New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-06-21
ASSAULTED BY PARKS.
FIGHTS At ELECTION.
Delegate Seizes President by Throat
Police Clear Hall.

Sam Parks, walking delegate of the House
smiths and Bridgenen's Union, whose hearing
on charges Of extorting money from employers
has already begun, assaulted President 'Neidig
al the meeting of the union last night, when II
met to elect officers, under police protection
Parks. who is a candidate for reelection. was
opposed by the conservative members Of the
union The result of the voting, it was said
officially, would not be known until to-day or to-
morrow. The election such unruly one
that the police were obliged to oust many
from the hall.
The polls were opened at p m. By arrange
ment with District Attorney jerome, Captain
Tighe of the East Fifty-first-st. station, had
established Gordon about the block. Central
Office men acted as scouts north far Fifty
ninth-st. and south to Fifty-third-st-, between
avenues, looking for crooks Captain Tighe had
thirty men in the hall, with Roundsman Tag
CART under him. The whole reserves of the East
Fifty-frst-st. station held there. were
the reserves of the East Sixty-seventh-st. sta
ton.
I'll bet 500 to ST." said Parks. that this is
the last time we'll the first that we'll have
an election of officers under police protection"
This was just before o'clock, and Parks
sitting on the ballot box inside the rail talking
with the judges of election.
The five judges of election. all supposed to
oppose Parks, with Thomas Dodge, of Jersey
City. as chairman. had arranged on a long table
list bearing the numbers Of the cards which
the members Of the union supposed to hold.
The ballot TO be by the Australian system.
OFF this list had been checked in red ink the
numbers Of those who were six months in ar
rears in dues.
Just before o'clock Captain Tighe fled into
the room with fifteen of his reserves, and lined
them up in front of the tables, Parks protested
to Chairman Dodge.
"I am going to have my men here" he said.
''or else III be here myself. You can't play any
wangdoodle game on me-
Mr.. Dodge said the constitution Of the union
said that only the Judges of election should be
in the room at the time the vote taken.
He appealed to Captain Tighe for support.
Parks is entitled to have his watchers here to
see the vote counted after o'clock, when the
polls close. Before that time he must get out
he said
We'll we will get out" answered Parks. true
ulently; and I'll tell you this election won't end
tonight"
Dodge sent out at once and told his adherents
to refuse to vote. He advised later, how
ever, to let his men vote and said that he
would.
Toward the close of the voting Parks walked
with Henry Collin, another candidate. Three
arrests had been made, and people were talking
bosterously.
You're the cause of all this mixup' said
Parks to Neidig, and walked away Presently
he returned and said something to Neidig. Then
he seized Neidig by the throat and shaking
him when friends and several policemen rushed
UP and separated them
About half an hoIr after the polls closed the
uproar in the hall was at its height. Half
dozen fights going and Captain Tighe
told a dozen of his to clear the hail of the
noisy people The hall was practically cleared.
Luther Hayes. of No S77 Driggs-ave.. Brook
lyn, was locked UP a charge Of carrying
concealed weapon. The police say he is the
arrested last year at the election, when he fired
three shots from revolver.
There were rumors that large number of
men did not vote, and that many had been in
duced to stay away or been prevented in some
way from voting. The vote a small one for
such an important election
When Parks was asked last night if he in
tended to resign from the union lie replied:
When | resign from the labor movement III
be six feet under the sod
If YOU are elected. and thereby seemingly
vindicated. will you get OUT?
That's another story he answered.
Over twenty five hundred votes were cast
larger number than last year. Parks's op
ponents assert he proba Dy got about one-hfth
of these He was sure he was reelected.