Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-21
STRIKE THREATENED ON
TWENTY-SEVEN ROADS

The strike of the firemen of the Geor-
gia road may extend to all roads in the
south E A Ball, vice president of the
Order of Locomotive Firemen and En-
ginemen. says that it will unless the de.
mands of the striking firemen are grant,
ed.
Thursday morning he sent kilograms to
the general chairmen of the firemen OF
every road in the south, preliminary to
calling a conference here of the general
chairman and the joint boards.
These kilograms. he says. are to make
all ready so that a conference may be
called at any moment. Everything in pre-
paration for the conference will be done.
an ultimatum will then be sent TO the
road, according to him. and If the de-
mand of the firemen is still refused the
conference will be called aAd the matter
will be laid before 1t of having the fire
men of every road in the south walk out.
There are twenty-seven roads in the
southern states. II the strike extends
to them all 1t will mean a labor war of
mammoth proportions.
Following is the form of the kilograms
that were sent out Thursday:
Situation on the Georgia railroad as
Stunning serious aspect. Company forcing
negro supremacy. May have to make the
white mans cause a national one. Hold
tire joint board at Atlanta at the shortest
possible notice"
Mr.. Ball has issued this statement:
STATEMENT IN FULL.
violence and strife reDorted on the
Georgia railroad. II these reports are true.
il is much DEPRECATED by eve<y member Of
my organization. I can. however, say with
absolute certainly that none Of cur men are
in any way responsible for this violence. Ii
is, however. thing which must be expected.
Never in the history of civilization has the
white man submitted to negro domination and
when the Georgia railroad seeks TO put the
negroes over these Georgia boys who hnve
worked for the road so faithfully. il Tntisr
expect trouble. OF these firemen who have
lost their Jobs. many live and down the
railroad. and when their friends and relatives
trains going bv and a negro occupying
white mans locker and practically Occupying
The business home Of the young white man,
trouble will
'SsIr. Scott saws that this is part Of piaa
to drive the nazro from the railroads. The
truth is our movement Is only defensive. ana
have every reason to believe that Mr. ScOtts
Georgia railroad simply ==rt of a plan 70
drive the white man out Of work as fireman
TELEGRAM sEH:T
Realizing the seriousness and the extersive-
ness Of this railroad movement. I have deemed
it my DUTY TO send out the following telegram
preliminary to converting the general chairnneh
Of the joint boards Of all systems represented
in .he
situation on the GeorRia railroad aSsum-
ing serious aspect. Company forcing negro
supremacy. Nav have to make the white
mans cause a national one, Hold yourself
in readiness TO convene your entire joint board
at Atlanta at the shortest possible notice
They already have In Augusta negroes who
occupy the positions Of ward foremen of
gines. A ward foreman OF engine is simply
a conductor of that engine and the white en-
zineer is subject to his orders and control
VIII the people Of GEORGIA believe it, In
this respect, the engineers in a worse POI
sitfon than the fir%nen. for nowhere yet has
a fireman been subject to the orders Of a
negro. but white engineers In Augusta sub
iect to the control and orders OF the negro
yard foremen OF engines"