The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-01
WON'T ACCEPT
THE NEGROES
Georgia Strike Still I'm
settled.
GOES 10 ARBITRATION BOARD
Firemen Hold 0ut Against BLACK
Workmen.I
-
three Men are to BE selected Usder the
Erdman Act, to Adjust the
RsiIroad DiGer-
GOES 10 ARBITRATION BOARD

Atlanta Ca, May 31.-Unabls to
agree upon the terms of settlement
the ofnciaIs of the Georgia Railroad
and OF the Brotherhood Of Firemen
have invoked arbitration under the Erd-
man law.
1t was nearly o'clock tonight when
Commissioner OF Labor Neiii and
Chairman Knapp or the Interstate COM
merce Commission reluctantly gave up
the battle to bring the warning ele-
ments together.
Commissioner Neil notified both
parties to the dispute to select an ar
bitrator within I'VE days. These two
men will select q third. The Erdman
act provides that should the two ar
bitrators be unable 70 agree upon the
third member OF the commission. he
viii be named by Messrs. Knapp and
Neil. The decision Of the arbitration
Is made binding upon both parties By
law.
AS expected, the disagreement came
over. the retention Of negroes. The
hremen first demanded the Dismissal
OF all negroes. This was refused daily
by the railroad.
After considerable labor on the part
OF Messrn. Neiii and Knapp. the, fre-
men submitted another proposition.
They agree that those negroes now
employed or who were employed prior
to April 10. should be retained on their
present footing. Resent promotions
OF negroes had been cancelled before
the men returned to work. They de-
manded that all white nremen should
have seniority over all negroes. That
is, Il a white fireman was employed
today he would rank ahead OF all me-
groes. no matter how long they were
in the service when IL came to pfon0-
ton to better runs. In addition, they
asked that at no time should the total
number OF negroes employed exce~a
rs per cent OF the white nremen On
the company'a nay roll. II, 81 any
time. the number of negroes employed
dropped below rs per cent. no mora
were 70 be employed.
IL In said that the Georgia RAlfpadl
might have consented TO this were ~
not for the opposition Of the serminai
companies.
when Il was seen that agrsemenf
| was fmpossibl es- the Federal ofneialH
gave up the hight and irdered that tae
dispute go to arbitration.
When the men returned TO WORK
saturday afternoon, the road agreed
that the status OF April 10 should Pc
restored. 1t was upon that date thai
the trouble began. The company hh0
then promoted aeyefaI neAFoss ~ $500
runs and removed white nremen "
make room for them. Already. the
cmpany has restored the white nrsmen
70 the runs they heie upon April ~.
All other disputed points and demands
were conceded except the seniority
OF white men and the Limitations a. 90
the number OF negroes employed.
THE white hremen claim that negre
aremen are not held to strict enforce
ment OF the rules IS are the whites
and they intimate that the policy OF ina
road seemed TO be to discharge whites
at every opportunity and replace thsin
with blacks who get less wages
General Manager Scott denies TINS
ara declared hts willingness 70 agree
20 a strict endorsement OF all rules
against the negroes. ,
The failure OF the partiea to the dis-
pute 20 settle II themseives VIII ne. -
tinue al work and say they are conn-
dent they will win in the END.