Evening journal., 1918-11-15
GAS co. EXPLAINS
DISCHARGE OF men
Says They Did Not Ask
for Permission to Cele-
brate Peace
PERMITTED ALL TO
JOIN IN CELEBRATION


letter last night from r. Leslie Bow
man, young man. who stated that NJ
was discharged from the Wilmington
Gas Company on Tuesday for failins
TO report for work on Monday, the da.
the city celebrated the signing or th'
armistlce. The Gas Company TO-DAY
however, denied that the young maj
had been discharged simply because NJ
had taken part in the peace celebration
Bowmans letter 10 Council follows
Mayor and Council OF Wilmington.
Gentlemen You are all aware OF
the fact that the news OF the peace
armistlce being signed was glori-
Ously celebrated In this city.
did not report for work on that
day at the Wilmington Gas Com
pany, where / am employed. Upon
my arrival Tuesday morning ] was
asked by L. A. Fisher, auditor, as
10 my whereabouts yesterday. / re-
piled, that l was out celebrating
along with my boy friends He
then informed me that as I'VE got
along without you yesterday, we
can get along without you today
When / entered the employ OF the
Gas Company, il was with the
understanding that II at any time
desired to change my place Of en-
ployment ! was 10 give them two
weeks notice Of my intentions.
Vice versa, If they were dlspleased
with my services they were to give
me a twO-weeks' notice
do not mind the humiliation OF
being fired, IL Is the reason FOR
which | was fired that hurts. II
every working man in this city had
been discharged for celebrating
peace. IL Is a safe bet that a large
majority Of men would be walking
the streets Just now. II Mr.. Fisher
had another reason for discharging
me, he should have told me and
would have been satisfied. but as II
Is he has led me to believe he
Is either a Pro-German or has a
yellow streak in him somewhere.
Believing that such action should
come before your honorable body,
and that such a man as l.. A. Fisher
should be requested TO vacate this
patriotic city, / beg to remain,
Yours very truly.
r. Leslie Bowman.
The letter was referred TO Council as
a committee OF the whole.
Following the reading OF the letter
Councilman Mearns said that on Tues
day he was informed that the gas COM
pany had discharged two men and
girl because they failed 20 report FOL
work on Monday. Thinking that the
report was untrue. he called up the
gas company asking for Edmund
Mitchell or Mr.. Schutt, the manager
hut was unable 20 reach them at thai
time. Mr.. Fisher, the auditor, answered
the phone. Mr.. Means said that address
ing Mr.. Fisher, he said: Il suppose
YOU were filled with the spirit yester-
day and helped celebrate" Whereupor
Mr.. Fisher replied: mo. 7 worked a
my desk all day and until O'Clock las
nlght.a
Mr.. Mearns said he then asked Mr.
Fisher II it was true that he had dis
charged some persons who took par'
I'm the peace celebration and he re-
piled, "Yes, and have no apologies to
make"
Councilman Mearns said he then ask
ed Mr.. Fisher TO attend the session OF
Council on Thursday night and he said
he would.
When the Bowman letter and the
structures In City Council which fol-
lowed its presentation TO that body were
called TO the attention Of the officers OF
The Wilmington Gas Company this
morning they said:
Neither OF the men referred to was
discharged because Of his desire to
celebrate Peace Day on last Monday.
The truth is that neither Of them had
the courtesy TO report for duty TO as
certain whether or not 10 would be
agreeable 20 the company for him TO
take the day or"
In proof Of the falsity Of the imputa-
tion that the company objected TO It's
employees having that day on, 1t Is only
necessary 20 point to the fact That every
smploye Of the company who desired to
take the day off and who communicated
hat desire TO the company was per-
mitted TO experience that pleasure Fur
ther than that, 20 make 1t possible Tor
Ifs employes who desired to take the
iay of to do so, the company even went
20 the extreme Of changing its discount
iay. which fell on Peace Day, to the
following day
II Bowman and his complaining asso-
ciate had shown TO the company the
courtesy Of reporting for duty tnai
morning they would have enjoyed the
same privilege that was accorded TO all
other employees who had sufficient re-
gard for their terms Of employment 10
report for duty II was not by any
means the first time that the TWO men
had shown disregard for the terms OF
their employment or for the interest oi
The company. It merely marked the
elimination Of a situation which could
not have been permitted to continue. nc
matter whether peace had come or mao
been delayed. 49,.
"The matter OF salary for the two
weeks is not in dispute, the amount De
Ing payable at the end Of that period.
There is a misunderstanding regard
ing the closing Of the cOmpanys onlce.
Monday was the discount day carried
over from Saturday, and Mr.. Fisher, In
charge Of that department, had no dis
cretion in the matter Of extending the
discount period without the sanction OF
the officials, in justice to the consum-
ers.
when submitted TO them, the ofll-
clals promptly authorized Mr.. Fisher to
postpone the discount day until Tues
day, and orders were issued TO close the
office, which was accomplished before
10 o'clock, Mr.. Fisher himself going
with the crowd and taking part in the
celebration"
PEACE CONFERENCE SOON.
BY The United Press.
NNACuTNCT'ON Nax. AZ Dro1innin lee