Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-31
Not Yet Eliminated from
Georgia Railroad Strike.
White Employees Object Strong
" 10 the CoIored fIfemen.
Other Points Adjusted and Trains
Resuming Schedule Time.

Atlanta, Ca: May 30.-Onicials Of the
Georgia Railroad and of the Brother
hood of Firemen spent nearly the en-
tire dag in conference over those points
in the strike agreement which remain
to be settled Commissioner Neill,
Chairman Knapp and Assistant Post
master General Stewart were present.
1t seems very likely that the disputed
of arbitration finally under the E.rd-
man act.
The stumbling block in the path of
settlement is the retention of the Ne
gro firemen in any capacity. There is
no doubt that all other points will be
adjusted without arbitration.
There are several reasons why the
race question is so important. The
Georgia Railroad is considered home
institution. employing Georgia men on
ly. Its firemen, engineers, conductors
and brakemen are all natives of towns
through which it's trains run. The men
have intermarriad until nearly whole
communities are related. Many of the
| men come from old anG highly respect
cd families and the idea of working
| with Negroes is abhorent to them and
| to their relatives and to this feeling
| is attributed the stand taken by entire
communities against the railroad.
Should tile Negroes win in the final
| settlement OF the dispute, many be-
| iieve that there will be strong senti-
| ment against permitting them to con-
tinue at work. This feeling does not
exist 50 strongly in the larger cities
and it is possible hat the problem may
| be solved by working some of the old
er black employees only in the yards
of the cities.
morrow Meantime train service on
the Georgia Railroad has reached nor
NAL conditions, except in the fraigh,
! department. The officials say that by
| Monday noon all freight trains will be
| moving on the old schedule.
Atlanta. Ga, May 30.-The strike
Of tine firemen on the Georgia Railroad
| was officially declared off at p M
Saturday. An hour and a half later the
first train. after the resumption of SER
vice "as sent out of Augusta with a
| Negro fireman in the cab.
The terms of the settlement were
not officially given out. but it was
| learned that they We're substantially
| as follows:
| The men to return to work under
| conditions existing at the time the
strike began, until final adjournment is
! made.
| All Negro firemen at the terminal
| stations will be dispensed with.
All discharged Brotherhood firemen
| will be reinstated.
| Three other points are yet to be de-
| 'ided, as fellows:
| F'irst-Whether Negro firemen shall
e eliminated from the road.
| Second--If rot eliminated. what per-
'en!age of Negroes there shall be-
| Third-Seniority of Negro firemen
over white firenen.
| These other questions We're discussed
tonight and if they are not adjusted
I they will be settled by arbitration
under the F.rdman act.
| While the exact terms of the set
| 'lement have not been disclosed. the
| ta:emert is made that the conditions
ire eminently satisfactory to both
des. The settlement of the strike
| VAS anpounced in a statement signed
~ Martin A. Knapp, chairman of the
| Interstate Commerce Commission. and
| Charles p. Nell. United States labor
| commissioner 1t said:
| AN aInicable adjustment of the diff
ferences between the Georgia Rail-
road and it's employees who have been
on strike has reached on basis emil
nently satisfactory to both. The strike
mas been called off and complete SER
| vice is to be resumed immediately.