The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-18
AN INCIDENT OF THE strike.
LONGsHOREMEN AND SHIP BRoK-
ERs EXCHANGE LETTERS,

Say They We're Led to Believe
That Mr.. Cope Came to Represent
the Brokers - The Situation I'm
changed.
There has not been any important
| changes in the strike of the longshore-
! men, its aspect is not serious, nor has
there been any effort made looking to-
ward settlement. There was circum-
stance yesterday, however which caused
some discussion among the ship brokers
for a while, but the excitement caused by
it was short-lived, and the entire situation
is on practically the same basis as that
on which it began.
The circumstance alluded to was the
passage Of a resolution by the Colored
Longshoremen' Association, at a meeting
at which Mr.. James Cope, former en-
ploye OF Col. r. F. Harmon, was present,
and had something to say. According to
later developments there was a misunder-
standing as to Mr. Cope's mission, on the
part of the striking longshoremen, and
the situation resumed it's normal status
in other words it was soon restored to
1t seems Mr.. Cope attended a meeting
of the longshoremen, at which he was
suggested as the stevedore in place of Col.
Harmon. The meeting was the cause of
numerous reports which spread rapidly
through the city, and created considerable
talk on the Bay. The following letter
was also sent to Mr.. ]. NJ. Barnard, gr.,
as a result of it:
Savannah, Ga, Sept. 16. .1S97.-We, the
Longshoremens Protective Union Asso-
citation, resolve that we will not work
for Col. r. f. Harmon for ten dollars
$4,000 per day, and further move, we
hereby agree to work for Mr.. j. Cope for
the amount we have agreed 10 go to work,
and are ready to start upon the assur-
ance of your acceptance and answer to
this. Communication at once will settle
this affair. Sandy Rhett, President; L.
2. Ashford, Secretary"
Upon receipt of this letter from Rhett
the ship brokers held a meeting and after
consideration the following reply was,
sent to its author:
by wages agreed upon, we presume you
mean 81 and So per day. On the 10th in
slant delegation of six men, namely, E.
Anderson, NJ. Cook, George Anderson, j. r.
Maxwell L. TreadwelI and A. Barnard,
appeared before us, Mr.. Harmon being
present and we asked them whether they
had any complaints against Mr.. Harmon.
Each man expressed himself as satisfied
with the treat ment he had received except
]. r.. Maxwell. Upon further examina-
ton we found in his case that he had
been discharged from several ships, he
not being an efficient header. The men
complained of several minor evils that ex-
listed, and we assured them that they
should be corrected, but that when it came
H. ! 80
pay this demand because the business
would not stand it. and 1t would divert
cotton away from Savannah. In fact, the
report of the strike has already diverted
three steamers from this port.
H'Now In reply to your refusal to work
for Mr.. Harmon, we want 20 say, that We
have a written contract with Mr.. Harmon
and he must look after our business, and
under no circumstances will we allow
the labor of any one else, to dictate who
shall be our stevedore.
I'VE regret to lose the services of the
menSwho have worked for us many years,
but II they are not disposed to accept the
wages that we can pay, we are forced to
look elsewhere, and in this connection it
| is gratifying to find that a sufficient num-
Der of men are offering for our require
ments. They are of course not all as
well skilled as you are, but from present
| indications we are satisfied that they will
learn the business as quickly as your as
sociates did when we employed them I'M
| der like circumstances.
1--WE shall of course give preference in
the future to those who assist us in load
ing the ships now in port"
The communication was signed by
Messrs. ]. F. Minis & Co., Richardson &
Barnard, Wilder & Co., per VIM. w. Will
| hanson, and Strachan & Co.
| This communication was forwarded to
as a result of it Rhett and a committee
| accompanying him called upon the ship
| brokers in the afternoon to set themselves
straight, so to speak.
Rhett and his committee absolutely de-
! MED that they had Of their own accord
| taken any such position as he had stated
| In the letter. and said that Mr.. James
| Cope had given the men to understand
| that he came as the representative of the
| ship brokers, who wanted the longshore-
| men to pass such a resolution in order
| that they might have less trouble in get
1 ting rid of Col. Harmon. This statement
| of the situation made the ship brokers
! smile.
Tom Golden, who is the treasurer of the
| Longshoremen's Protective Union Asso-
| citation, says that Mr.. Cope met large
| number of the men in the hall over his
! place on Bay street and represented that
| Col. Harmon had been succeeded by him
"He told US it was no longer Col. Har-
mon. but Mr.. Cope. He wanted to know
| if the men would be willing to work for
! him al 81 and IS a day and on the quarter
| and half day system. A few of the men
yelled out that they would rather work
! for him at 81 and S. than for Col Harmon
at $40 day, but this was not the senti-
ment of most of the men. 1t is not a
! question of Col. Harmon or Mr.. Cope, but
only of the men getting their demands for
more pay and the quarter and half day
| system Those asked for are the smallest
wages that are paid in any of the seaport
towns. l think our union is 60
/ ing to be able TO hold out all
right. We have gotten a great many
more members, and have money to get
a!ong with for a while, If we can't get
| work
1--WE got a letter a day or two ago from
| Norfolk asking for forty gangs of men,
and this number will leave Sunday night
| for that place"
Golden says the men are at perfect peace
| among themselves and that there is a
perfect organization. He says the men
would go to work at once under Col Har-
mon if they got on opportunity at the