The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-28
POSiOfflce Inspectors VIII Ac- company Trains on Their
 First Trip With Mail
RACE QUESTION IS STILL
 WORST PART IF STRIKE
Railroad Officials and Business Men Unite in Conferences Upon the Question of Arbitration
 Without Result.

Atlanta, May 27.-A double crisis will be reached tomorrow morning in the Geor- gia railroad strike. First will be tho starring of F trains carrying mall only. through community quiverlng with in- tense interest as to whether white or black iremen will feed the engines and as to what differences are to be drawn from the makeup of the crews. regardless of whether they are white or black. The gravest concern in this breaking of the ica by the first train run in five days in community which en masse has supported the racial contention of the strikers is felt here tonight among the men who for AS hours have been continually working for some solution of the difficulty. Hope fitness that the mail trains will be har- ebingers of peace prevails, but fears of complications are not concealed.
 Fate of Arbitration.
 The second crisis is the fate of arbitra- ton. By noon tomorrow it may be known. No official announcements have been made but the assertion that United States Commissioner of Labor Nelll has notified Mir. Scott of the railroad that he must make final decision whether he will accept arbitration, has been repeatedly made in authoritative sources throughout 1t the day. It is significant that tomorrow morning for the first time a complete conference on arbitration will be possI- ble. The Georgia Joint Terminal company controls the tracks on which the Georgia railrpad enters Atlanta and the switch men insist that any agreement to arbi- trate must include the terminal company 1 Three directors control this eon1psny and up to today there has not been a majority of them present in Atlanta to act in eon- currence with the GeorgiA railroad To- morrow, however, George E. Evans, fourth vice president and general mana ger of the Louisville and Nashville will arrive here from Nashville and plans have been made to call him into conference with General Manager Scott of the Geor- gia railroad, who is also a director of the terminal company. 1t is known that the lack of such quorum as these two di- rectors will make has helped to block a definite understanding to arbitration.
 Two Main Issues.
 The determination to run the mail trains
 
 two issues: First, in what manner the negro shall be allowed 10 work; and sec ond. the interference with interstate com meree and it's possible result in federal intervention. The conferees believe that a great gain has been made in eliminating the postoff1ee departments dilemma and leaving the federal part of the problem foe the interstate commerce commission only.
 The race issue tonight however was apparently as powerful as at the beginning of the strike and the reports of moral support bys the residents of the strike ds- triet, of white iremen against negroes were even more unanimous than at the start of the strike.
 Postonice inspectors will accompany each of the trains. This announcement was made tonight following a conference between G. M Sutton. inspector in charge of the Atlanta division, and United States District Attorney Tate.
 This action is not taken because we are apprehensive of trouble" said Mir Sutton, but it was deemed wise to have experienced inspectors accompany each of the trains for the purpose of making ob- servations and ascertaining the sentiment of the people along the line of the Gs.or- ga railroad as concerns the strike siilla- ton. Should there be any trouble fax- perienced in operating the mail traiH 4the presence of inspectors will not be sqslss l want it understood. however. ttaT we are not expecting trouble of any kind"
 Scott Maintains Silence.
 General Manager Scott of the Georgia railroad in announcing the resumption of mail service refused to answer ques- tions about the personnel of the en- zine crews. He would not say whether the railroad would accept the services of the Broth erhood of Firemen as prof fered yesterday by Vice President Ball. ln " To a conference with Assistant Grand Chief Burgess of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, who said that he is informed that the government will supply protection for the engineers.
 q consider this great concession for the road to make" said MT. Scott after announcing the resumption of the mail trains
 The branch lines of the road will be covered by two trains each daily The main line will be covered by two trains starting simultaneously from Atlanta and Augusta.
 The reports today are of more ch eerful nature. Where three days ago communities were sending out ap- peals for necessities of life. there now exists wagon and automobile service so well developed that the last vestige of want has disappeared. This service Is uniform and governed by well de- fined regulat tions though outside the scope of the state or interstate commis- sions. Not complaint of unfairness or of extortionate prices was among the many reports coming in today. This general content Is particularly note worthy because the makeshift trans- portation service Is not the result of communal effort but of private enter pase.
 Wagon Lines Running.
 Al Thomson, Ga. today every mer chant was running a line of wagons to Augusta. B miles away, and trac- tion engine and car was working under