The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-21
ROW STARTS EARLY.
Parks Opens Fight in Iron
Workers Convention.

Kansas City, Mo, Sept. 2.-Before the
International Bridge and Structural Iron
Workers convention met in annual ses-
sion here today Sam Parks of New
York said:
4 have come here for the purpose of
making the fight of my life for labor and
honestly believe it is necessary to
make such fight. It seems that soma
are fighting against the rights of labor
instead of for it. The delegates from To-
cal union No. 2. from New York city,
are going into this convention. Presi-
dent Buchanan has no power to suspend
local union No. ., and we will go into
this convention without hindrance.'
President Buchanan was reticent in
talking about the Parks delegates when
asked about possible fight in the con-
vention and said merely:
I do not believe we will need police
protection"
President Buchanan called the con-
vention to order at 10:30 and without at
tempting to address the delegates in
troduced Mayor James A. Read who
extended the citys welcome. When
John Smith, an officer in the industrial
council of Kansas City, had finished his
response on behalf of the convention,
Samuel Parks jumped to his feet. He
Wanter to know if the convention had
been called as a gathering of organized
labor or as a public meeting. Without
waiting for an answer he went on to
denounce in a general way some of
those present. There were some in the
hall, he said, not rightfully delegates to
the convention and he requested that
these be removed. There were murn1urs
of disapproval throughout the floor and
President Buchanan Interrupted the
New York delegate with the statement
that he was out of order.
Several delegates attempted to gain
the attention of the chair. but President
Buchanan ordered the convention to pro-
ceed with the next order of business the
receipt of credentials of the different
unions.
Another delegate arose and said:
How can this convention be called
to order until credentials have been
passed on to show who is entitled to sit
here?"
President Buchanan said:
THE motion made is out of order.
The proper order of business is the
presentation of credentials ana no bus
iness can be done until the credentials
nave been passed upon"
Parks sprang to his feet again.
Il approve of that ruling" he said,
land when they are passed on you'll
find a lot of members of Kansas City
No. 10 that'n not be allowed in the
hail.
A member of No 10 retorted:
It's my opinion that any man who
carries an international card is all
right to stay in this convention. I
at heart this insult just offered"
Parks again arose and fairly roared; !;
No one has more respect for Kan
sas City members of the organization
than I have, but you'll find when you
get down to examining credentials that
lot of persons Travelled all the way
here from New York and expect to get
into this meeting. I'm here to help bar
them out and there are a whole lot
more of delegates will be glad to dis
bar them"
President Buchanan finally secured
order and all delegates presented their
credentials to the secretary. Then
President Buchanan appointed as thf
credential committee j. p. Carey. w.
M. Shoop. J. ]. MacNamara. Charles
Winslow, Michael Flaherty, w. f. Nc
Gov and James O'Brien.
This committee will meet this after
noon and hear evidence about con-
testing delegations and report to the
convention tomorrow morning
Before the convention adjourned to-
dav President Buchanan said:
Il have suspended No. for what !
believe was sufficient cause and viii
try to substantiate that before the Gre
Dental committee.
No . is Parks union.