Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1921-03-09
Employees And Operators Present
Their Contentious About Strike
A. B. & A. Will Begin Operating
Trains Soon AS New Men
Can Be Recruited
Operators Assert Unions Are
Willing To Break Road
To Safe Avarice

ATLANTA, March 8. (By Te1e-
graph)-B. L. Bugg, Receiver, stated
today while as yet no trains had been
started out of their terminals since the
strike order took effect on Saturday
at noon, arrangements are being made
in an orderly manner to resume SER
vice
The same procedure will be fol-
lowed IN employing men for service
on the road as is done under normal
conditions when additional employees
are required Some of the REQUIRE
ments are that references shall be
furnished showing previous EMPLOY
ment, character of service, etc. An
other is that all applicants for engine
and train service shall pass satisfac-
tory examinations on train rules. phv-
steal, colors test. Enginmen in ad-
dit1on are required to give satisfactory
evidence of knowledge of the care
and operation of locomotive.
Just as fast as employees can be re-
crulted to meet the conditions as des-
cribed above train service will be re-
sumed, beginning with passenger.
mail and express, it being the purpose
to provide for this necessary service
just as quickly as possible.
Tried to Conform Law
The Receiver appreciates the facts
that the greatest burden of the strike
is falling upon the public. The Re-
ceiver, both in his present capacity
and formerly as president of the rail-
way, has endeavored to conform in
every way to orderly and lawful pro-
ceedure and met the employees and
their National Union leaders in six
different conferences He also met
their contentious in their three differ
Labor Board, which was the tribunal
OF their own choice, and continued to
meet them there until that Board in
its decision of FEBRUARY 2lst declared
itself without jurisdiction on the is
sues as presented.
i This declaration followed the posi-
ton taken by the Union representa-
tives before the board that the board
was without jurisdiction and asked it
to dismiss the case
i AT no time either in conference or
the hearings before the Labor Board
have the employees or their union rep
resentatives ever met the issue square
ly or suggested the possibility of ne
: gotiation of more acceptable reduc-
ton than that proposed, notwithstand-
ing the fact they have never question
ed but have admitted freely the con-
tentions of the railroad of its inability
to meet its operating expenses NV one
million dollars year.
i Seventeen Points of Difference
The public cannot be deceived as
to these essential facts: First, that the
labor unions are demanding an impos-
sibility. Second, that the strike has
been called to compel the road to paw
more than it can by any possibility
pay.
Third, that the labor unions have
admitted the inability of the road to
earn operating expenses by one mil
lion dollars year under the wage
scale they are demanding.
| Fourth, that this wage scale was
cost of living brought about by war
conditions
Fifth, that this wage scale is the
highest ever known in the history of
the world.
| Sixth, that the wartime cost of liv-
ing has been materially reduced.
! Seventh, that other wage earners to-
gether with farmers, merchants, and
manufacturers have already met the
new conditions.
4 Eighth, that the strike vote was
taken a month before the happening
of the event, because of which the
strike is said to have been called.
| Ninth, Men who have met in At
lanta who have no connection with
the A. B. and A.
Tenth, that the high rates, both
passenger and freight, now prevailing
do not help the railroads or the public
but benefit the emplayes alone.
Eleventh, that the labor unions pre-
tend to want hearing before the
Labor Board in spite of the fact that
it was at their request that the Labor
Board ruled that it did not have juris-
diction.
| Twelfth, that the labor unions have