Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-02-08

 J. M. Dreyfus, chairman; J. M. Simpson, Adolph Bluthenthal, O. F.. Teastrom, J. H. Mccain, Simon Bloom and E. D. Russell This com mittee will meet MT. Br ston jointly with the river and rail committee of the Chamber of Commerce, which is composed of P. P. Byrd, E. M. Schober, J. W. Wilkins and J. H. Mann, and a committee to be named from the labor organ cations, shat will Told mass meeting tonight.
 It was urged that probably the lack of patronage on the part of the Pine Bluff merchants had prompted the Cotton Belt to lay off so many men here at one time. This was shown to be only aupposition, however, by statements the followed. Charles Chestnut declared that his was not so insofar as the Gillespie and Brother Company was concerned, as nine tenths of it's shipments were roated over lte Cotton Belt. He presented 1000 freight bills that had been handed by his concern with the Cotton in 1912. Sam Solmson, of the Drey- us company, also stated that at feast 30 per cent of thai campany's freight { is routed over the Cotton Belt. Mr. Chesnuts said that major ty of the irms in the city use the Cotton Belt
 P. P. Byrd, chairman of the River and Rail Committee of tie Chamber of Commerce, declared that tha, com ittee and a comm ttee frcm the shops had taken the matter up with MT. 3riiton more than a week ago. A telegram had been sent him, but Mr. 3rltton YVES out of the city at the ;ity. No answer has been received rom him.
 w. l.. Meeks said that the company md it's employees here were on the best of terms and that the fir endliest ceiling existed between them. He said '.e ''lay off, affected many meii ind that it was getting to be case of "meat and bread with them. He lintsd that it nigh. be drastic legag- alton aga nst railroads that caused
 he Cotton Belt to lay off is men. He lied the efforts of certain legislators if Arkansas, who are trying to put through ? 12 cent passenger rte pill. He did not believe in such leg S. 'ation and declared that it was con rary to na,ure' The carmen, he
 aid, had gone on record as being op- 1osed to it. He believed tlat if tho proper sseps were taken the off cials >f t@e Cotton Bel coull be brought closer to its laboring men. The Cot on Belt, he id. is doing a good busi
 ess. but suggested that maybe tho running expenses had been so greatly increased as to make the discharge of the men necessary. He w s willing 1hort comings, but wanted 10 know . reason for their recent action. Then tAe men, he said, might feel better.
 Urges Patronage.
 G. B. Albright sa thas he had oc- casion year ego, when there was similar trouble at the shops, to inyes- tigate the cause of the lay-Uff and found that jhe cause was not due to any lack of patronage on the part oi the merchants of the city. He ad- vocated giving the Cotton Belt every shipment ill and out of r ne Bluff, as- serting that that road merited full patronage of local mercdan He simply believes the railIlad is trying to get througi2 on nina mon,hs work year. That was the only expl na- tiOn he would offer for the recent or ter reduc ng the 'Ho, king force He criticised the people of Pine Bluff for not patrcnizing the passenger trains of the Cotton Belt, especially it's Lit tle Rock train. He also declared tha the mach nists had gone sons record against the 12 cent passenger r te. Mr. Byrd said that there was some explanation for ;he lack of patronage on passenger trains, if there was a desire on the part. of the people to avoid riding, the Cotton Belt trsins. By taking an Iron Moan;a II train iout 1 of Pine Bluff to St. Louis, he said, a business man saves several hours. If the company puts on fast tlain to St. Louis ha felt that it would be we'll paronized. h regard to cotton ship