Evening star., 1909-05-30
Agreement Reached Between
Railroad and Firemen.
BOTH SIDES YIELD POINTS
Question Of Negro Employment Re-
mains to Be Settled.
NONE AT TERMINAL STATIONS
Important Concession Made by Com
pany Pending Final Adjustment.
Statement by Mr.. Knapp.

ATLANTA. Ga, May 29.-The strike of
the firemen on the Georgia railroad was
officially declared off at . O'Clock this
afternoon. An hour and one-half later
the first train. after the resumption of
service, was sent out OF Augusta with a
negro fireman In the cab.
The terms of the settlement We're not
officially given out. but it was learned
that they are substantially as follows:
The men to return to work under con-
ditions existing at the time the strike
began, until final ad just ment is made
All negro firemen at the terminal sta
tions will be dispensed with.
All discharged brotherhood firemen will
be reinstated
Three other points are yet to be de
cded. follows:
First. whether negro fremen shall be
eliminated from the road.
Second, if not eliminated, what per-
Centage of negroes there shall be.
Third. seniority of negro fremen over
white firemen
These other questions are to he dis
cussed tonight. and if they are not ad
lusted they will be settled by arbitration
under the Erdman act.
Both Sides Satisfied.
The exact terms of the settlement have
Hot DeeH ClSclOSeu, Out the statement Is
made that the conditions are eminently
satisfactory to both sides. The settle
ment of the strike was announced in a
statement signed by Martin A Knapp,
chairman of the interstate commerce com
mission. and Charles P. Neil, United
States labor commissioner. 1t said:
An amicable adjustment of the differ
ences between the Georgia railroad and
It's employees who have been on strike
has been reached on a basis eminenty
satisfactory to both sides. The strike has
been called off and complete train service
Is TO be resumed Immediately
This statement was the result of a con-
ference between Chairman Knapp, Com
missioner Neill, General Manager Scott
or the Georgia railroad and Vice Presi-
The conference lasted from IL am until
pm, and every point of issue between
the railroad and its employees was care
fully discussed.
Mutual Concessions Made.
Commissioner Neill said that both sides
made concessions. He added further that
he did not believe complete statement
would be made before next week 1t
is generally understood that the rail-
road agrees to recognize the seniority of
white fremen, and that the employment
OF certain negro firemen who have been
With the road many years will be con-
tlnued After they are retired no other
blacks Will be permitted to fire.
Had there not been a settlement of the
strike TINS afternoon it can be stated
that federal interference was imminent
IL is reported that both sides were noti-
fled that some adjustment must be
reached by q O'Clock today or the federal
courts would take cognizance of the
situation This probably would have
meant lnjunctions. which in the present
temper of the residents of the strike
district almost certainly meant resistance
Gil rinI.
and speedily thereafter the arrival of
the United States troops.
Cause of the Strike.
The strike commenced Nav Il and
lasted thirteen days. 1t was caused by
the attempt OF the company to put negro
tiremen on the best runs in the place of
white firemen. who were given inferior
runs or made substitutes. The men pre-
sented new agreement to General Man
ager Scott, demanding that he recognize
the seniority of white tiremen over blacks
and thus practically do away with the
negro in the cabs. Scott refused, claim
ing that he had no authority to sign such
an agreement The men looked in vain
for some official who had authority and
1ailng to hnd one. struck. General Man
ager Scott retaliated by practically an
Ruling all trains and thus tieing up
traffic.
After a few days the situation be-
supplies ran low and new stocks
could be secured The few necessaries
OF life were hauled in wagons and auto
mobiles. No mails were sent or re- .eIved.
anu even funerals were prevented.
Sentiment With Strikers
The sentiment of the communities was
with the strikers, because the principle
of the question was involved In
some places mass meetings were held
and II Was resolved TO do without mails
and To haul food in wagons, rather
than have the black men in the cabs OF
trains. They threatened to do vioIenc4
to any negro fireman found in a cab
The railroad officials finally sent out
mail trains with negroes al the irebox
ihese We're permitted TO move unmo-
Tested. but when the attempt was made
TO move freightS there were assaults
and throwing OF stones. Several fire
men were injured. Two or three negro
hurt.
The communities through which the
Georgia railroad passes are delighted al
the settlement, and believe the firemen
have Won all the disputed points They
add however in many towns that
whether the fremen agree or not to
negroes IN the cabs, the citizens them
selves Will not consent To any sucn ar
ranSement on any but mani trains pass
ing through their communities.
Settlement Was Timely.
While the terms OF settlement were he
ing agreed upon negro fireman, Joe
Bryant. was assaulted III Augusta Will,
firing on a ward engine ON the lev
trains sent out before the strike va.
called off some tiremeu were negroes ane
others were white. but all non-union
just as the order calling the strike off was
being sent out Gov. Smith was preparing
proclamation. ordering all peace officers
tu see that the trains had ample pro
lection. 1t was never sent out, because
the agreement Was reached before tho
governor had completed his task
Comforting Over Details.
Labor Commissioner NeHl Chairman
Knapp OF the interstate commerce com
mission and General Nanager Scot; o
the railroad conferred for several hour.
tonight over details of the strike settle
10 status ps +,