Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-09
First Move Against the Extor
ton of the Walking Dele
gates Begun
ALLEGED BLAcKMAlLER HELD
Walking Delegates of the Labor Unions
Said to be Pursuing System of Ex-
tortion and BIackmaiI In New York
Attorney jerome Taking Action
Other News.

| New York, June 9.--The first oper
move in the war District Attorney Jer-
| ton and blackmail by walking dele
gates for labor organizations came to-
| day with the arrest of Samuel Parks
a union business agent, accused OF &C,
ceptng $4,000 to settle a strike.
For more than a month representa-
tives of Mr.. Jerome have been seeking
evidence to prove that both working
men and employers have been victim
lied by the go betweens. Numerous
charges of blackmail have been made
during the recent labor troubles and
although up to the present time no ac-
tual proof of dishonesty has been
found, the district attorney hopes to be
able to show that representatives OF the
workers have used their positions for
their own financial profit and have call
led off strikes for a consideration.
Parks, who is business agent for the
Housesmiths' and Bridgemen's union,
the local branch of the structural iron
workers, was arrested today and still
is in custody despite his denial of the
charge against him and his threats OF
damage suits.
Employers of labor promise the dis
trict attorney to produce proof of many
strikes
.t.a 80 s>,1 AZ.
against Parks in the court of special
sessions by President Poulsen of the
Hecla iron works of Greenpoint and r.
a. McCord. president of the American
Bridge Company. In their affidavlts
they charged Parks with collecting ST.
900 to call off strike at the Hecla iron
works a little more than a year ago.
Payment was made by check.
Parks was taken to the Tombs po-
lice court, accompanied by large
number of labor leaders.
When Parks was arraigned before
Magistrate Mayo. District Attorney
Jerome said the transaction on which
he had been arrested was but one of
many of similar character.
My information is said the district
attorney, that of $4,000 paid to him he
received $500. ! am informed also that
for averting threatened strike on the
subway he received $4,000. He has been
making heavy deposits In the Garfield
National bank. where he has an ac-
count, though he is ostensibly nothing
more than laboring man."
Former Magistrate Brann appeared
as counsel for Parks who appeared to
Il
$4,000 bail for examination tomorrow
afternoon. Tonight bondsman was
still sought.
The check which came into District
Attorney Jerome's hands today was
dated April 80. 1902. and was drawn on
the Standard Trust Company by VIII
liam H. McCord president of the Am
erican Bridge Company, to the order of
his son, r. A. McCord. The check was
endorsed and made payable to Samuel
Parks. The signature of Samuel Parks
appears on the last Endorsement before
the signature of the man who finally
deposited it. The last signature is not
clear, but it is said to be that of an
official connected with one of the big
companies.
President Mcconnell of the Ameri-
can Bridge Company admitted that his
firm might have cashed the check.
According to the district attorney
President Poulsen said there was al
strike in the Hecla iron works in April
1902 and that he had seen Parks sew
eral times and had tried to come to
some agreement with him TO settle the
strike. There had been some misun
Outstanding and finally Mr.. Poulsen
notified President McCord that he
would be willing to give Parks $4,000
If he would call the strike off. The
check was given to Parks according to
President Poulsen, and Immediately the
strike ended.
Mr.. Jerome would not reveal the |
name of the man who had given him
The check. Neither would he name the
irm that cashed the check.