Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-31
The WadIev NInnnment

SAVANNAH, July 30.-EditOr Morning
NeleS:. l do not wish to enter into con-
troversy with any one upon the subject of
the ''prOtest" signed "Many Employees"
nor with those communications of more
recent date indorsing the protest" AS
the matter has unfortunately gotten into
the newspapers, think it due that an eX-
PLANTATION be made. The idea of monu-
ment to Mr.. Wadley originated with EN-
plOyes in the train service department,
not officials in that department, men in
the ranks. The matter had been talked of
for a long time, and one of the officials
was urged to lend his influence that i'm
mediate progress might be made. He held
off for a long time, but upon the earn
est solicitation of his men he prepared
preamble and resolutions looking to the
formation of a society or association to
collect funds from the employees for the
purpose of erecting a memorial to Mr.
Wadley.
A meeting of employees of Railroad and
Ocean Steamship Company was called
and held at the machine shop, with about
one hundred in attendance. the pream-
BILE and resolutions were read and APP
proved. A list of officers had been pre-
pared and their names were announced,
but they were not ratified, because some
Of the mechanics said the meeting was
not full enough, and they would rather
defer 1t till more could be gotten together.
They said the different departments were
not fully represented; that they want
ed to see the prominent officials take
an interest in the ASSOCIATION before they
would pass upon the officers. That first
list of officers, Mr.. Editor, was made al
most entirely from the men in the shops
tsai Off iaI
and but for the shop men that original
list would have been accepted.
So much for the origin of the ''W adley
Memorial Association"
At the adjourned meeting, when mat
tiers were shaped up, the committee APP
pointed unfortunately stated that it would
take about ten per cent. of the wages of
the employees TO accomplish the purpose
IN view. This was unfortunate, because
it did seem to take away the idea Of a
free, voluntary subscription; it was I'M
fortunate, again, from the fact that several
employees had determined to give over dOu-
BILE 10 per cent. of one months wages, and
this determination was not reached after
the committee had said that it would take
10per cent. to accomplish the purpose, but
twas done long before the association
was organized.
| have been over the entire line of the
have talked with many of the employees
upon the subject, and there was but one
who offered any objection whatever to the
manner of raising funds for the erection
of the monument,
1 know that it is the hearty wish of
every employee who has the matter at
heart, and they are legion, that the sub
scriptions should be entirely voluntary,
and, in fact, they are not wanted unless
they are voluntary.
And now, Mr.. Editor, in conclusion,
suppose a majority or a minority of the
employees of the Central Railroad desire
to raise money among themselves for the
purpose of concentrating the memory
of the man who was so long our great
chieftain and who was greatly beloved by
us, whose affair is it but ours? True, we
give every emplOye an opportunity to
subscribe, and if he does not see fit to do
so, that ends the matter, and there is no
one to ''spot" him. He honestly differs,
and that is his affair, EMPLoYE.