The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-30
SOME KNOTTY POINTS
 ARE STILL UNSETTLED
Entire Elimination of Negro Bremen From Road Is Most Important Mat ter Which Is to Be Determined
 By the Medators.

AlIHnlai May z9.-Ine Str1ke or the ire men on the Georgia railroad was officially declared off at ? o'clock today. An hour and a 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 were not officially given out, but it was learned that they are substantially as follows:
 The men to return to work under con- ditons existing at the time the strike begun until final adjustment is made.
 All negro firemen at the terminal sta- tons will be disposed of.
 All discharged brotherhood fremen will be reinstated.
 Three points are yet to be decided. as follows:
 l. Whether negro firemen shall be elin- mated from the road.
 ?. If not eliminated, what percentage of negroes there shall be-
 3. Seniority of negro firemen over white firemen.
 These other questions are to be dis cussed tonight and if they are not ad- justed they will be settled by arbitra- ton under the Erdman act.
 Statement Issued.
 The settlement of the strike was an nounced in a statement signed by Martin A. Knapp, chairman of the interstate commerce commission. and Charles P. Neill, United States labor commissioner. It said: " An amicable adjustment of the dif ferences between the Georgia railroad and It's employees, who have been on ltr lra aug laaaV nently satisfactory to both sides The strike has been called off and l complete train service Is to be resumed immediately"
 This statement was the result of d i conference between Chairman Knapp l Scott of the Georgia railroad; Vice Pres ident Ball of the fremen's organization. The conference lasted from II a. m to 2 p. m., and every point of issue be- tween the railroad and employees was carefully discussed. Commissioner Neill said that both sides made concessions. He added further that he did not believe a complete statement would be made be- fore next week. It is generally under stood that the railroad agrees to recog- nize the seniority of white fremen and the employment of certain negro fremen who have been with the road many years will be continued. After they are re- tired no other blacks will be permitted to fire.
 Federal Interference.
 Had there not been a settlement of the strike this afternoon it can be stated that federal interference was imminent. It is reported that both sides were notified that some adjustment must be reached by o'clock today or the federal courts would take cognizance of the situation This probably would have meant injunc- tions, which in the present temper of the IT mi nf fIaa fe{ly certainly meant resistance and possible violation and speedily thereafter the ar rival of the United States troops
 The strike commenced May r and last ed 13 days. It caused by the attempt of the company to put negro firemen on the best runs In the place of white fire men who were given inferior runs or made substitutes. The men presented a new agreement to General Manager Scott demanding that he recognize the senior ity of white firemen over blacks and thus practically do away with the negro in the cabs. Scott refused, claiming that he had no authority to sign such an agree ment. The men looked in vain for somo official who had authority, and failing to find one, struck. General Manager Scott retaliated by practically annuiling all trains and thus tieing up traffic After a few days the situation became grave in some communities. Food supplies ran low
  necessaries of life were hauled in wagons and automobiles. No mails were sent or received and even funerals were pre- vented
 Sentiment With Strikers.
 The sentiment of the communities was with the strikers because the principle of the race question was involved. In some mass meetings were held and it was resolved to do without mails and haul n Nraey flaa,. black men in the cabs of the trains. They threatened to do violence to any negro fireman found in cab The rail- road officials finally sent out mail trains with negroes at the fire box. These were permitted to move unmolested but when the attempt was made to move freights there were assaults and threats to do other violence. Several firemen were in- jured, several other negro hremen whipped and two negroes hurt. The communities through which the Georgia railroad passed are delighted at the set- clement and believe the fremen 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 themselves will not consent to any such arrangements on any but mail trains passing through their communities.
 While the terms of the settlement were being agreed upon. negro fireman, Joe Bryant, was assaulted in Augusta while firing a yard engine On the few trains sent out before the strike was called off some fremen were negroes and others were white, but all were non-union men. Just the order calling the strike off was being sent out Governor Smith was preparing a proclamation ordering all peace officers to see that the trains had ample protection. It was never sent out because the agreement was reached before the governor had completed his task
 Anonymous Letter
 An anonymous letter warning engineers of the Georgia railroad to keep off en-
 
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