The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-06-03
FlREMEN'SSTRIKESETTIFD
Traffic Resumed On Georgi.
Railroad Final Terms of
Settlement to be Arbitrated

The strike of fremen on the
Georgia Railroad was officially /
declared off at = O'Clock Satur-
day afternoon. An hour and =
half later the first train after
the resumption of service was
sent out of Augusta with a ne
gro fireman in the cab.
The terms of the settlement
are substantially as follows:
The men to return To work
under conditions existing at the
time the strike began, until final
adjustment is made.
All negro tiremen at the
terminal stations will be dis
pensed with.
All discharged Brotherhood
firemen will be reinstated.
Three other points are yet to
be decided, as follows:
First, whether negro fireman
shall be eliminated from the
road.
Second, if not eliminated, what
percentage of negroes there shall
be. Seniority Of negro firemen
over white firemen.
Had there not been a settle
ment Of the strike Saturday af-
ternoon it is said the the Federal
courts would have taken
cognizance of the situation. This
would have meant injunctions,
which would probably have
meant resistance and possible
violations of the injunctions and
the interference of United States
troops.
The strike commenced May II
and lasted 13 days. 1t was caus-
ed by the attempt of the COM
pany to put negro tiremcn on
the best runs in the place of
white firemen, who were given
inferior runs or made subs. The
men presented a new agreement
to General Manager Scott, de-
manding that he recognize the
seniority 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
agreement. The men looked in
vain for some official who had
authority, and failing to find one,
struck. General Manager Scott
retaliated by practically annull-
ing all trains and then tying VI
traffic.
After few days the situation
became grave in some commun.
tiles. Food supplies ran low
and no new stocks could be Sc.
cured. The new necessaries OF
life were hauled in wagons anC
automobiles. No mails were
! sent or received and even fu
nerals were prevented.
The sentiment of the cOmmunl
ties was with the strikers, be
cause the principle Of the race
question was involved. In sOm'
places mass meetings were hell
: and it was resolved to do Withou
= mails and to haul food in wagon
rather than have the black mel
, in the cabs of the trains. The
, threatened to do violence to an
h negro fireman found in a cal
h The railroad officials finally sen
4 out mail trains with negroes a
: the fire-box. These were per
O mitted to move unmoleSted, bu
= when the attempt was made t
g move freights there were assault
q and throwing of stones. Sever
!. al firemen were injured. Two Q
g three negro fremer were Whll
j. ped and two engineers hurt.
, The officials Of the Georgl
y Railroad and Brotherhood OF Fire
=. men were in conference in A
: lanta Sunday and Monday, an
=. being unable to agree upon tt
! terms of settlement they invoke
" arbitration. Commissioner
J. Labor Neill, of the Inter-Sta
/ Commerce Commission, notltlt
i both parties to the dispute to S
i lect an arbitrator within 5 day
W This disagreement is over the r
tention of negroes.