The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-06-22
Nv AssocIarec Press.

Atlanta, Ga, June Z1.-That an at
tempt will be made to introduce as
evidence public opinion in the arbi-
tratiOn of the Georgia railroad fire
mems strike was evidenced BY Reu-
ben Arnold, the fremens attorney, in
a statement to the arbitrator, Her
bert, Hardwick and Barrow at the
first session here today, wien he
said:
I'VE propose to prove the people
are so bitterly inflamed againS negro
firemen that to restore them would re-
suit in such violence and blsodshed
that lives of neither an empOye or
passenger would be safe"
He also said the pss3s. are toler-
ating the negro firemk - Because
they believe they are beHfna Used tenn
porariIy pending a settlement Of the
strike. The fremen's contentious
are:
Absolute discharge of all negro fire
men; firemen must have three years
experience before being promoted to
engineer; all fremen when hired must
be put in yards on hostler jobs; all
hostIers must continue to receive the
present rate of pay; passenger,
through freight and other desirable
runs must not be blocked - uen-pro-
mot able raea-t zexsTUezfs ma Ga-eFaou
shall be required to ffag crossings or.
throw switches at crossing, thus 1eav-
ing the engine with olgf one man at
the most dangerous f5ints -,
BOARD ORGANIZE 81
When the board organized this
morning Chancellor Barrow was for
maIIy made umpire, but at his fequeSt|
Mr.. Herbert presided. The latter
opened the session by aRAouncinsl
that the arbitrators had sworn one
another, had chosen a stenographerI
and had secured the services of two
deputy United States marshals.as Off
GERS of the Beard. Reuben Arnold,
counsel for the firemen, said he was
ready but as the law requires the ar
bitrators to sign all subpoenaes he
suggested an adjournment until to-
morrow.
81 think that request reasonable"
declared Chairman Herbert, but be-
fore we do so there are few issues
to be settled. Some one should be
the plaintiff, upon whom will rest the
burden of proof. and who will open
and close the case. AS the firemen
are the ones who seek a change from
the existing order of things suggest
that they be considered the plaintiffs"
This was agreed to, also that coun-
sci on both sides should make an
opening statement of what they ex-
pected to prove.
I'VE have decided" said Mr.. Her
bert, that we will not enforce all the
technical rules of evidence, but we
do not want any irrelevant or hearsay
evidence
And we do not want any evidence
of what public opinion on the case is,
said Counsel Cummings for the rail-
road I'VE will fight the Introduction
of such testimony"
And we propose to offer it." re-
torted Arnold. I'VE do not expect it
to influence the aTbitratorS. but We
do expect it to show the greater or
less danger which the employees must
face under these conditions imposed
by the railroad and thus it would be
very pertinent"
I'VE will take up that issue when
we reach it, was Mr.. HerbeTt's COM
ment. Now we will adjourn and
later we will hear the opening state
ment of counsel for the employees"
Counsel on both sides declared that
tfIey would not require the five days
allowed them by law unless something
unforeseen happens They declined.
however, to say how long they would
take to present their case.