Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-27
TENSION IN FIREMEN'S
STRIKE IS INCREASING
Every Hours Delay in Settling Race
Question Adds to Difficulties
Of Situation. .
TOWNS INVENTORY SUPPLIES
Traction Engine, Automobiles and
Mule Teams Employed in Furnish
ing Transportation Facilities
Brioht Side of the Strike-Firemen
Offer to Help in Moving Mails.
(By Associated Press.)

ATLANTA, GA. May 2G.-The ten
sicn in the Georgia Railway firemen's
strike is increasing with every
hours delay IN settling the race ques-
ton involved. This was the attitude
! in which negotiations for terminating
the strike were conducted here to-
/ day. Cnited States mans held up
since the beginning of the week, a
dozen counties facing decentralization
OF business and the race issue brought
! continually into unwholesome prom
! inence. were the factors which spur
ed the negotiations through hours OF
discussion. Although no statements
were made rs 10 the ground covered,
il was learned that very quick set
/ tlement is looked for. provided any
agreement can be reached.
Governor Smith and General Mana
ger Scott, OF the Georgia railroad,
had a long conference this afternoon
at which was discussed the feasibii-
ity of submitting the trouble to a
board made up of men conversant
with local conditions along the rail-
road
United States Commissioner of La
Dor Neill had his first conference with
Governor Smith today. various
towns in the lstrike district took in
ventory today of their visible supply
of food Madison reported at ieas'
fifteen days of plenty in prospect.
Washington reported a shortage in
yeast and prices rising.
May Condemn Supplies.
: At Lithona, Mayor Brand said: I'll
supplies should run short and it be
: comes necessary / shall simply con-
denim the train load of perishable
goods now on the siding at I-ithona
and tell the citizens to help THIN
selves
There are eleven cars of provisions
at Lithona and ice has been supplied
to maintain the perishable portion OF
their contents in good condition
In addition to the visible supplies
the towns have their visible means OF
transportation headed by traction
engine travelling nearly mile and q
half per hour. automobiles with dar.
ing drivers and dangerous roads
mule teams with darkey drivers and
cracking whips. altogether combina
ton which has furnished bright side
to the strike and many a holiday
prank for rural communities.
This good nature of the countr,
along the silent railroad was today q
reassuring feature during the nego
tiations in Atlanta for one az the
. grayest aspects of the strike has beer
the uncompromising sympathy whicf
has backed it all along the line.
Dc Not Want to Stop Mail.
An offer Of aid I'm moving tbs
mails was sent to Washington today
by vice-President Ball. who is con
Quoting the strike, and who wired the
postmaster general as follows: II
is currently reported that an efforl
is being made to charge the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Firemen and
Enginemen with responsibility fol
interference with the United States
mails on the Georgia Railroad. 80
far from this being true we stanc
prepared to aid you in getting the
maI-s through ] should be glad e
confer with 3ov representative Of ths
pcstoifice department designated by
you and 10 aid you in accomplishing
this result
The handcar which is carrying mai
out OF Atlanta went nearly fortJ
miles TO Union Point.
Strikebreskers ConpIsin.
Six strikebreakers who left the
employment Of the Georgia Railroad
Saturday today complained TO the At
lania police commission charginl
that they had been brought here b.
misrepresentation and had beer
practically prisoners for several day
in a hotel. finally getting into com
municaiion with strikers BY 1Dte.
dropped from the windows.
I A detective agency which has has
charge Of the squad % strike-break
ers answered the charges. declaring
them untrue.