The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-07-28
OKLAHOMA CITY
F|REM[N STRIKE
REMOVAL OF CHIEF KESLER AND
THREATENED REDUCTION OF
PAY ARE CAUSES.

PAY ARE CAUSES.
Oklahoma City, July 27,-Ninety
firemen, comprising practically the
entire fire department of Oklahoma
City walked out at 3 O'Clock Satur-
day afternoon, leaving the stations in
charge of caretakers, and where there
were none the horses were taken to
livery stables and the doors closed.
Having been notified that the walkout
would occur, the city commissioners
sent two policemen to each of the de-
partments to take care OF the prop
erty. Within an hour after leaving
their posts the firemen formed line
and paraded the streets. There was
no demonstration except as the par
ade left the central station, when the
crowd of several hundred gathered
there cheered and gave hurrahs for
eX-Chief Mark Kesler. AS the parade
moved through Main street motion
picture outfit was preparing to take
View of a department store. showing
the young lady pilgrims seeing the
town. The operator turned his camera
on the moving line and picked up a
feature for the week end movie eX'
hibits throughout the country. The
parade was attended by several hun
dred men and boys.
The firemen's walkout, which has
taken on no features Of a strike"
arose over the city commissioners re-
moval of Chief Mark Kesler, who has
been fire chief for ten years, and the
reduction of firemen's pay S. month.
The firemen's deman dthat kesler be
restored to duty, that no wage cut be
enforced, that the force be not re-
duced and that the companies be NOT
recruited to their full strength, were
not agreed to by the commissioners
at meeting held early in the day
1t was announced, however that for
the present salaries would not be re-
duced, but that Kesler was out of the
service for good, Business men who
have been in session with the COM
missioners, looking to reduction OF
the city's expenses, indorsed the re-
moval of Kesler, and urged the re-
cruiting of new department.
John Won Elm, city fire marshal, is
acting chief, and within an hour had
ten inexperienced men at the central
station. Employees in other city de-
partments are being pressed into the
service as fremen, and j, T. Highley,
commissioner of public safety, tele-
graphed to surrounding towns tor
temporary loan of experienced men,,
so the town would not have to 90
without adequate fire protection over
Sunday. Tonight, however, ire
would have had practically unre-
strained sweep. According to the city
commissioners Kesler has been an eX-
pensive chief. The department budget
has increased from S43, 900 to $l19,-
coo snce 1910. The commissioners
agreed to make the budget $4,000
for fire protection. Comparing it
with other cities of like population it
ought not to be more than $4,000.
Since wages had not been reduced
the commissioners contend the men
left the service solely because Kesler
had not been retained and because
the commissioners declined to make
additions to the force that meant $2j,-
900 per year more expense, |? pub
lie statement issued tonight kcslcr
declares that he is the "vic,im Cf pol
tiles" Last year Oklahoma City laid
100000 in fire insurance premiums,
whereas the fire loss was $4,000, ac-
cording to the eX-chief. VI figuring
the reduction of expenses, it is point
ed out by the firemen that the com
missioners have considered no reduc-
ton of their own salaries.
II