The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-20

The first indication that General
Sweeney contemplated the removal oI
the state troops from Memphis came
when Gen Sweeney notified Mayor
that the two Out-of-tnwn companies
would leave Memphis Tuesday after
noon. When asked for statement re-
gardinE the local companies Gen.
Sweeney Indicated that he would prob
ably remove them also within short
time unless some unexpected disorders
should arise.
The two companies which were
scheduled to depart from the city sS,.,,i a.
commanded by Capt II. ]. Myers
and the machine gun company OF
Knoxville under the command Of Capt
j. j. Sneider.
The action Of Gen. Sweeney win
doubtless relieve much tension that has
been noticed in Memphis following the
arrival Of the troops here. When the
firemen's strike was called, the troops.
which had been preparing to go To
Knoxville for the annual state encamp-
mcnt We're diverted to Memphis. Their
arrival gave rise to much bitterness on
the part of labor men who asserted
that the sending OF troops to this city
occurred would stir up trouble. City
officials have constantly stated that
the orders for the troops did not fol-
low any ,appeal from them to the
Protection for Memphis should any
emergency arise after the departure
O. the state guardsmen Gen.
yided by, federal troops probably from
Camp Pike as military aid In the
event Of such an emergency has al
ready been requisites and the troops
would be sent from headquarters of
the Third division Southeastern de-
partment, which is located at Camp
With fite companies of regular fire.
ren now on duty, John b. Edgar, COM
missioner Of fire and police, expects
to organize at; least one company each
brought up 10 it's full strength. With
the arrival Tuesday morning Of Leon
l.. Wolf, Of the national board Of fire
| underwriters, the permanent training
school for the new firemen VIII be got
! ten under way as soon as possible and
| the school continued until such time az
the city feels that the men have been
thoroughly trained in their new du-
| ties.
No new developments in the situation
had been reported to Commissioner Edo
| gar or Mayor Paine Tuesday and none
were expected. All efforts OF the adj
ministration are being devoted to re-
| organization of the new department.
This work has been occupying the time
| OF both the mayor and fire commis-
sioner during the past few days,
| As has been stated the companies or
regulars now on duty viii be kept in
| 24-hour shifts until a sufficient NUM-
Der have been secured to divide the
department into two shifts OF IL hours
i each.
| According to Commissioner Edgar.
engine houses Nos. l. 2. 3. 4 and 10.
are now manned by regulars, There
are a number OF men who have. been
accepted for permanent positions who
have not yet been assigned and another
company OF the regular men viii take
over some one of the stations during
Tuesday.
Several companies Of volunteers re-
sponded to an alarm at 1887. and 1883
| South Lauderdale street at ] O'clock
| Tuesday. The fire was confined 70
the two dwellings and the loss was esti-
mated at $4,000. The volunteer fire.
men who responded to the call did ex-
cellent work. according to reports made
| by the commissioner, in preventing tna
spread OF the flames to nearby resi-
dences. There were many spectators
at the fire and they praised highly the
| work OF the volunteer department.
The majority OF volunteer and regu-
lar firemen at the houses throughout
the city. and particularly those in the
daily with homecooked food. cigars.
cigarets, watermelons and dainties and
are enjoying to the utmost their aer-
vice with the city.
The morale OF the men Is excellent.
Commissioner Edgar has been advised,
and setting up exercises as well IS
drills Of various kinds are a part Of
| the daily routine for each of the three
shifts Very rapid progress is being
made by the men in mastering intrt-
cacies OF the apparatus and many are
already very proficient in their work.
Determination on the part of the city
administration TO prevent the forma-
ton Of a union in the fire department.
and not to reinstate, in a body, the
members Of the fire department who
resigned, has not been changed In the
least, nor will there by any change. In
this Commissioner Edgar has issued his
final statement. ret
Individual applications from former
members of the department II present.
ed, will be considered along with all
the others. The city commission, how
ever. wishes success to the former fire.
men in their efforts to secure other
employment and Mr.. Edgar says that,
as stated, by Mayor Paine, there VIII
be nothing done whatever to block the
men.
|