection OF a treasurer.
He should not be a Knights of Labor man. and
his business would be to handle the funds that
may be subscribed for this movement. would
suggest that the Central Federated Union be
81 ffa affno IN
next Sunday.
After the election of treasurer we should
have a call issued for a convention, consisting Of
three delegates from each labor union in tho
city that has been In existence six months
competent Committee on Credentials should be
carefully chosen and suggest calling the new
party the Greater New-York Labor Organ1za-
tion."
Philip Kelly, Of the Theatrical Protective As
ISOLATION, objected to the injection Of politics
into the question at this time. He said that he
attended the meeting IN the hope that some
thing would be done to help the men who are
out on strike He thought the Mayor and the
Governor ought to be called on to enforce the
ten hour law.
District Master Workman Pines was then In
troduced by Parsons. and he insisted that some-
thing practical should be done Immediately for
the strikers. and that Mr. Parsons's scheme
could wait
Samuel Prince president Of the Central ren-
Grated Union. told the audience that ne nad
called on the District Attorney. and that Colonel
Gardiner had solemnIy assured him tnat II any
motornen who had been required 70 WORK mo's
than ten hours would make an affidavit to thss
effect the District Attorney would have the
ronmpanys officiais indicted at once
.sro hell with the District Attorney shouted
ps rsons "He would only pigeonhole the In
a,ctment. There will be no affidavits furnished
o,h.r than those which have been iied with the
state Board of Arbitration"
AID FOR THE MEN.