The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-27


they are ready to arbitrate the matt
to encourage or respond to such a n
II is intimated that unless somethin
suit in a serious situation.
A walkout of II majority of tn,
one of the first moves in event the {
inent union official Tuesday. This
the part of railway brotherhoods an
with the exception Of about half d.
not participate, he asserts.
In declaring the walkout, it will not
be classed in any sense as a general
the form of vacations. 1t is argued
that with the present fire department
composed of volunteers It behooves
the men to remain at home to protect
their property. The vacations, they
point out, will be individual action and
can not be halted by court procedure.
1t is freely admitted in labor cir
cles that members of the unions are
growing restless under the delay of the
city to take action or to consider IA
voraby the proposal to arbitrate. Many
radical leaders, 1t is reported. are walt
ing until the answer to Tuesdays peti-
ton is received to spread the word for
a general "vacat ton"
The city's attitude continues exactly
the same as outlined in Nthe statement
rejecting the previous offer. This dec
laration was made by Commissioners
John B. Edgar previous to the meet
maintained by the commission it would
mean there Is no hope for settlement
along the lines of the union offer.
Presence of an officer of the interna-
tional union of street car men
in the city negotiating new
contracts with the nrngpntS
a bar to declaration of formal strike
by the carmen. Under these circum-
stances it will be a case of individual
action and from comments of men on
per cent of the workers Carpenters,
painters and bricklayers may join in
the vacation throng, according to re-
ports at labor headquarters.
A general meeting Of the presidents.
secretaries and business agents OF all
unions will be held at Italian hall
Wednesday night. This meeting is con-
fined to these officers and will not be
open to unions in general. The officials
will receive the city's answer and will
declare any action they believe neces-
sary. ~.
President Arch Schwalb of the coun-
Gil declares that the unions yet hope
for solution of the problem and ac-
ceptance by the city of the compromise.
He again repeated there will be no
violence ana tnaI every eIIOTL "Oulu DC
exercised to prevent losses to the city
and to the men. President SchWalb
has been one of the most conspicuous
figures in the entire controversy and
has been the man behind the movement
keeping alive the offers to compro-
The statement issued before the city
commissionSby the labor council in full
follows:
ITO the Mayor and Board of Commits
ptr Of ha Of nbic.
1T is unnecessary for us to enter
into a rehearsal of the facts connected
with the differences which caused a
rupture between yourselves and the
members of the fire department
II However, we wish to again call your
,attention to the fact that the Trades
Nand Labor Council, with the consent
Of an authorized committee of the Fire
Fighters union, requested the privilege
Of acting as mediator in an attempt to
adjust these differences and reiterate
our conviction that had the 10 days eX-
tension been granted, there would have
been no necessity for the present de-
plorable condition. Representatives or
the Railway Brotherhoods were and
are still acting with the committee of
the Trades and Labor Council, and all
are still desirious of bringing about
an amcable adjustment and the plac-
ing of the fire department on the same
efficient basis as existed before the
differences AROSE.
"You gentlemen know, or should
know, that it has long been the policy
OF the Trades and Labor Council to
seek adjustment of all labor differences
by Cancellation, and its influence in
this direction has been welded so eff
fectively that Memphis has been singu-
larly free from labor troubles of a
serious nature.
when, however, the members Of the
unions and the railway brotherhoods
see these efforts scorned and flouted by
those who are solemnly charged with
the duty of preserving harmonious re-
lations among all the people, they can
not be blamed for losing faith in the
efficacy Of the policy of Cancellation
and arbitration as practiced in the
past.
1--WE are unable to estimate the re-
suit of complete loss of faith in this
policy, which is likely to be the re-
suit IL you gentlemen, in your official
capacity, persist in your refusal to take
steps to bring about an amicable set
Element of the differences between the
city authorities and the fire fighters.
THE committee representing the
Trades and Labor Council and Rail
way Brotherhoods is still ready and
willing to act in this matter, and still
has authority to act for the fmemen.
Win you arrange for a conference and
meet with this committee?
Favorable action will no doubt not
only in an adjustment of the matter,
but may also be the means of prevent
ing developments which would be in
furious to the greater part of our citi-
zenship. 1t would assuredly prevent
disaster in case of conflagration of
considerable proportions, for you know
as well as we that the fire department
as at present constituted Is incapable
of coping with such a situation,
please let us have reply by 5
o'clock Wednesday afternoon,
(Sned) ARCH SCHWALB, HAM
ILTON SCOTT, representing the Trades
and Labor Council.
'H. V. REID, f. F. WRIGHT, Z. P.
TUCKER, representing Railway Broth
erhood."
PAT HARRISON C0NEERS