The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-04-17
ccMPANY'S FINAL REPLY.
Pensacola, Fla, Apr. 10. 1916

General j G, Il. Foster, City.
Dear Sir: The Pensacola Electric
Company has duly considered the
proposition Of the former employees OF
that company submitted TO us through
your courtesy on the 18th instant.
Upon the fourteenth instant this
company, at your suggestion, signi-
ned its willingness to- entertain GER
tain propositions as basis OF settle
ment OF the differences between ii
and such former employees. On the
same day, the employees suggested
certain notifications of the proposals
submitted by the company, those modi-
fications being numbered l to 1. On
the 18th the company acquiesced in
all of those notifications except the
first, and as 10 that proposed a sub.
stitute. The employees on the same
date Signed their willingness to ac-
cept the suggestions of the company
last made, except the first PROPOSE
ton. The employees would not &C
cept this Substitute, but through you,
have proposed two notifications
thereto. We regret to say that in
spite Of an earnest and sincere desire
10 end the present situation, which
is Jdistasteful and buTdensOme TO the
company, and extremely injurious to
the public, the company is unable to
accept the notifications proposed.
The first of these notifications re-
quires that all men heretofore in the
employ of the company shall be rein
stated in their former positions. at
the same rate Of pay, except those
against whom the company will allege
and establish before .disinteTested
person. or persons. a fair cause of dis
charge. The company has no other
than a kindly feeling towards those
of it's employees who, while in its en-
ploy, were faithful and efficient SER
wants and who since leaving its en-
ploy have not resCTted to acts of VIC
lence in connection with their en-
deayor to make the strike effective,
but the company does not desire to
have further business relations with
either those who were not faithful
and efficient in it's service. or with
those who participated in the violence
of Friday evening. the 10th instant.
For this reason, the company is I'M
willing to accede to any proposition
which would put il in the hands of
any third person, disinterested or
otherwise, to force into its service
men who are unfit for that service,
or who have shown themselves cap
able of violence against it and per-
sons employed by it. The company
has carefully gone over the list of
employees who left at the time of the
strike. and eliminating those included
within the two classes mentioned,
find that there are left thirty-five who
are at least comparatively unoblec-
tionahle to the company, and has,
therefore. in it's proposition. to which
the notifications mentioned are a re-
ply. limited the number Of men whom
it is willing to take hack into its en-
ploy to that number. There is no de-
sire 10 discriminate against the body
of the striking employees, but merely
a desire to retake into and retain in
the employment of the company only
those men who by reason of their
character and efficiency should be re
instated. and hence the limitation as
to number.
The reason for the company's decli-
nation to accept the second of the two
notifications is, in our opinion, suf
set forth by the propositions
which it has already made. We may,
however, add that while the company
is willing to do the very best possible
for its late employees, consistent with
its interests and the interests of the
public, who are affected by the man
ner in which the employees perform
their>duty, yet, it is not willing to be
bound by any settlement or agree
ment as to the character of the men
whom it shall hereafter take into its
employment, that is to say, it is not
willing to bind itself TO take any per-
centage of unon men, but must be
left free and untrammehed TO select
such men as are best fitted for the
various posts of the company, entire
ly irrespective of whether they be
union or not.
Permit Us TO express our great ap-
probation of Your patience, ability
and courtesy in the conduct of the
negotiations between US and our late
employees, and our sincere regret thar
your efforts have not been successful.
Yours very truly,
PENSACOLA ELECTRIC CO.,
By Geo. J. Baldv-'~ -----zau+