The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1897-06-17

Nd IVA NslAN1NO. 81 u 1
:, 10 saturation; and vet
~ xund Ne recorded but that of
~ ~ Jc fd and that afterwards
R4 As. There never was
,hnjnst, and unrighteous
gNlacks of kinship to the
of Car Tom Reed, as he
levi. tin house of representa-
kwwSas relation of the rules
s@@0s rning the race, which
N-fhould be shown through
ozzle, and not one blown
lat the nozzle blew off
Re was no complete SER
an~ All the time issuing in a
Ia "a the nozzle and the hose.
Jews was conveyed to the
n at the Galloway house
les had taken away from
tiotairly and honestly earned
diiTHcided that they should run
omth Cedart0wn, thus giving
huid a second Chance, the Mari
eSs who had conduer5 Athemselves
1ntlemanly decornm as2 the while,
0Illaraed that they would continue to
do sotand that they would take no fur
ther part in the tournament. They felt
that they had been wronged, and if these
Judges would rendera rotten decision in
Two races, they had no assurance of bet
ter treatment in the reel race and de-
clined to participate further. Mr.. Hen
1x1A9 Ca%n
er, declined to serve further.
The Marietta boys, had shown such
swiftness and systematic skill in the shoo-
fly and grab races, that it was prophetic
and looked as if they were going to take
the remaining prizes, and the judges
began to handicap them by rotten decis-
ions, dispiriting and discouraging. They
felt that they could not with, self-respect
with expectation Of fairness and just
tice, continue to place their rights i'm
the haGds of two judges who had abused
their trust by open violation of the rules.
The Marietta team went to the touCna-
ment anticipating a pleasant time, a
social reunion where all companies
would be on an equal footing, in gen
erous rivalry, free from prejudice and
envy. They found expressions that in
Dictated that there was an uudercurrent
of intense feeling against Marietta.
AS sample of the undercurrent of
feeling against Marietta because the
company had beautiful new reel, it was
charged that the wheels were ball bear
ing and should not be allowed on the
track, although there were no rules
against such reel. A denial of the
charge was not sufficient, and Manager
Dobbs had the wheels taken off to con-
vince the doubling Thomases.
Then it was charged that the Marietta
company had ''cupped'' couplings and
this accusation, we learn, was to be
sprung on Marietta if she had attempted
to run the reel race, with q view of
ruling her out. This was unfounded as
other trumped up charges. The coup
lings of the Marietta team were identi-
cal as those used by the Gainesville
team. Even if this had been true, the
judges had previously decided that only
''snap couplings should be debarred. :
When Manager Dobbs' went to weigh
the Hose Reel, he found that he had one
section too much and decided to take it
off to conform with the rule. allowing 80
pounds to man, as Marietta's team had
only twelve men that it could enter for
the race. The judges Ball and Patter-
son juggled and decided that the reel
had been on the track and must STAY as
it was, thus forcing Marietta to pull the
weight OF an extra man, but they won
the grab race just the same.
The Marietta team is composed of
gentlemen, of good social standing at
home, and to be objects of suspicion as
If they had come to cheat and swindle
and take irregular methods to win, was
dishonorable, and those who made
such charges reflected their own
thoughts and disposition.
The Marietta company appealed to the
Association and when the races were
over, the Association met and after dis
cussion, the Association endorsed the
rotten decision of the judges 3 to 2: Ma
rietta not voting. This feft nothing else
for Marietta to do but sever her connece1aa
ton with the Association, which she has
done.
We are glad to state, however, that
some of the most prominent citizens of
Gainesville were out-spoken cOndemna-
tory of the claim made by Cedartown
and the decision of the judges. Chief
Spencer, of Dalton, would have voted in
the Association, if it had been a tie, to
sustain Marietta
Chief Joyner, of Atlanta, was present
and witnessed the whole thing and was
present at the judges deliberation, and
he says the action of the judges is in
a violation of the rules and
contrary to common sense. The very
fact that it was claimed by Cedartown
that the nozzle was blown off is a con-
fession and evidence in itself that the
hose was not attached. sufficient to do |
fire service. That with such precedent
set, Marietta could not afford to partici.
pate further in tournament, the rules
of which had been flagrantly violated.
The opinion of one of the best inform
ed fire chiefs in the United States is
worth r1norn To fhn Marietta on,,,..n....