The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-20
MEN IN SHOPS STIRRED UP.
DIDN'T WANT TO SIGN PLANT sYs-
TEN PLEDGES TO BE GOOD.

they Thought an Order Was Direct
ed to All Employees of the System,
whereas, as Gen. Supt. Denham
EXPLAINED, 1t Was Intended for
prospective Employees OnIy-The
Code of Morals the Company VIII
Demand for Such EmpIoyes-What
supt. Denham Had TO Say About
the Observation-Disclosures APP
niles to All Departments of the
system.
Many Of the Plant Systems employees
we're thrown into dismay and alarm yes
terday Afternoon by what they regarded as
an attempt to subvert their rights and
privileges The liberty they hold dear
was threatened. they thought, and wild
talk about strikes and what not was in
dulged in to an unlimited extent.
The men in the shops were given to I'M
derstand that they would all have TO sign
pledge TO refrain from doing few things
that are considered rather attractive by
many The information that this was ex
pected of them came from headquarters,
and at once they grew wroth over it. When
the hour for knocking off work arrived
they left the shops, declaring that they
would strike on Monday morning before
they would subscribe to the pledge they
thought was exacted of them.
Learning of the dissatisfaction that had
been stirred up among the employees,
representative of the Morning News saw
General Superintendent w. B. Denham
about the matter The information he
gave proved at once that the agitation
of the. men in the shops was nothing
more than a tempest in a teapot.
supt. Denham said the employees of the
company were mistaken in supposing that
the demand was directed to them. 1t
extends only to men who may hereafter
h enter the service of the Plant System.
The measure is a new one, just inaugu-
rated by Supt. Denham, who says it is
4 in vogue on other roads and is regarded
4 as a great safeguard for the company
and the public.
"a railway company" Supt Denham
said, does not want a man who is not
i sober and steady. l do not mean that a
company would demand that man never
take a drink but it has perfect right
and should insist THAI its employees. upon
the watchfulness, clearness of head and
4 precision of whom lives and property de-
pend, keep in condition to discharge their
duties honestly and faithfully, mini
MIXING danger that might grow from dis
regard of those rules and regulations that
4 make railway travel SAFE
1--WE do not want an engineer, for in
stance, to spend his nights in registering
when he should be at home asleep. Let
one sit UP all night on some debauch
and he Is not in condition the next day
s. to respond to the important duty that is
4 required of him. Is he not likely to go to
sleep in his cab when he should be wide
oIa &c nj Of
4 what we wish to prevent by the demand
d We have decided to make of new en-
4 ployes."
ISupt. Denham readily agreed to give a
q copy of the new form prospective en-
B ployes have to fill out. The portion to
which the men in the shops particularly
a objected is as follows
IT hereby apply for a situation as
a and If accepted agree to faithfully study
Z and obey the rules, regulations and in
structions in effect, to perform my duties
s to the best of my ability; to maintain
8 my bills promptly, to abstain from the
use of intoxicating liquors and to avoid
saloons or places where liquor is sold"
The applicant must then fill in spaces
reserved for his age, residence, references
Il to persons whom he has known for at least
g five years and other information, finally
81 submitting his application subject to an
81 Investigation of his record. The man en-
ploying him must certify that he has sat-
isfied himself of the proficiency of the ap-
" plicant for the position desired.
To the employees in the shops and others
# on the system, Supt. Denham's assurance
will doubtless come as balm to their woes
~ They are not ready to sign the pledge ex-
al acted of new men, and relief will be
Ell brought by the knowledge that no strike
81 or other extreme measure will have to be
# reverted TO in order to avoid subscribing
al to the agreement.
III The master mechanic was laboring under
n Misrepresentation of the scope of the new
81 measure when he made it known to his
"A men. He had understood that it applied
a to everybody now employed by the sys-
81 tenn II was from him that the men in the
81 shops understood that their personal ac-
tons were to be curbed by a pledge, and
then the mutterings began that culminat-
M ed in the threat to strike rather than ac-
cede to the demand.
m Mr.. Denham said the new form for
81 prospective employees will extend to those
81 OF all departments. While the pledge of
II sobriety and proper conduct applies only
M to new employees, Mr.. Denham yet be-
81 heves that men now in the employ Of the
n system should not hesitate to sign " it
n We're asked of them to do so. The mere
al refusal to sign might be interpreted, he
"a said, as a determination to do those things
# against which the pledge is directed.
81 In a way the new order is much like
M mat issued several years ago. relative to
81 me Relief and Hospital department of the
III Plant System. When this feature was
established, it was ordered that all new
|# employees become members of the depart
~ ment.