The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-10-26
ASKS THE GOVERNOR
TO PRESERVE ORDER

The Star has received from the Sea
board Air Line the following copy of
a letter to the governor:
Hon. Cary A. Hardee, Governor of
the State of Florida, Tallahassee:
Your excellency: As you are aware,
2 strike of railroad employees has been
called by five of the brotherhoods, eff
fective on the Seaboard Air Line Sun
day, October 80, at o'clock a. m.
A complete tie-up of the transpor-
tation system of the country will
work great hardship. The South, to-
gether with the rest of the country,
must severely suffer.
The management of the Seaboard
Air Line Railway Company will en-
deavor to operate the trains of this
railroad as far as this may be possi-
BILE
1t is respectfully submitted that the
railroads cannot hope to meet this
crisis in the public service unless pub
lie authorities recognize their own
grave obligation in the premises. We
cannot furnish transportation so in
dispensable to industry at this time;
nor can we expect our loyal employees
to continue the public service in
which they have enlisted, nor can
others be asked to enlist who might
be willing to stand by in this emerg-
ency, unless we are to assume that
your excellency and the public autho-
rites in the state will not only take
the steps necessary to sustain order
and protect life and property, but
also that you and the public will up
hold our efforts.
This crisis comes at a time when
the railroads of the southeast have
endeavored to meet the conditions fol-
lowing and the material expenses
consequent upon federal control A
strike in a grave industrial condition
such as 1--WE now face is peculiarly in
defensible.
Orderly processes established by
law and respected by this railroad
are ignored by those responsible for
calling this strike. No grievance has
been presented to the management
of this railroad which it has declined
to hear. No arbitrary action has been
proposed by the Seaboard Air Line
Railway Company In respect to
wages, nor would any action be un-
dertaken that does not involve order
ly discussion with the men or with
their selected representatives under
the provisions of the transportation
act of 1920. The management of this
railroad believes that a large proper
ton of its fellow employees in the
service Of transportation would dis
approve this strike if they were to ex-
press their genuine conviction; but
the strike has been called and legal
and orderly processes are ignored.
1 therefore respectfully request
that as the chief executive of Florida
you will put in motion every process
within your jurisdiction to make it
plain that the efforts of the railroads
to operate their trains with safety
and with orderly efficiency within and
through the commonwealth you repre-
sent will be sustained.
1t is respectfully suggested that
these necessary objectives would be
greatly furthered if the purposes
which l have urged should be given
unmistakable public expression by
proclamation or otherwise, and if
your exceIlency would at the same
time officially call upon the attorney
general of Florida, the sheriff and the
law officers of the several counties and
municipalities through which the
railroad operates to make competent
provision not only for the protection
Of life and property, but for the pro-
lection of train crews and those will
ing to enlist in the service from ev-
cry manner of unlawful interference
in the discharge Of their duties.
Upon the unequivocal expression Of
your excellency's attitude and upon
that of the other law officers forming
part of your administration viii