The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-30
GARMENTS MESSAGE
PRESIDENT MAHAN HEARD FROM
But HIS ADVICE KEPT SECRET.
MANY JOINING THE UNION.
THREE MEETINGS TO RECEIVE
NEW MEMBERS.

Headquarters of Local Union ut Bull
Officers Are-RaiIway Management
Refuses TO Discuss Possible Strike,
but Is Preparing for It-AIso De-
MES That Recent Discharges Were
Made Because Men Belonged to
Union, but Union Men Claim the
Contrary Is the Case, AMI If There
be a Strike II viii BE on That
Ground.
Three meetings were held yesterday
by the Savannah members of the Car
mems Union, composed of the employees
and ex-employes of the Savannah,
Thunderbolt and Isle of Hope Railway
in the hall at Bull and Thirty-first
streets. The purpose, the men said,
were to receive into the union lot of
new members, many of which, it IS
claimed, are being received daily.
A reply to the unions request for in
formation and advice was received
from President Mahan of the National
Union, with headquarters at Detroit.
Griffin, corresponding secretary of the
union, who refused to discuss its con-
tents, or even to be seen about the
matter. However, others who are in
position to know say there is little
probability of a strike being ordered,
at least not just now, though there is
no telling what future developments
may bring.
1t is stated by members of the union
that its membership is now about 125,
and that additions to it are being made
daily. The officers of the union are
president, Frank Drexler; recording
secretary, w. G. OVerstreet, and cor
responding secretary, w. e. Griffin.
There is also a vice president who is
still employed by the railway.
Quite a large number of the union
men who were seen last night, have
recently been discharged. Their dis
charge they lay to the fact that they
are members of the union, and though
Manager McIntire denies this, the
strike If there be a strike, will be de-
clared with this complaint as basis.
There were few developments in the
street railway situation during the day,
Quite a number of new men were no
ticeable on the cars, learning the
streets, and getting on to the way In
which to collect, and ring up, fares.
While the railroad officials have stead
lastly refused to discuss the threatened
strike il is known that they are not
waiting for the men to step out but
that they are really preparing to face
the music if such thing should hap
pen.
While 1t is not thought that the off,
cials apprehend any serious trouble,
they are on the alert, and do not pro-
pose to be caught mapping. 1t is the
purpose of the company to hold on to
enough new men to keep up the pres
ent schedule, even should all of the I'M
ion men step out. The company de-
MES that fight has been made on the
union, or that the men recently dis
charged were let go because they were
members of such an organization.
General Manager McIntire stated
that he had no more objection to a
motorman, or conductor, joining a I'M
ion than he did to his going to some
particular church. In the mean time
Vice Presidents Fall and Parsons are
remaining in the city.
Four more of the new summer cars
arrived yesterday, and will be put in
service at once. The order for the
new winter cars, of a much larger size
than those now in use, will be given
very shortly by Manager McIntire.