The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-27
Race Question Is Involved and Problem Is OnG VGn Hard
 to Solve
SMALL TOWNS SUFFER
 FOR LACK OF SUPPLIES
Conferences Have Been Held By Man. ager of Georgia Railroad and Gov ernor Smith But Settlement
 Is Still Far Off.

Atlanta, May 26 The tension in the Georgia railway hremen's strike Is in- creasing with every hours delay in set ting the race questi, involved. This was the attitude with ieh negotiations for concluding the strike Fere conducted here today. United States mails held up since the beginning of the week, dozen counties facing demoralization of busi- ness, and the race issue brought con tinually into unwholesome prominence were che factors which spurred the ne- gotations through hours of discussion AL though no statements were made as 10 the ground covered it was learned that a very quick settlement is looked for pro- Vided any agreement can be reached.
 It was learned late this evening that a feeling of nervousness exists on both sides in the controversy over the gravity of further delay. This was taken to fndi- cate the possible approach of an agree ment, despite a report that MT. Scott has practically refused to consider any basis of settlement that does not permit reeogni- ton of the seniority of certain negro tiremen. MT Scott however. has not re- fused outright to enter into arbitration That MT. Scott urged Governor Smith to- day to issue a law and order proclam amation in the communities bordering the railroad was reported tonight. Governor Smith maintained his previously announced at titude that until there appears some definite danger that property will be de- stroyed or lives jeopardized no suea proclamation should be issued. Conferences Held. | Scott of the Georgia railroad had a long ! conference this afternoon at which was | discussed the feasibility of submitting the 1 trouble to a board made up of men con- versant with local conditions along the railroad. United States Commissioner of Labor Neill called upon Governor Smith today.
 Various town in the strike district took inventory today of their visible supply of food Madison reported at least 1s days of plenty in prospect. Washington re- ported a shortage in yeast and prices rising.
 At Lthonia Mayor Brand said "If sup plies should run short and it becomes necessary I shall simply condemn the trainload of perishable goods now on the siding at Lfthonia and tell the citizens to help themselves"
 |. There are Ii cars of provisions at Li- thonia, and ice has been supplied to main tain the pershable portion of their con tents in good condition.
 Visible Supplies. Tn addition to the visible supplies. the towns have their visible means of trans portation, headed by a traction engine travelling nearly a mile and a half an hour, automobiles with daring drivers and dangerous roads, mule teams with darky drivers and cracking whips-alto- gether combination which has furnish ed bright side to the strike and many holiday prank for rural communities.
 This good nature of the country along the silent railroad was today reassur- ing feature in the negotiations in At lanta for one of the gravest aspects of the strike has been the uncompromising sympathy which has backed it all along the line.
 An offer of aid in moving the mails was sent to Washington today by Vice President Ball. who is conducting the strike and who wired the Postmaster General as follows
 'It is currently reported that an effort is being made to charge the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire men and Enginemen with responsi- bility for interference with the United States mails on the Georgia railroad. So far from this being true we stand pre- pared to aid you in getting the mails through. I should be glad to confer with any representative of the postoffice de-
 
 you in accomplishing this result
 The handcar which is carrying mall out of Atlanta went nearly 40 miles, to Union Point. tonight.
 Strikebreakers Complain.
 Six strike breakers who left the en- poyment of the Georgia railroad satur- day today complained to the Atlanta po- lice commission, charging that they had been brought here by misrepresentations and had been practically prisoners for several days in a hotel. finally getting into communication with strikers by notes dropped from the windows. A de- tective agency which has had charge of the squad of strike breakers answered the charges. declaring them untrue.
 No plan for starting train service was reached by any of the conferees tonight. The question of putting guards on trains was mentioned as last resort, to be avoided by all means on account of the animosity 1t might stir up.
 An agreement to arbitrate appeared to be the only other means of starting the trains, and there was some debut wheth- CT the mere fact of such an agreement would remove the danger to such of the roads negro fremen as might work pending final settlement of the dis pute.
 Reports late tonight from the towns affected by the strike said that perfect order prevailed and that expressions Of opinion favorable to the strikers pre- dominated throughout the strike terri tory.
 It was nearly midnight when the last of the days conferences was over. A settlement was 1ot in sight, and it was planned to resume negotiations tomor- row when the conferences will continue to be informal.