The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1909-06-05
BIC STRIKE DECLARED CFF
Negro Firemen Will Be Let
Out By Railroad.
THREE Other QUESTIONS PENDING;
Citizens Along Line Still Insist That
Negro Firemen Will Not Be Toll
Grated Under Any Con-
sideratiOn.

Atlanta, Ga.-The strike OF tn
firemen on the Georgia railroad ha
been officially declared of.
The terms of the settlement wer
not officially given out, but it VIA
learned that they. are substantial
as follows:
The men to return to work unde
conditions existing at the time tn
strike began, until final adjustment
is made.
All negro firemen at the termina
station will be dispensed with.
All discharged Brotherhood fire
men will be reinstated.
All points are yet to be decided
as follows:
| First: Whether colored firemeu
shall be eliminated from the road.
Second: If not eliminated, what
percentage of negroes there shall be.
Third: Seniority of negro firemen
over white firemen.
These other questions are to be
discussed and if they are not adjust
ed, they will be settled by arbitra-
tion under the Erdman act.
The exact terms of the settlement
have not been disclosed, but the
statement is made that the condition
are eminently satisfactory to both
sides. The settlement of the strike
was announced in statement sign
ed by Martin A. Knapp, chairman of
the interstate commerce commission,
and Chas. P. Neill, United States la
Dor commissioner, It said:
"An amicable adjustment of the
difficulties between the Georgia rail-
road and its employees who have been
On strike has been reached on al
basis eminently satisfactory to both
sides. The strike has been called of
and complete train service is to be
resumed Immediately"
This statement was the result of a |
conference between Chairman Knapp
Commissioner Neill, General Mana
ger Scott of the Georgia Railroad
and Vice President Ball, Of the fire.
mems organization.
The strike commenced on May II
q and1fsEt Z tlta ztaes aat,f rzss
pany to put negro firemen on the best
runs in. the place Of white firemen,
who were given inferior runs or
made substitutes. The men present
ed new agreement to General Mana
ger Scott, demanding that he re-
cognize seniority of white firemen
over blacks and thus practically do
away with the negro in the cabs.
Scott refused, claiming that he had
no authority to sign an agreement.
The men looked in vain for some one
who had authority and failing to
find one, struck General Manager
Scott retailiated by practically an
nul1ing all trains and thus tieing up
traffic. After few days the situa-
ton became grave in some communi-
ties. Food supplies ran low and no
new stock could be secured. The
necessities of life were hauled in wag
CONS and automobiles. No mail were
sent or received and even funerals
we're prevented.
The sentiment of the communities
was with the strikers because the
principle of the race question was in
volved. In some places, mass meet
ngs were held and it was resolved to
10 without mails and to haul food
IN wagons rather than have the
black men in the cabs of the trains.
rehy treatened to do violence to |
my negro firemen found in cab. 1
rhe railroad officials finally sent out
nail trains with negro firemen. These
we're permitted to move unmolested !
,ut when the attempt was made to
move freights there we're assaults
md throwing of stones. Several
iremen were injured two or three .
,egro firemen whipped and two en-
,ineers hurt. .
The communities through which
he Georgia railroad passes are de-
lighted at the settlement and be- ,
ieve the fremen have won all the
Iispute points. They add, however, !
n many towns. that whether the fire. ,
men agree or not to negroes in the ,
abs, the citizens themselves will
lot consent to any such arrangement
n any but mail trains passing their