The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-08-09

10 tug Citizens Of Dallas.
FGr iosr that you may condemn Che
acalu Ci tha volunteer fro depart
mont OF Dallas io refusing to work az
frgs, perhaps f. would not 10 ami5s
Tor mo TO give YOU q trle aud correct
statement Of facts iu rogad So the
causes and differences batweon the
volunteer departments and the city
council Of Dallas, and first {. must Do
remembered that tho present depart
ment havO worked voluntarily Cvcr
since its organization, some Is years
ago. and further, thet they have al
ways been permitted tho privilege of
0lOcting their chief, subject to the np.
prOval Of tho city council, and each
company 10 elect It's own paid men,
subject 10 the approval Of the chief.
These privileges, which have always
been appreciated by tho 6r6mou, as IL
was thoir only privilege, except fight
ing fires, has been taken away
by the city council and lodged IN their
own hands. Companies singly aud
tho department collectively have time
aud again appealed 20 the council, AK
AAAa NIANN NAANN w 0AAlNA ANNN ANAAAAANN AIINAA
this highly priced privilege, and have
proven couclHsiyely without doubt
that they arc better qualified 10 choose
tho best man from their NUN Der mOi6
so than THO council or any one else,
tuuy being frequently associated with
each other at fires, meetings, etc. And
alter all OF their polite and gentle
manly petitions tho majority OF tho
council have completely ignored their
rgquostl, aud as q consequence th9 de-
parlment, represented almost entirely
py two companies, have seen proper 90
withdraw thor services from the city,
ana whilo they regret exceedingly to
bo compelled 60 take such q step,
yet 10 10 absolutely necessary that
they, in viudiCation OF their honor and
through their goli-rcspeot, trying 20
Wdfu on insult after insult, withdraw
their labor8 from the city, and in 10
doing they have tho ue2t wishes for the
welfare OF tho cltil0ns no heart, and
trust, e'or long, to so equip themselves
as 10 be Independent Of such obsti-
macy and Injustice az has been pgrpG-
trated upon them by majority of the
council. In response 10 some ohiec-
tipns urged against tho volunteers,
wish 60 state:
Flrst-Opo objection is,we have from
each company only Two or three men
80 fire. This hRs been IN objection
because only "a Tow arc uniformed, and
some think that man Is not fireman
unless he has on red shirt and leather
hat. Another objection 10 that the
volunteers eau 20 to hre5 or not, as
they Ike, hut remember that they
have always turned oHt enough mem-
bGrs % conquer tho flames, and
through loYo Tor the cause, thoy are
ever ready when duty calls; but psid
men at $40 per month, cannot feel
much interest," In tho cause. They
work only for their sustenance, and
just Gs soon as better showing IL Of
iored 20 them they desert the job, thus
guaranteeing to tho people constant
supply Of fresh and green hands.
But, fellOw-cltigouH, permit mo TO
say unto you, tao fro boys are truo.
They are noble; thoy arc chivalrous
aud magnanimousi they have worked
ike truo meni they have saved
thousands Oh property from the de-
siructiOn of the flames; they havo
saved tho livee, no doubt OF numbers
Of our ciGZ..s; inys uaYo injured
ihoir health; they have destroyed
thoir clothingi they have carried JOY
home TO many family; they have
exposed themselves TO tn9 hoat OF
many u summon and the SHOWS of
many y winter. Some Of them hayo
laid down their lives for YOU, and
many left arc sull willing, but your
council, independent az all the above
mCiu, tossing sight o: gratitude 20
thon and their duty 10 thor constitu-
eucy, has iuially disregafded them.
But sou sh'il heSr ff1n, ua Ia the fu-
ture, and remember Us as Your friends,
uyiug ~ deviau means 90 hOnorably
pIOtHvg you.
ROp..es are solicited.
Very respectfully,
str.