Evening star., 1909-05-27
Post Office Officials Ask Rail-
road to Make Attempt.
.FIREMEN OFFER SERVICES
Georgia Strikers Will Operate Trains
Without Passengers.
COMPANY's DECISION IN DOUBT
Will Probably Demand That Full
Protection Be Guaranteed Before
Starting Out Trains.

ATLANTA, Ga. May 27.-At the rail-
way mail service division headquarters
here today it was announced that the
running of two trains daily over the Geor-
gia railroad to carry mail only has been
taken up in correspondence with the rail-
road officials.
Intense interest centered In this propo-
sition. as the running of the first train
after the tie-up of five days. caused by the
firemen's strike. is regarded as the most
critical step in resuming service. 1t Is
proposed to run a train consisting of a
mail car only once day each way out OF
Atlanta and Augusta. OF the several OBJ
stacles to this arrangement one of the
most dangerous was today reported to
have been removed-namely, that a negro
fireman would have to be placed on the
first engine out. 1t Is known that the
firemen as individuals have expressed q
willingness to some of the older white
firemen to go out on engines carrying
mails exclusively.
There has been locally no reserve In ex-
pressions of the risk which any negro
fireman would run in taking out the
first train. especially when the cover OF
darkness made action possible by groups
Balls telegram to the post Office authori-
ties at Washington yesterday Offering the
services of the firemen in helping to car
ry the mails paves the way for work.
able arrangement for firing the mail
engines.
Railroads Position in Doubt.
Whether the Georgia railroad officials
will accept an exclusive mail service Is
doubtful. General Manager Scott, when
asked for statement said that he would
| announce any action which the railroad
might take. Men In close touch with
railroad officials said that guarantee of
protection of life and property would
probably be insisted upon by the railroad
as condition of taking out the trains
A favorable feature of the situation was
the extreme need OF the strike district
for a mail service and the probability
that an exclusively mail train would be
hailed as universal blessing.
The race question today stood sQuarely
blocking the progress OF negotiations for
brought this proposition to the front. 1t
is said. by declaring before he could con-
sent to arbitration there should be some
assurance that negro fremen, who have
worked for the road for years and who
have held the respect Of their officers
and fellow-fremen, both white and black,
will not be forced to leave the railroad.
To what degree this contention has been
pushed could not be learned. but 1t Is
the chief stumbling block in the way Of
to be willing to make concessions In
favor Of the negroes provided they could
obtain an arrangement by which negro
firemen would not stand In the way OF
young white men wishing to work up to
the position of engineers, a rank never
attained on the Georgia railroad by ne
groes.
President Balls Offer.
Upon his return today from Indian
apolis. where he attended the Indiana
postmasters convention, Second Assistant
Postmaster General Stewart found upon
his desk important telegraphic advices
regarding the strike situation on the
The most important dispatch was that
from Vice President Ball of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen, who Is con-
Quoting the strike. 1T is currently report
ed" he telegraphed, that an effort is
being made to charge the Brotherhood Of
Locomotive Firemen and Engineers with
responsibility for interference with the
United States mails on the Georgia rail-
road. So far from this being true. we
stand prepared to aid you in getting the
| mails through. / should be glad to con-
| fer with any representative of the Post
| Office Department designated by you the
| Postmaster GeneraD in accomplishing
| this result.
| The latter suggestion is being consid-
cred by Mr.. Stewart, but no decision has
yet been reached. The matter will be
taken up with Postmaster General Hitch
cock, who returned today from a trip to
Cuba for the benefit Of his health.
Mr.. Stewart declared that while the de-
partment would be glad to get the mails
| through in any way practicable. so as to
supply the service. he expressed doubt
| whether the department could compel the
| Georgia Railroad Company to divide its
| trains and run q car for mail purposes
| only. That. said Mr.. Stewart, involves a
legal question which might arise under
the federal statutes II the company at
| tempted to make UP a full train and run
| it and there was physical interference
That is question. he said. which has
! been passed upon by the federal courts
| and will be one entirely for the Depart
ment of Justice to handle. The most that
could be done, Mr.. Stewart declared, Is
| to insist upon a performance Of the mail
/ service. and If there is any interference
in that service then it would be for the
Department of Justice to take action if il
amounted to violation Of the statute.
Moving With Great Care.
The Post Office Department officials are
anxious to avoid any appearance Of taking
sides in the controversy between the rail-
road and its employees. and for that rea-
son are moving with the greatest care
Considerable discretion has been given
the local officials in charge along the line
/ of the tied-up system, and the postmas.
| ters and railway mail officials have beer
authorized to adopt any proper means fol
getting the mails through from point tc
point The handcar service between Ath-
ems and Union Point. with a postal clerk
aboard is, however, the nearest sem.
blance to any regular service.
Chairman Knapp of the interstate com
merce commission has not yet decided
| whether he will go to the scene of the
strike He is awaiting word from Com
missioner of Labor Neill. his colleague or
the federal mediation board.