The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-24
MORE TROUBLE
THREATENED.
Effort to Intimidate
Arbitrators.
CERTAIN TESTIMONY EXCLUDED
All That In Nature Of Public
Opinion Irrelevant.
Is Blow to the waite Firemen, Bat
They Go on Gsmely showing 3
Consultative Testimony q.
to Negro Unatness. -
CERTAIN TESTIMONY EXCLUDED

Atlanta. Ca, June 23.---Charging that
the fremen were trying to intimidate
the arbitrators. Major Cummings, rep
resenting the Georgia Railroad before
the arbitration committee, objected
strongly this afternoon TO the introduce
ton Of any testimony as to the condi-
tilon OF public opinion upon the merits
Of the strike. The fremen had intro
duced Mayor Brand OF Lithonia. It
was at Lithonia that much disorder
took place and where several negro
firemen were severely whipped, 1t was
proposed to have Mayor Brand tell.
gro hremen, but to give 1t as his opin-
ion,. that IL the firemen were restored
to the cab by the decision OF the Board
Of Arbitration, the people would resort
to violence again.
This is gross contempt Of the COM
mission" said Cummings, trembling
with anger.
If such testimony be admitted, we
had as well close down our courts and
let mob violence rule. The contention
here now is simply that the firemen in
effect say We may be wrong in our
contest, but even II we are. and you
gentlemen decide against US, the peo-
pie of Georgia will rise up in mobs and
override YOU think this Is libel
on the good people Of this State. ]
most seriously objec. to the admission
of such testimony"
Attorney Ruben Arnold argued spir-
itedly that the Board was not a court
that 1t should permit wide latitude
and, In its award disregard such testi-
mony as was not considered proper. He
claimed. however that the commission
had right, nay duty, to hear such
evidence and to consider II, as II AZ
fected the safety Of all other employees
and even passengers.
Before Major Cummings interrupted
Brand had declared that the people
along the line OF the Georgia Railroad
were only permitting the negro Are.
men to work now because they were
assured that the arbitrators would de.
eide in favor Of the white employees
He was confident that r. the commits.
sion decided In favor of the negroes
the people would never permit tbs
blacks to run.
Exclude Tesfimeny.
The arbitrators, upon the conclu-
sion of Arnold's argument, went into
executive session, at the end of which
they announced that they would ex-
clude all testimony as to public opin-
ion s-not relevant. II may say" said
Mr.. Herbert, that the decision Ia by
unanimous consent"
This was a severe blow to the Are
men. But they went on gamely. Of
fering cumulative testimony, as to the
unfitness OF the negroes as firemen.
Abauot fifteen Mayors and peace Of
ficers Of towns along the Georgia.
Railroad. who had been summoned,
were notified they might go home /.
The decision, probably. will shorten the
hearing.
wttnas. aFta. ,1ttra.. .,.,.-n 49,,
that negroes were too incompetent and
stupid to be safe firemen, and that the
Georgia Railroad did not hold them to
accountability for the violation of the
ordinary rules OF safety. The wit.
nesses gave names and dates to sub.
stantiate their statements.
It also developed that when an en-
CINE came in from q run with q ne
gro fireman on the box. and was sent
out with white man firing, the white
man had to put his clothes in the boz
used by the negro and had. to drink
from the same cup which the negro
had used.
Major Cummings for the railroad.
asked that vice-President Ball OF the
Brotherhood OF Firemen and Engine
men be recalled. He asked Ball IT, at
the last convention OF the order at CO.
lumbus. O.. the Brotherhood, had not
agreed that It was time to eliminate
the negro from the cab in all Nthe
South. Ball said he did not recall.
Several witnesses said that negro
firemen cannot be depended upon to
flag, as they will not go back the 3,7o0
feet required by the rules. They also
testified a-fresh to the negroes ten.
dency to go to sleep. every time he
sits down. unless he is watched