The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
TO EMPLOY NEW MEN
 AND RESUME SCHEDULES

Atlanta, March 6.-With approxi- mately 1,500 employees on strike, and with every train standing idle, E. l.. Bugg, receiver of the Atlanta, Bir- ningham and Atlantic railroad, an- nounced tonight that arrangements are being made in an orderly manner to employ new men and resume regu- lar schedules as soon as possible. In issuing this statement the receiver who was formerly president of the road. declared that lat no time have the employees or their union repre- sentatives ever met the issue squarely or suggested the possibility of nego- tiating more acceptable basis of re- duction than that proposed" A meeting of 16 of the brotherhoods and unions representing the strikers on the railroad was held Sunday morn ing in the Atlanta Labor temple for the purpose of formulating plans for the conduct of the strike. The meet ing was of an executive nature, and the press was excluded.
 Presided over by John F. Nance, an engineer. the Representatives were ad- dressed by officials of the internation- al brotherhoods and some of the local workers of the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic. No formal action was taken, and no statement was given out after the meeting.
 The same procedure will be em- ployed for service on the road as un- der normal conditions, stated the re- ceiver of the railway. All applicants will be required to pass satisfactory examinations and meet all require ments of the railroad. number of applications had been received by of- ficials. he said and some of the train schedules will be resumed during the week.
 The receiver, both in his present capacity and formerly as president of the railway company" reads MT. Buggs statement. has endeavored to conform in every way to orderly and lawful procedure, and meet the ex- penses and their national union lead CTS in six different conferences. He also met their contentious in three different hearings before the railroad
 labor board which was the tribunal of their choice. and continued to meet them until that board in it's decision of February 21, declared itself with out Jurisdiction on the issues as pre- sented
 At no time, either in conference os
 in the hearings before the labor board.'' the statement continues have the em- pioyes or their union representatives ever met the issue squarely or suggested ths possibility of negotiating a more accept able basis of reduction than that rre- scented, notwithstanding the fact that they have never questioned. but have admitted freely the contentious of the railroad of it's inability to meet it's oper- atlng expenses by sl.OoO,0oo per year"
 MEDIATION OFFERED
 Declaring the strike of the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic railroad em- ployes detrimental to the publcs inter- ests. the United States board of media- tion has rendered it's services to brrng about an agreement between Receiver B. L. Bugg and the striking employees Con- missioner Chambers and Assistant Con- missioner klLttz will arrive in this city Monday to begin negotiations, according to announcement late tonight by brotherhood officials
 Denial of the report that strike vote is being taken or contemplated by em- ployes of other roads, and the asser- tion that the strike would be confined to the Atlanta, Birmingham and At lantic, were made by J. I. Dermody, fourth vice president of the Order of Railway Photographers: o. D. German, general chairman of the Order of Rail- way Photographers, and J. M. Larisey. head of the Railway Conductors
 In reply to the statement of Receiver Bugg that operation of trains would be resumed as rapidly as new employees could be recruited. the grand officers declared they would in no way oppose the movement, and the men have been warned against invading in any way the property of the company.
 "We will obey the laws to the letter. stated Larisey. and will do everything in our power to prevent the union nien from violating any law"
 It is understood that the union men are reserving the right to picket A de- nial was made by union chiefs that an effort was made to wreck train No [ of the Atlanta. Birmingham and Atlantic Saturday.
 NOT A WHEEL TURNING
 Fitzgerald. Ga, March 6,-Not a wheel turned on the A. B. and A. railroad to- day, nor has there been any effort to resume operations. w. M. Martin. chair nan of the Joint federation committees representing the 13 brotherhoods affected by the A. B. & A, wage reduction. was in Americus today conferring with union men on the Seaboard Air Line railroad
 Charles l., Fox, secretary of the joint federation committee. was in Waycross conferring with union men employed by he Atlantic Coast Line railroad They made their trip in automobiles, It was eported here that other A.. B. & A. men were in Macon, Savannah and Atlanta ana Birmingham for conferences.
 There will be no suffering along the A-tf- il