Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-01
First is Turned Down, But Sec
ond, Which Allows Negroes
Now Employed to Maintain
Present Footing, Considered.
THEY WANT NEGROES
EMPLOYED IN FUTURE
TO BE SECONDARY
Would Also Limit Number of Ne
groes Employed to 20 Per Cent.
If Scott Accepts, Settlement
Will Be Reached.

At a conference at the Piedmont Mon
day morning, a proposition was submit
ted to the mediation board consisting of
Martin A. Knapp and Charles P. Neill,
by which the differences of the firemen
of the Georgia road and the road itself
may be settled.
1t is understood that the firemen will
agree to simple seniority, with negroes
now employed by the road keeping their
present footing. The road, too, is not 10
employ over twenty-five per cent of ne
groes as firemen.
This proposition has been carried to
General Manager Scott. If he accepts it,
settlement is complete.
If he does not accept it, attempts at
mediation may continue, but IL will prob
ably be necessary to turn TO arbitration
under the Erdman act.
When the conference Monday morning
was over, Commissioner Neill said that
a settlement had not been reached and
that 1t might be that none would be
reached for several days. He refused to
give out any information of what had
happened.
FIRST PROPOSAL TURNED DOWN.
But it is learned from a reliable source
that the fremen made two propositions,
and that IL was pointed out that the
first was impracticable
1t is believed that they asked for the
complete elimination of the negro from
the Georgia road.
1t is said that neither Mr.. Neill nor
Mr. Knapp thought this to be fair.
The second proposition was then made,
70
by Mr.. Neill.
From. what can be LEARNED. and the
source is reliable, the second proposition
is this:
Negroes who are now in the employ of
the road shall continue as they were be-
fore the strike.
If they have a good run, they shall
continue to hold that run. But, should
one Of these negroes drop out, white
man would take his place.
Should a negro employed today and
white man six months from now, the
white man would be senior to him, get
ting a regular run first.
No negroes now employed shall be dis
charged but uno more negroes shall be
hired while the per centatge of negro
employees remains above twenty-five per
cent.
If the number shall get below twenty
above that percentage.
, In short, the white fireman shall have
Seniority over all negroes hereafter en-
ployed by the road. and the policy of the
road shall be to put white firemen above
the negro.
NEGROES NOT DISCIPLINED.
1t has been complained that negro en-
ployes of the road are not disciplined now
as white employees are. The proposition
AE..A
ployes shall be subjected to just as strin-
gent rules as are the white.
What a white man would be disciplined
for a negro must be disciplined for.
II has been said by white firemen that
thing that a negro would do with I'M
punity, they could not do. If a negro
should be garnisheed, the road overlooks
it; white man is discharged.
1t is understood that Manager Scott
has agreed to the principle of seniority
for the white firemen and there are
hopes that he will lagree to the prsposi-
ton OF the firemen.
II looks to be their ultimatum. If he
does not agree to 1t, arbitration will
probably follow.
It may be known Monday afternoon
what is to be the result-settlement or ar
bitration.
The conference between Mr.. Nell and
the committee from the firemen ended
shortly after u o'clock.
He then said that he was going to Mr..
Scott.
Later, the information leaked out as to
the proposition that the firemen made and
which he was then carrying to Mr.. Scott.
Neither he nor Mr. Knapp will make
any statement save that they hope for
settlement without arbitration.
The first proposition that the committee
from the firemen is said to have made
would fully satisfy the firemen.
It is certain that Manager Scott would
never have agreed to it
The board of arbitration, consisting of
Mr. Knapp and Mr.. Neill, must have
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