The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1919-01-03

our people feel that it would be USE
less, as no remedy has ever been given
or would be at this late date, unless II
was a grave matter wherein the com
panies' interests were at stake to
avoid wreck or damage TO their prop
erty
There is d large unit of population
that ore rarely sees on the cars, un-
less with an employees badge, for they
save their nickels as they learned the
value of them ia the old country and
they know that they can get to work
without riding.
There is still larger unit Of popu-
lation that are on every car and some
times the cars are crowded To over
flowing. mean the colored passen-
gers, giving their nickels lcash) just
for d few blocks ride, from early
morn till late at night, for reason that
they do not and cannot get an "em-
|ploye'sn badge for the simple reason
that they are "colored. 4
Transportation companies we're con-
sidered an essential" during the war,
and hired help accordingly, but these
same companies, although complain
ling Of being short Of help, failed ut
Iterly to employ our colored people, yet
lthey come forward and ask US to
swell their dividends and keep In their
employ persons who hate the race and
vent their spleen ia many ways re-
gardless that their living comes from
the nickels garnered from the thou
sands Of colored passengers.
AS it is, | presume the companies
reserve the right to employ whom they
wish; so, well and good; but IN the
event of the consideration of this
franchise, we, as citizens, and in re-
membrance to those who are to return
from overseas and those who did their
duty to the flag, ask that the commits
sion see that the coloEed citizen is
given employment regardless Of color.
We have men capable as motormen.
conductors. and other employment,
even to c.eaning the tracks clear Of
grass, and even this last-named work
has been too high class" to put a col
ored man on the job even during the
war The few that advocate an IN
creased fare do not substantiate their
position by sound reasoning.
think, as the companies have
spread their proposal broadcast and
advertised that "1'he City Does Not
Give Anything the matter should
FORUM Jan 1.-TWO
now rest with the city commission,
without the companies appointing q
committee or trying to get others to
appoint committee. The companies
have left no stone unturned to develop
the matter thus far, and now they see
where a vote Of the people is bound to
come and are trying to switch. Let
the commission handle and then the
vote
have overheard conductors and
.motormen conversing about the win
dow orders, claiming that many peo-
pie want the car windows open and
never think Of having d window open
in their own houses. As | stated in
my letteg on the 18th, seven tickets
for quarter IS suitable for the kind
Of service rendered, and we will stand
solid for employment regardless Of
color. We are entitled to be on the
payroll and as citizens we demand it
It is common 10 see three or four
cars at the dummy station at the
Hone" killing time. There are many
fine men III the employment Of the
companies, but The class I speak Of
have in many instances been com
planned Of and they know who they
are. G. w CORDIN.
| Soldiers Home.