The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-16
SWITCH LIGHTS
EXTINGUISHED
AND WoRKMEN INUNDATED
BY A. c. LIS STRIKING MAINTE-
NANCE of WAY EMPLOYEES.

Special Deputies sworn in ny Sys-
tenn and Placed on Guard at
Switches and Stations-NeRrOes
Fear to Work Because Threatened
with Death if They DO-WaIking
Delegate Found in Savannah
Yards Trying to Stir Up WOrLmen.
Left When Police Were Called.
With threats to kill the men who
have taken their places, and those
who have refused to strike, 1t is charg-
ed that the striking members of the
Maintenance of Way Brotherhood of
the Atlantic Coast Line are now seek
ing to get all the men out and so em-
barrass the system as to force com
pliance with their demands.
AT many places along the system
1awless efforts, it is alleged, have been
4 made to give trouble to the system.
Put Out Lights.
Switch lights nave been extinguished
and, in some places, it is said, even
the wicks have been taken from the
lamps to prevent their being relighted.
This happened at Liberty City Sunday
night.
Even in Savannah some of the men
con nected with the maintenance of way
department, who say they are willing
to work and anxious to continue their
connection with the road, claim they
have been forced to quit because of
threats that have been made. Some
of these yesterday told the officers of
the system that one of the white strik
ers had threatened to kill the man
who went back to work. The men re-
ported to have made such threats
deny them, but the negroes stick to
their story and will not work.
Ordered to Stop Work.
1t was reported during the day that
white walking delegate was in the
yards of the Atlantic Coast Line stir
ring up the men and ordering them to
quit work. The police department was
notified. but the man left before the
police arrived. The officers of the
system have taken active measures to
protect their property and see that no
damage comes of the efforts of the
strikers. Special deputies have been
sworn in all over the system, and
guards have been placed at all switches
and at all stations. 1t will go hard
with the man found trying to tam
per with anything that he has no right
to interfere with.
In Georgia to make threats against a
man under such circumstances as the
strikers are charged with using is
misdemeanor, while in Florida it is a
felony. Where the officials find that
such threats have been made it is their
intention to see that the case against
the offender is pushed to the extent of
the law.
Few Men Cause Trouble.
1t is only by few of the men, it is
claimed. that the trouble is being
caused. The greater part of them have
not gone out, while others who went out
at first have since returned and all va
cant places are filled without trouble.
The system has taken every precaution
for the safeguarding of it's property and
IS carrying on it's regular business with
out interruption. 1t is believed by the
railroad officials that the resort to vio-
lent means shows that the strikers de-
SPAR of winning the fight and are seek
ing to cause trouble. either as last
resort. or because of malice engendered
by defeat.
AS has been stated the Atlantic Coast
Line claims to pay this class of labor
as we'll as any other road in the South,
If not better. Some of the men admit
they have no grievance and others do
not even know what demands have
been made on the system, the refusal of
which has caused the trouble.