New-York tribune., 1909-05-28
GEORGIA CRISIS TO-DAY
TO RUN IL NAIL TRAINS.
Fate of arbitration llSo ct Stake
Plenty of Food.

It. A
be reached tomorrow morning in the Georgia ran
road strike
First will be the starting Of twelve trains carry
ing mail only through community intensely III
terested in whether white or black remen VIII feed
the engines and as to what differences are TO he
drawn from the makeup of the crews. regardless
Of whether they are white black. The graVest
concern in breaking of the ice by the first train
in five days is felt here tonight Hope1u'heSS
that the mail trains will be harbingers Of peace
prevails but fears OF complications are not con-
cealed.
The second crisis Is the fate Of arbitration. BY
noon tomorrow it may be known. No official an
nouncements have been made, but the assertion
that United States Commissioner of Labor Neill
has informed General Manager Scott Of the rail-
road that he must make final decision whether or
not he will accept arbitration has been repeatedly
made in authoritative sources throughout the
day.
1t is significant that tomorrow morning. for the
first time a complete conference on arbitration
will be possible. The Georgia Joint Terminal Com
panv controls the tracks which the Georgia
Railroad enters Atlanta. and the switchmen in
sst that any agreement to arbitrate must include
the terminal company. Three directors control
this company, and up 10 date there has not been
a majority Of them present in Atlanta to act in
concurrence with the Georgia Railroad To-mor-
row, however George f. Evans, fourth vice
president and general manager Of the Louisville &
Nashville, will arrive here from Nashville, and
plans have been made to call him into conference
with General Manager Scott of the Georgia Rail-
road who is also director of the terminal COM
pany. It is known that the lack Of such quorum
as these two directors will make has helped TO
block definite understanding as to arbitration.
Two through mail trains will be started out Of
Augusta and Atlanta respectively at 7:55 O'Clock
tomorrow morning. Other mail trains will
these trains at Camak, for the Macon branch;
Barnett, for the Washington branch; Union
Point for Athens and Union Point, for White
Plains. The crews are 20 be made up AZ the gen
eral offices of the road in Augusta. They will be
about half of negro firemen and half Of white fire.
men, not members of the Brotherhood. The mail
clerks VIII all be negroes. Ten Of the hremen
marked for the trips are negroes. The other two
are white men, not members of the Firemens
Brotherhood.
Postoffice inspectors viii accompany each OF the
trains. This announcement made tonight, fol
lowing a conference between George NJ. Sutton. in
spector ia charge Of the Atlanta division and
United States District Attorney Tate. Mr.. Sutton
said il was deemed wise 20 have experienced in
spectors accompany each Of the trains FOR the pnr
pose Of making observations. ascertaining the sent
ment of the people along line
The determination to run the mail trains has
duoed the problem OF settlement two issues
first, in what manner the negro shall be allowed 20
work. and second the interference with interstate
commerce and its possible result in federal inter
venJion. The conferrees believe jhat a great gain
has been made in eliminating the Postoffice De
parment's dilemma, leaving the federal part Of the
problem for the Interstate Commerce Commission
only.
The question tonight. however. was ap-
parently much the fore at the beginning
Of the strike and ihe reports Of moral support ot
the white iremen against the negroes by residents
along the road were even more marked than at
the start Of the strike.
General Manager Scott. IN announcing the re-
sumption Of mail service. would say whether
jhe road would accept the services Of the Brother
hood iremen. prorered indirectly YESTERDAY by
Vice-President Ball. Assistant Grand Chief Bur
CESS Of the Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers
said he told Mr. Scott tonight that he understood
that the government assured adequate protection
for the engineers
Reports from the strike district to-day showed
that where three days ago committees send
ing out appeals for necessities OF life there now
exists wagon and automobile service So well de
veloped that the last vestice of want has disap-
peared- At Thomson to-day every merchant
running a line Of wagons to Augusta. thirty-seveu
miles away, and traction engine and car were
working under lease the rate Of $25 a day. BY
carriage and by automobile the round trip to
Augusta cost from So % 20 S. according 10 class
carload OF provisions opened Camak near by
became exhausted to-day. and the price Of pro
visions advanced. However, enough eggs and vege-
tables were to be had to keep the poor from suf-
ferine.
In the neighborhood Of Lithonia there were
twenty-six cars Of perishable provisions side
tracked and the presence Of two carloads Of beer
was bulletned Thirty nine waRonIoads OF ice were
applied 10 this tranload for refrigeration Ifthonia
is twenty-five miles from Atlanta. and the price
by automobiles for the distance is s. one vav
In the vicinity OF Crawfordvine farmers have
rented their wagons 70 merchants for nominal
sums. Carloads of provisions sidetracked few
miles from their destination have been in some
cases released by the original consignees TO mer-
chants near the siding.
Costngton which is on the line Of another road
had plenty Of provisions. and an opportunity to
sell to less fortunate neghbors Automobile fares
from there to Atlanta s. TO SO for forty
miles This fare was abou, the highest rate in the
strike district.
Washington. MAY FIT is hoped here that The
state authorities Of Georgia Will be able TO handle
the railroad strike situation. which is recognized to
be delicate. Under the circumstances it is thought
to be inadvisable this time for the government
acti-ely to interfere in the controversy lest such
action might induce serious trouble between the
races.
The officials Of the Postofice Department are
proceeding cautiously. although strike is serf-
ously interfering with the movement of mails
Pending the outcome Of negotiations now IN prog
ress, no important move will he made by the de
partment.
No decision to-day reached regarding the
suggestion Of Vice President Ball. Of the Brother
hood Of Locomotive Firemen that the Postofice
Department designate representative to confer
with him in effort to get the mails through
This phase Of the case. however. viii be brought
TO the attention of Postmaster General Hitchcock
who viii return here tomorrow.