Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1921-04-06
Dooly Farmers Refuse To Condemn
A. B. & A. Strikers at Vienna Meef;no
Farmers Union President Writes
Of indignation Meeting"
Fiasco in Dooly
Vienna Attorney Makes Elo-
quent Appeal for Cause of
Railroad Laboring Men

Information was received here yes
terday that an attempted ''indigna-
ton meeting" against the A. B. & A.
strikers flatly failed in its purpose
and brought out ringing endorse
ment of unionism from one of the
resolutions committee.
The following letter about the
meeting was received by J. T. Hen
bricks from his uncle, ]. c. McCor-
mick, president of the Farmers I'm
ion of Dooly county:
Mr.. ]. T. Hendricks
Dear SIR
About the 9th inst there were some
notices dropped in few mail boxes,
asking the people of Dooly to meet
in Mass Meeting at the courthouse
in Vienna, to pass Resolutions against
the action of the strikers and to give
our sympathies in favor of the rail-
road owners (see trying to use one
class of laborers against another).
This meeting was complete failure.
l was present and there were only
40 at the meeting, and only that
lived out of Vienna. After the meet
was called to order, Paul Lenard was
elected as Chairman and Bennett
Ryner as Clerk. John R. Barfield
stated the object of the meeting, and
stated that the Railroad owners want
ed to hear from the people along the
line as to their feelings and that he
q. R. b. was against the action of
the strikers; that they should have
had their wages cut and worked on
and kept the cars running. And then
Chairman Lenard was asked to ap-
point Committee of three to draft
Resolutions to be adopted So Len
ard appointed John R. Barfield, Ben
nett Ryner and Wade H. Lasseter.
This committee retired and drew up
resolutions condemning the strikers
in very bitter language, and when
the motion was made by the Chair
man to adopt the resolutions there
were only voted for the adoption.
And when the motion was called for
Wade H. Lasseter called for objec-
tons and he then made the finest
speech for the laborers / have ever
heard, as follows:
GENTLEMEN: 1 am opposed to
just few men who are financially
interested passing such resolutions
against class of honest laborers who
are contending for what they think
is right, and publishing them as the
citizens of Dooly County, when it is
not true. SO per cent of the farmers
of Dooly did not know anything |
about this meeting and l am opposed
to this being called a Mass Meeting. |
| am in sympathy with the A. B. &
As working people and know they |
are not the cause of the condition of
the Railroad.
The present condition of the rail-
road was brought about, not by its
laborers, but by few large Eastern
Stockholders trying to put out all
Of the smaller owners and gobble up
the road and then say that the high
wages of its laborers did it. Why
was President Bugg appointed as
Receiver. He is the manager who put
this road in a mess. This and other
Judges appointing such Receivers has
brought such troubles, and not the
laborers.
Gentlemen, do any of you know
these strikers are over paid
for their labor or not. Do you know
that the railroad has asked for
higher freight rates and got it? Do
you know the railroad has asked for
higher passenger fare and got it? Do
you know how much the cost of liv-
ing has been reduced to the R. X.
Iaborers? Gentlemen do you know
what it costs to carry train over this
line night and day? Do you know
what is required to stand over the
furnace and mould and repair the
irons for the cars. Do you know
what it is worth to work this R. r.
rack, stand all day in the billiards.
Of December and the boiling rays
If the July sun. Do you know what
t costs these laborers to rent their
ives out to the railroad bond holders.
NO, NO, you do not know, and
Until you do know l am opposed to
,our calling this Mass Meeting and
and publishing such resolu-
ions. They are not the wish of our
:itizens of Dooly County"
There was but few who voted for
he Resolutions at the close of Las
ieter's speech and the meeting broke
p very disorderly. The farmers in