The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
IN
CLOSE TOUCH WITH
STRIKE SITUATION
Have Plans Formulated to
Meet Any Contingency
/ That May Arise
NOT GOING TO BE ANY
DISORDER, THEY SAY
At First Intimation of Excitement
Saloons Will Be Closed, Declares
Mr.. Weatherly-Labor Men
to Have Meeting Today

Stree their Inauguration the members
Of Birmingham's first city commission
have never kept in as close touch with any
regard to the street car strike.
Every member of the commission is
watching every move, and they have
plans made ahead to meet any contin-
gency that can arise. Owing to an indis-
position from which Judge Lane has been
suffering all week, that commissioner re-
NAMED at home yesterday afternoon, but
President Exum and Commissioner
Weatherly were at their offices until late
yesterday afternoon, having repeated con-
fererces with representatives of both sides
and hearing reports from the police and
other sources of information.
Will Allow No Disorder
Every member of the commission states
that there is not going to be any disorder
or disturbances of the peace of any kind,
firmly believing that they have the sit
uation so in hand that nothing endanger-
ing either life or property can occur.
sion states further that there is not going
to be any disorder or disturbances of the
peace of any kind. firmly believing that
they have the situation so in hand that
nothing endangering either life or prop
erty can occur.
Due to the, fact that there was no
| marked effect of the strike to be seen in
the operation of street cars yesterday, the
commissioners were frank in their state
ment that they do not believe the strike
will amount to anything. They are deter
mined upon a course of fairness, however,
and state that whether a man is a striker
or srikebreaker, laborits or a capitalist,
he will be treated absolutely the same by
| the city officials.
| They are determined upon one thing,
| that there shall be no trouble and in
carrying out that determination the capt.
talist will have to take level with the
labor man, they say.
| There was no trouble yesterday said
/ Judge Lane land l hope it will continue
| that way. If a man wants TO join the
union it is all right and If man wants
to work it is all right. We will favor
neither side. But neither side must start
| trouble. We are absolutely impartial,
standing only for the maintanAnce of
peace and ORDER
Close Touch With Situation
1--WE are keeping in very close touch
with every phase of the situation said
| President Exum I'VE have added per-
haps 80 men to the police force during
the day. The police have orders to allow
ilo crowds to congregate, especially about
saloons. We have the situation in hand
and intend to keep it in hand. l do not
be lieve their Is the slightest cause for
| alarm.
President Ford was in executive confer
ence with the commissioners, together
with Mat Sloan, late yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Ford, it was stated merely had re-
ported concerning the condition of the
| strike, and its effect on the operations
| of the company.
There has not been a single hitch ii,
the regular operations of our cars said
Mr.. Ford after the conference. I'VE
have had no trouble of any kind and
hope there will be none.
''The meeting Friday night at which
the union was organized was composed
largely of discharged men and men OF
other crafts. There were some active
street car men there, but these were dis
charged this morning. We have employed
will have to-
4 Mass Meeting Today
During the day President j. w. Woods
of the Trades Council appeared before
the commissioners and asked permission
to display a sign on wagon advertis-
ing a mass meeting to be held at the
Bijou theatre by the strikers this after
noon. The request was granted immedi-
ately. The mass meeting at 2:30 this aft
ernoon is expected to be largely attended.
Labor leaders declined to give out any
list of speakers yesterday.
There is absolutely no excuse for
non enforcement of the law" said Com
missioner James Weatherly in speaking g
of the strike yesterday. I'm my estima-
tion any such situation can be handled
The only thing is to take charge OF
1t in time and keep In touch with de-
II vclopments. nn
Il contend that strike riots and all
such disorders are due to the timid-
Iness, ignorance. backwardness or in
difference of some of the government
| authorities. There has been no trouble
in Birmingham today and there will be
none. We have placed on many special
police officers and we'll place more
| Well spend every cent we've got and
can get before Well allow any trouble
Street Gatherings Prohibited
| I'VE are not going to allow any
| crowds to gather on the streets and
| just the moment there are any signs
| of any possible excitement we will is
sue an order closing every saloon. Well
have prohibition here for a day or two
| IL we have to, but we will have peace
| and order. AS matter of fact, l think
both the strikers and the street car
company are using every effort to
, maintain order themselves but If they
can't we can, and we're going to do it,
/. Outside of the few conferences on the
strike, the swearing in of extra police
| officers and little routine there was
| nothing of Importance done by the COM
missioners yesterday. Judge Lane was
at his office in the morning but did not
return after lunch. He stated his in
| disposition was nothing serious, being
| the aftermath of an attack of the
| grippe short time ago which con-
Injected with the hot weather had made
him feel badly He stated he was also
having some stomach trouble, but that
he had left orders at the police depart
ment to call him up Immediately should
anything happen. and If he was needed
he would come down to the. city hall
/ at once.