The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-23
FIGHT Is CERTAIN
Parks the Bone of Contention at
Kansas City.
Confident That He Will Win in
the End.
NOW UP TO CONVENTION
Struggle Commences in Earnest
on the Floor.
About 100 Delegates Attending
National Convention.

Kansas City, Mo-, Sept. 23.-The Gre
dentials committee today presented two
reports to the convention of the Inter
national Association of Bridge and
Structural Iron Workers on the status
of local union No. 2. of New York city.
whose leader is Samuel J. Parks, and
which recently was suspended by Pres
ident Buchanan. The majority report
referred the matter to the convention
for final action, while the minority re-
port declared that the suspension of
the union was unconstitutional Mr..
Parks and his fellow members of union
No. were requested to leave the hall
until the convention had disposed of
their case, and this they did peaceably
and without ado.
The report of the credentials COM
mittee was read Immediately after the
convention was called to order. The
shop or inside men were seated as
Were practically all other delegates save
those from the contested New York
delegation. The majority report refer
ring the Parks matter to the conven-
ton was received without demonstra-
ton. But as soon as the secretary had
finished reading the minority report, a
dozen delegates jumped to their feet
and demanded recognition. President
Buchanan declared all out of order
and after some delay requested that all
members of union No. withdraw. Mr.
Parks was already on his feet leading
his followers toward the door, and with
a witty sally at the presidents expense
all made their way toward commit
tee room, where they awaited any sum-
mons that might come from the con-
vention.
At the request of several delegates
President Buchanan instructed all
newspaper representa- tiVeS. and spec
tators to withdraw and in a moment
more the long expected fight over the
New York delegation was on behind
closed doors. Heated argument ensued
Immediately, and the loud words of the
delegates could be heard plainly in the
hallwa<.
Mr. Parks smiled complacently and
said: I'VE will win. Just wait The
convention will decide in our favor
within Is minutes"
The minority report, which is signed
by j. p. Carey of Buffalo and Charles
w Winslow of Washington, says:
While we recognize the right under
the constitution of the president to
suspend local union, we are of the
opinion that the suspension of local
union No was not constitutional, in
asmuch as the evidence submitted fails
TO convince us that due notice was
given local union No by President
Buchanan of his intention to suspend
SAID local If their violation of the con-
stitution did not cease All of this is
provided for in article g. section 2 of
the constitution of this association"
At room the convention took a recess
to o'clock without having reached a
conclusion in the Parks case
President Buchanan refused to saw
What had transpired al the morning ses-
SION, but stated that he did not think
the report of the credentials committee
would be passed upon before late in the
day. Mr.. Parks said:
They are prolonging it. If they do
not reach decision soon we will return
to New York.
Before the convention met Mr.. Parks
reiterated his former statement that he
and his delegation would win. The com
mittee had, he asserted. decided in his
favor. although others declared no in
timation of the committees decision
would he given out until their report
was read in convention.
The supporters of President Buchan-
an put little credence in the report that
Parks had won out i know" said
one delegate, that President Buchan-
ans course in suspending No. ? has
been strongly commended. and if the
committee should favor the seating of
the Parks crowd there would be a
fight on the floor that will long be re-
membered.''
Mr.. Parks had previously stated that
if the committee reported adversely to
him he would fight it out on the floor
and that lively times might be expected.
There are about 100 delegates in at
tendance from every part of the United
States and Canada. 1t is expected tina
the convention will remain in session for
at least a week. No very important
questions outside of the seating OF the
Parks delegation and the question of
separa ting the inside" or shopmen from
the national organization, are up for
consideration.
President Buchanan has not yet des
cided whether he will be a candidate
for reelection and he has said that his
action in this regard would depend upon
what stand the convention takes in his
fight on the expelled New York union