The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-10
SENSATION IN ATLANTA.
INDICTMENTS FOR WORKING ON
THE STREETS SUNDAY.

of the Mayor Allowing a Street Rail
way to Take Up It's Old TRACKS and
Put Down Others-Denouucedb by the
Prohibition snd Morality Club.
ATLANTA, GA, Aug. 9.-To-morrow, 9. if
what a member q tho grand jury said in a
publio speech be truo, over 100 mon will be
indicted for working upon the ssrests On
Sunday for the pecuuiary profit OF private
corporation, and the first man indicted will
fe W. A. Henphill, mayor Of Atlanta.
This is because the work was done under the
authority Of an order from the mayor At
lanta morality is boiling over, and storm
of Indignation has moved the churches and
1890 Club.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE
The trouble, in brief, is this: For several
days past the Atlanta Consolidated Street
Railway Company has kept a large force
of hands at work about the central part of
the city putting down double track Of
electric lines and taking up the old
single tracks. This blocks the street
almost its entire width, and has seriously
incommoded business and street travel
Yesterday Mayor Hemphill was asked for
an order allowing this work to proceed on
CuuQdJs IL WAS IeDTeb6HL6Q IuHU bN9 OU-
structions were not only an injury to bust
ness, but menace to the safety Of the city,
because it almost bottled up the fire Depart
ment by rendering several Of the principal
streets impossible
THE MAYOR GRANTS THE ORDER.
The mayor granted the order, aud the
novel spectacle was witnessed by church.
goers this morning of over hundred
laborers earning their bread by the
sweat of their brow, the fourth
commandment to the contrary not
withstanding. The sight K ated harshly
upon the moral sensibilities of many who
witnessed it. Probably the only reference
made to it at the forenoon services was by
Evangelist Thomas P. Leitch at the Walker
Street church. mo man can be honest be-
fore God, said he, who digs in the ground
for money upon the Lords day. The
men that have the work done
are as guilty as the laborers,
and the mayor of the city and your other
city authorities are as guilty as anybody"
The pastor, Rev. John F. King, said
Meanwhile the work on the street car
lines was being pushed vigorously, in blind
ignorance Of the storm that was brewing.
DENOUNCED BY THE 100 CLUB.
This afternoon the 1890 Club, the prohi-
bition and morality organization, held its
regular meeting. There the matter was
sprung again, and several denunciatory
speeches were made amidst great enthusi-
asm. The mayor and city authorities were
handled with gloves off. Evan Leitch and
rev. Mr.. King made the flrst speeches.
Col. A. A Murphy, president of the club.
and president OF the new afternoon paper,
made a halleluiah talk
Green I. Dodd, member of the grand
jury, made the speech quoted about iadict-
ing the offenders for the violation of the
law.
AN INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
Finally a committee was appointed to get
the names of all the men, and TO find out
who was directly responsible for the paving
and allowing the work to be done.
AS soon as the club adjourned this COM
mittee secured police officer and repaired
to the corner of Whitehall aud Alabama
streets, where the main force was busy.
Tie foreman was called up to show reason
why he and his men should not be arrested
then and there and locked up.
SHIFTING THE RESPONSIBILITY.
The foreman, B. Z. Bailey, exhibited his
order from the mayor.
That relieves me of all responsibility"
said the police officer.
YES" said the committee, "the mayor
relieves you, but who is going to relieve the
mayorm
After some consultation the committee
agreed that they were powerless to inter
fere with the work.
Are you going to work to -nightp asked
member of the committee.
No." said the foreman. ave wanted to
3 but we could not get the hands.
4 We'll, truly" said Evangelist Leitch.
Tod is not recognized in the municipal
q government of Atlanta
n The cAnrn rniftoa v.a0airaJ 70
8 Of Rev. Walker Lewis, pastor of Trinity
church, of which Mayor, ,Hemphill is mem
Der and prominent official Mr.. Lewis
promised that he would bring the matter up
before the church tonight.
Inc committee then dispersed making It
Lheir business to acquaint the pastors of all
she churches in town of the facts in the
case. and asking that the action of the
mayor be denounced from the pulpit.
THE MATTER IN THE PULPITs.
In perhaps dozen churches tonight the
natter was referred to, but in the Methodist
Oaurches, particularly, the denuuciation
was unmeasured. At the Walker Street
nethodist church the greatest furore was
"a alSed This is Mr.. Murphy's church.
lae members we're incensed at such gross
'lolation of the laws Of the state, and de-
rounced such work as shameless out
ase' The different members spoke in no
s urea terms.
when Mr.. Leitch had finished his sermon
ue pastor, Rev. ]. F. King, arose with fire
p ms eyes and commenced in this way:
leInren, we have a resolution which we
frs gong to ASH you to adopt here tonight.
9en vent up the streets this afternoon
uu saw those hands at wark, my heart bled
"a. +1V Sucn an outrage on Christian oommu-
y! was being perpetrated. There we're at
faA faA. On the streets hundred negroes and
70" sorry white men, What a spectacle
was en- the day of God. and here in the
p y gat city Of Atlantam
Ne related that there bad been q meeting
he 1890 Club, and they had tried to
ave the work stopped, but no one could be
al lu ,,ho VINO had the authority. "Why," he
ro1 aui q young man standing looking at the
s1s He to,oay said he was sorry ne and Mayor
f. .l,l 'puilI belonged to the same church. 1"
'0uuuly denounced Mayor Hemphill.
81 :. Mr.. MURPHY's SPEECH.
mE Murphy said, as he rose to offer the
biI;.G"'iohs; iItG.H'iohs; II am known as strong pro-
cbUnaIIulsV' but | am much stronger
Ia S-uu ,,.L man. am not mad, but sorry. u
No. 1s proud he belonged to the Walker
relio;o,o,aH oHuFch' ''one which approved every
= ora 'ouS movement and whose doors were
~ 9pea 2, 70 all denominations ond creads even
s o,,, b atlon Army, If they wish t. come TO
foI ul uouse." He denounced Mevor HemDbill
81 on iSsullg sSs the permission. and said every,
& NJ, NC resent should see to il that those who
y nro,oa 1et a. should be brought to Justice to
VOL, ~ tlHt al II was not necessary to do this
raf,,a,5 day' lie said Mayor HemphiIl had
q on Th;toGo,, 20 Permit the same thing
street IIase'tau I've s street, a mora important