The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-08-14
|CRENSHAW ASKS
FAIR PLAY FOR
|SHIPYARDMEN
PROTESTS AGAINST ACTION or
POLICE IN ARRESTlNc WORK
Frs WHO RIDE BICYCLES ON
SIDEWALK.

POLICE IN ARREsTlNc WORK.
Frs WHO RIDE BICYCLES ON
SIDEWALK.
Superintendent of Works Crenshaw,
of the Pensacola Shipbuilding Com
pany, in a statement to the Journal
last. night, protested against the action
of the police department in arresting
workmen who ride bicycles on the
sidewalk of West Garden street, from
A street to Barrancas avenue
His protest is that the action is UNI
Just, inasmuch as no provision IS
made for the men to get to the plant
in any other way. Mr.. Crenshaw
says:
''The- street has been torn up for
weeks and has been used so much that
it is scarcely passable for automobiles
and is absolutely impossible for BIZ
cycles The men ride the sidewalk,
he says, for short distance along
a street that is not densely inhabited
They do not Interfere with anyone and
use the only available route to reach
their work.
There are only two possible routes
to the shipyard. the one they have
been using and that by way of Gov
eminent street, which is just as bad.
I do not believe in their breaking tho
law, but / do believe they should be
warned before being arrested.
Moreover, believe that some
passable street should be provided, so
that it would be unnecessary for them
to ride on the sidewalk. They must
reach their work some way, and there
are not street cars enough in the city
to carry all of them, should they travel
over the Bayshore line.
Il have made every effort to keep
the plant here, but I can not much
longer combat the numerous forces
working against it's retention There
has been profiteering in rents, in food.
in clothing and in everything else and
1 can prove it. Now the police depart
ment jumps on the men and arrests
them by wholesale, without warning.
although they have been riding the
sidewalk so long that it has become
custom. and therefore almost common
law.
Il am not upholding the men in
violating the law, but I believe they
have a just grievance The streets
are impossible as everybody knows,
and the sidewalk is the only possible
route for the men TO ride to their
work.
How can we keep good workmen
here if every force is against US?
We have had difficulty in keeping
mechanics ever since the plant was
started. Lately our labor turnover
has been low, the poor men having
left and the good. steady men remain
ing. Now we have the best set of
mechanics in any shipyard in the
country. But these men will not re-
main here if they are not given a
square deal. And unless the men ra-
main. and the labor turnover is small.
it is certain that the plant cannot
long exist.
There are $500 men employed at
the plant. Counting three members
to every family there are 1900 people
in the city directly dependent on the
shipyard for their living. Counting
two people indirectly dependant on
each family and there are $1,000 peo-
pie in Pensacola dependent on the
plant.
81 do not intend to threaten. but
want to issue a warning to the effect
that the men at the shipyard must
have a fair deal or the plant cannot
be retained.
I'VE have the plant here Let us
get together and keep it. 1t is the
biggest thing in Pensacola.
And, before go, want to ask the
city commissioners this question: II
it takes three months to lay four
blocks of paving. how long will 1t
take to get a centennial. r."