Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-26
SOUTHERN RAILWAYS
PRESIDENT TO MEET
F|REMEN' ENJOYS
Conference Between President
Finley and Union Represents
atives viii Be Held in WASH
ington Thursday Afternoon
81 RALPH sMITH.


WASHINGTON d. c., May 25.-Presl-
dent Finley, of the Southern railway.
will meet Vice President H. o. Teat AID
other representatives of the firemen this
afternoon at 3:30 o'clock in a further
and probably final conference concerns
ing the fremen's demands for an in
crease in pay.
Teat and his associates viii reiterare
their demand for a 20 per cent incres.Fe
all along the line. and they will insist
upon a definite answer; otherwise
strike will follow.
Vice President Teats request for
'sfurther and final conference" with the
president of the Southern railway system
comes as the result of the ballot OF fite
:, 400 fremen and hostlers of the systera
who have voted to strike unless their de-
mands are granted.
The executive committee of the fire.
mems union last night completed court
ing and canvassing the votes of the
men on the system The consolidation
of the ballots indicated that the ZOO
men are unanimously in favor OF strike
unless their terms are met
There is no middle ground" said Vice
President Teat today. The firemen elm
ployed by the Southern system have wsll
considered the merits Of their case. and
they have by ballot unanimously instruct
ed their committee to order strike II
the railroad officials persist in their re-
fusaI to accede to the demands for better
pay"
Mr.. Teat expressed confidence In the
strength and ability of the Southern rail-
way firemen to conduct successful
strike. He said the national organization
has a protective fund of $1,00O,000 TO
keep the wolf from the dor of the stf2k-
ers, If strikers the firemen become.
'sThe organization has membership
of $1,000 f1remen," continued Mr.. Teat
These men are subject to assessments
varying from IS to $40 per month in slch
emergency. and if the protective fund is
insufficient to meet our demands, assssss-
ments may be relied upon to help US
hold out.
"Of course. I do not contemplate that
it will be necessary for US TO call uron
the national organization for help in
this matter, even if we strike. / be-
lieve the Southern win eventually ngset
our demands. If. indeed. President Finley
doesn't come to our terms at our con-
ference tomorrow"
FTREMEN ARE DETERMINED.
Judging by the temper of their Of
ficials in Washington directing the nego-
tiations it seems evident that the lfre-
men are determined TO get what tKey
want or strike They do not seem at
all disturbed over the situation. Al
though hopeful that their confererlce
with President Finley viii be productive
OF fruit, they do not appear deeply c,n-
cerned about the outcome.
If President Finley should propose a
compromise Of the differences by a lat
increase of 10 per cent all along the Hne.
/ it is possible that a strike would be
obviated. In any event, such a PROPOSE
ton from Mr.. Finley would delay he
strike for few days. as the committee
men would unquestionably consider the
matter well before ordering a general
strike.
At the Southern railway offices today
President Finley was inaccessible to Iep-
Tesentatives of the press. As stated he
was engaged in trying to settle dif,er-
ences with his machinists boilermaHasrs.
etc.
Mr.. Finleys chief clerk stated. how-S
ever, that the president was not alarmed
over the situation, and was willing. to
confer further with the firemen about
their differences.
The fact that the Cincinnati New Or
leans and Texas Pacific railroad. which
is operated and controlled by the South
ern system, has recently had trouble
with its firemen is known TO aggravate
the present differences between n the
Southern and its firemen- The Cincinnati,
New Orleans and Texas Pacific fireraen,
movement
of freight was seriously impeded as g. re-
suit In this instance the tiremen de-
manded new working rules. but no in
crease in pay, and the fremen now say
they finally got more than they asked
for. although it became necessary to
strike in order to move the railroad
An official OF the Southern. when
asked today If the road had made any
arrangements to break a strike In the
ant ~I-
would meet the situation when 1t arose.
The Southern Railway company and
its allied lines will probably reach sat
isfactory agreement this afternoon or to-
morrow with the 1900 machinists boiler
makers, blacksnliths and carmen in their.
employ. Negotiations that have been In
progress for the past week or ten Gays
are nearing an end and representatives
of the working men expect a satisfactory
termination.
The shop men are asking an increase OF
five cents an hour in their pay, and GER
tain changes in the rules under watch
they work.
President Finley has agreed to practi-
cally all of the conditions. except that
relating to pay. 1t is believed this de-
mand will be compromised on the LASTS
of two or three-cent an hour in
crease.
James o'conneII. national president of
the Machinists' union, is representing all
of the allied trades in the negotiations
with President Finley.
The agreement about to be made ap-
plies to all of the men employed in the
shops of the Southern, the Mobile and
Ohio, the Cincinnati. New Orleans and
Texas Pacific and all other allied lines
controlled by the Southern