The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-08
FEDERAL MEDIATION BOARD ENDEAVOR|NC ID HELP SETTLEMENT
Service on A., B. & A. Practi- cally Paralyzed as Result of Strike Over Wage Reduc-
 tlonS Last Saturday
By Associnted Press

Atlanta, March 7--While the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic railway serv ice remained practically paralyzed today as a result of the strike Saturday over wage reductions, two representatives Of were seeking to use their good offices.
 The only train to be operated on the road since the strike went into effect was one that left Birmingham today for Lineville, piloted by A. H. Woodward millionaire iron man, director in the Bugg, president of the road and receiv- CT, announced tonight. however, that as fast as capable engineers could be re- cruited trains would be put in operation. The road is making an effort Ae aaid, to gather train creSs. He declared that and other wortmen who can be put on as soon as engineers who can be relied rpon to handle trains safely can be en- listed and put through necessary exam nations.
 Colonel Bugg issued q statement to- hi6 ht uStiOuhtIn6 IbC obllht do q HtS II handed practice on the part of labor unions but did not announce his atti- tude toward the intervention of the third federal agency into the wage con troversy, that of the mediation board. Union leaders aiso had not issued any statement as to their attitude toward the mediators, w. l.. Chambers, commits sioner, and Whitehead Kluttz, assistant commissioner, who arrived this morning.
 The United States railway labor board first intervened in the wage issue on ap- plication of the employees and later when the road went into receivership Judse $. H. Sibley of federal district court here took a hand and ordered the wages re- duced as asked by the road. Judge Sibey with whom the commissioners conferred today, told newspaper men he welcomed their coming.
 JUDGE WILLING
 T am entirely wilingf' the judge was quoted as saying, that the commission CTS should do anything they cam
 The two commissioners had no state rents to make prior to completion of their conferences in the matter.
 Towns and cities on the A.. F. & A. in Alabama and Georgia are in some in stances without railroad service as a result of the strike, but they are said to be in no danger of suffering as a result of the stoppage of train service because of the fact that they are cen- ters of self-supporting communities. Col onel Bugg gave out a statement tonight to the effect that the citizens of Moul- trie, Ga., in a mass meeting, had de- nounced the strike and approved the new wage scale of fifty per cent reduc- tion in increases granted since 1917, de- caring that .all classes ! of business ana labor should shoulder their share of re- ductions in the readjustment period.
 RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
 Resolutions denouncing the strike have been adopted in various other towns on the road, Colonel Bugg stated. He also issued a statement declaring "a strike as practiced by labor unions of men in train service means that these labor un- as they order him to do about matter as to which they and the employer dif- fer, and they say to the employer, Tn effect, if you choose to follow your own opinion as to what you should do and as to what you think is fair. we Will destroy your business;' that Is to say we will have our men quit your service Tn body and we will use our combined in- Eluence to prevent anyone else rom working for you by instructing all our members not to work for you, and py placing pickets around your place or business. and by this means we will per s,,ade every one not to work for you. and if YOU escape destruction 1t VIII not he for lack of our efforts to destroy YOU. and in addition, if the public or any members of the public are dependent
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