Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-02
FIREMEN TO ASK
LEGISLATURES AID

A bill is being drafted by a committee
from the firemen and the trainmen which
looks to the exclusion of negroes from
, employment as both trainmen and fire
men.
This is the first step in a new mode
of attack that the firemen have adopted.
The arbitration board which sat here
under the Erdman act refused their 0e-
mand that negroes be denied employ
ment as firemen. They now intend to go
to the legislature.
In support of the bill they are draft
ing they have written to Jerome Jones,
of the Federation of Trades, and to all
the other labor leaders in Atlanta. Let
tiers have also been written to Congress-
man Livingston and to other members
OF congress. In every way possible the
fight is being furthered to Gust the ne
gro from the southern roads through leg
islative enactment.
There is now pending in the house of
representatives a bill which requires an
educational test of fireTnen that would
60 a long way toward the elimination OF
the negro.
The firemen have not admitted that
they have lost their fight. Though they
have been defeated at arbitration. they
intend to use every other means to fur
Their their cause.
day reported that the finding of the ar
bitration board has caused the keenest
dissatisfaction among the people living
along the route of the. Georgia road.
The award of the board was filed Mon
day afternoon with the clerk of the
United States circuit court. 1t. goes or
record as though 1t were a court proceed
ing.
A. P Kelly. third vice-president of the
Ice III.
surmise that he is to try to induce roads
of the American Railway association to
use their influence for lettering the con-
dition of f1remen on the Georgia road
has not been denied.
The following statement was issued
Tuesday morning by E. A. Ball. second
vice-president of the Brotherhood Of Lo-
connective Firemen and Enginemen:
To the Public:
On behalf of the white firemen not only
of the Georgia railroad. but throughout
the entire country, I wish to thank the
good people of this state for the many
words of encouragement and good will
which 1 have received. 1t will be i'm
possible for me by letter to answer every
communication l have received, and 1
take this method through the public
prints of doing so.
The board of arbitrator has finally
MADE It's award and II is not for me In
this communication to criticise 1t. The
flremen did not get what they asked for,
and yet l cannot but believe that the in
vestigation and the trial and the result
of it will do much good in this country
toward making the conditions of labor
better and toward the ultimate improve
ment and safety of train service in the
southern states.
The fight which the white firemen have
made has been for the uplifting of labor
and for the safety Of employees and pas
sengers alike, by insisting on having the
very best and most skilled men for the
which is sure to win in time. 1t may be
temporarily set back by one cause or
another, but time which is the great
truth teller, will in the end vindicate US.
1t Is needless for me to say that the
firemen, having entered into this arbitra-
ton in good faith expect to abide by its
terms.
In conclusion 1 wish to extend my
thanks to Governor Smith, to Mayor
Maddox, to Mr.. Asa G. Gambler, of the
chamber of commerce, to Mr.. Lee, of the
Farmers union, to the Federation OF
Trades to Mr. Mason, of the board of
police commissioners, to Hon. L. F. Liv-
ingston, member of congress, to Senator
A. o. Bacon, to Mr.. Bowdre Phinizy, OF
Augusta, and to the many other good
citizens of this state who have given
us their good wishes and cooperation.
the press of the state for their fair treat