The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1915-06-17
FIREMEN QUIT SERVICE
Felt Like Their Rights Had Been Ig-
Dored When Board Refused to En-
d0rSe Their Unanimous Choice.


: Tuesday night at a meeting of tn,
: Clty Council the Northside and Wes
: End Fire Companies rendered theil
l designations as whole to take effec
2 at once. The Southside Company
2 did not take any action that nigh
, but one of their men qui'.
The firemen claim that the Board
told them emphatically that CHIEF
, Horney would not be reelected be-
cause he is a republican but would
allow them (the firemen) to name
the chief and it was so understood
by people present that night, pub
lished to this effect in The Review
and The Enterprise and otherwise
agreed upon among the fire laddies.
but here is where the rub came,
listen
Pursuant to the Boards desire
the three fire companies met and
took a vote for chief. Stephen Clark,
E. X. Ingram and E. w. Freeze were
the candidates. Clark received 20
votes, Ingram 7 and Freeze 2,
whereupon the Ingram and Freeze
supporters made a motion to make
the selection of Clark unanimous
which was done, every fireman ris-
ing to his feet. That looks fair,
doesn't it? Alright, further
Messrs. Holbrook, Hepler and
Oakes were spokesmen for the COM
panies at the meeting of the Board
and stated the action taken by the
firemen in very plain and firm
manner, and asked that the unani-
nous choice of the firemen be en-
dorsed by the Board, pleading for
peace and fairness. Mr.. Holbrook
spoke first and hardly had he begun
when Councilman C. d. Smith started
trouble and raked Mr.. Holbrook in
scathing terms, assuming the role of
a prosecuting lawyer, so to speak,
saying he was going to ignore the
choice of the firemen and put in
nomination E. X. Ingram, The COM
mittee tried to shy the Board the
injustice of such a procedure, since
the firemen had carried out the
Boards request and received a
unanimous vote on their selection,
but to no avail-bad faith was
thrown at them, etc., etc.
Councilman Davis heard the vote
was different and said that there
was dissension over the result not,
withstanding unanimous vote was
secured on the selection of Clark as
fire chief. The report of the COM
mittee was received to be acted
upon later and the firemen retired
when it developed according to their
best belief and understanding that
the Board was determined to ignore
their choice. Talking over the matter
they decided to tender their resigna-
tons as before stated Just as soon
as this was done and accepted ap-
parently joyousIy by two MEM
bers of the Board the name
Of Ingram was again brought up
by C. D. Smith and he received
the vote for chief with John Long,
assistant chief, and both were con-
Quoted in office that night.
In the meantime the brave fire
Iaddies who felt like they had en-
1ured too much for their conscience
and self-respect, were packing up
and moving out of their respective
quarters.
It is learned that if the selection
Of Mr.. Long had been made at the
fremen's meeting that doubtless
things would not be as they are at
present, as the Southside felt like
their man should not have been
turned down
Speaking in a general way, in
such matters cool judgment should
hold sway, dignified bearing and the
most careful consideration given,
void of temper or passion. Boys
get mad but grown, mature
ruen should act wisely on important
matters.
High Point has much at stake.
Suppose big fire was to break
out while the men we're seas
oning." Do you suppose for a
moment that it wouldn't take all
The competent help possible to re-
1uce the cost to minimum which
otherwise might cost in unneces-
'ary destruction of property twice
what a paid fire department would
cost for ten years?