Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-25
luired a skiIled laborer to do the work

required a skilled laborer to do the work
of fireman.
LOST JOB THROUGH NEGRO.
He spoke of the work of porter as fit
work for a negro. He said that he lost
his position on the old East Tennessee
road through the negligence Of a negro
fiagman. Objection was entered by Major
Cumming. who said that the question of
how the witness lost his position required
further proof than the mere testimony of
the witness. The objection was not sus-
tanned.
The witness said that a negro f1agman
whom he had sent out to flag an APP
preaching train. failed to place his lights
at n proper distance and then laid himself
down for nap before the arrival of the
train he was to flag.
''Ninety-five per cent of the white rail-
way employees are competent" he said.
''Ninety-five per cent of the negro en-
ployes are incompetent"
With the conclusion of this witness S
testimony, counsel for the firemen stated
that they rested their case. After a con-
ference between counsel for the road and
General Manager Scott II was announced
that the road would prefer to wait until
after the afternoon session to begin it's
introduction of testimony.
Adjournment was taken until 2 o'clock.
Public Opinion Not
Considered by Board
At the afternoon session, Wednesday, of
the arbitration board, the important de-
cision was made that testimony is not
admissible which seeks to show public
opinion. About fifteen witnesses had
been summoned by the firemen to testify
as to the state of public feeling along the
Georgia road in regard to the use of ne
GRO a q
incompetent to testify. The f1remen had
been depending on the testimony of these
witnesses to take up the afternoon ses-
sion and, with them dismissed, were COM
PEELED to ask for an early adjournment.
The question as to the admissibility of
testimony tending to show public opinion
came up at the morning session when A.
NJ. Brand, mayor of Lithonia, was put on
the stand. The objections of the road
to such testimony were made by Major j.
B. Cumming. Attorney Reuben r. Ar
mold, counsel for the firemen, replied at
the afternoon session. The board went
into executive session which lasted for
several minutes, then announced through
Mr.. Herbert that it would not admit tes-
timony seeking to show the state of pub
lie opinion. Mr.. Herbert said that this
opinion was reached unanimously.
Mr.. Arnold, in his reply to Major Cum
ming, insisted that the arbitration board
sitting hero is primarily a peace board.
and that its principal endeavor should
be to establish peace and do away with
friction.
Sixteen witnesses were called at the af-
ternoon session. They were either fire.
men or engineers of the Georgia road. The
burden of their testimony was that the
white fireman is infinitely superior to the
negro, andrthat, in fact, the negro makes
an incompetent fireman. Several said
that. in their opinion, the use of the ne
gro as fireman is unsafe.
Instances were given showing the I'M
reliability OF the negro fireman. 1t was
said that the only duty of fireman
which he satisfactorily discharges is that
of stoking But IT was admitted that
keeping up steam is the flreman's prin-
cipal duty. Adjournment was taken at
A.30