The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1920-07-09
MAYOR FACES
WALK.OUT OF
CITY FIREMEN
Threaten To Quit if Colored
Men Are Named Members
of Force-Overrules Works
Board.
RECALL APPOINTMENTS

AS result of a statement made by
Mayor w. w. Zimmerman to Fire
Chief Ed Miller, Friday, that he In
tended to have six colored men ap-
pointed members of the fire depart
ment under the two platoon system,
which becomes operative August l,
announcement was made by repre-
sentatives Of the men who are now
members Of the department that all
hremen would turn in their resigna-
uons II the mayor attempts to carry
out his plan.
Thursday the board Of public works
appointed IL new members Of the de-
partment, all white men, and II was
the boards intention to appoint two
additional white fremen before the
first of August, for the purpose of car
ry1ng out the policy Of providing day
and night forces for the departments.
1t Is stated that Mayor Zimmerman
did not indicate his desire to have six
colored f1remen appointed until after
the board Of public works. acting on
the recommendation of Fire Chief
Miller. had appointed practically all
the additional members of the force
1t Is stated that when Mayor Zim-
merman called on Fire Chief Miller
Friday he Informed him that he in
tended to have the board Of public
works reconsider the appointments of
hremen the board had made Thursday
so that six colored men could be Sc
cured for the fire department.
Would Be at No. 8.
1t Is stated that the mayor proposed
to assign all the colored fremen to
one fire house, three Of them for day
duty and three for night duty, and, ii
G hn sd
that the colored fire company would be
stationed at the No. hose house on
North A street.
Members of the fire department are
thoroughly aroused over the action
taken by the mayor and, according to
a statement made Friday afternoon,
all the men who are now members of
the department have agreed to resign
If the mayor persists in his plan for
establishing colored fire company
I'VE will not walk out without Civ
ing the public notice, but we intend to
fix time limit for the appointment
OF men to take our places and when
that time limit expires We will sever
our connections with the department"
said fireman who has served the city
for number of years. He said that
he voiced the sentiment of all his
associates.
Firemen declare that a number Of
business men have assured them OF
their support in their protest against
the appointment of colored firemen
Firemen state that these business men
have expressed the opinion that the
location of colored fire company in
any section of the city might lead to
complications.
Mayor Not Located.
Efforts to locate Mayor Zimmerman
Friday afternoon to secure a statement
from him in regard to his decision to
appoint colored firemen were unavail-
ing. Harry Gilbert, president OF the
board Of public works. was out OF the
city so 1t was not possible to secure
a statement from him.
1t is understood that representations
have been made to Mayor Zimmerman
by several colored men that their race
had not received the recognition 1t
was entitled to in consideration of
the colored vote the mayor has always
received in his mayorality campaigns.
A few days ago Mayor Zimmerman
announced that he would be candi-
date again to succeed himself.
Whether the board Of public works
will follow out the orders Of Mayor
Zimmerman and reconsider the ap-
| pointments of additional Gremen to
permit the appointment OF six colored
men has not been indicated. The
board meets next Monday and the
question will probably come up at that
| time.