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BUG BLAMES UNION Reply to Mayor Pittman Express Sympathy for Men MARTIN ANSWERS SLUR e 5 Strike Is Entirely of Men’s Own Will and Volition | Mayor J. L. Pittman yesterday re ceived from Col. B. L. Bugg, ex president and receiver for the Atlanta, - Birmingham and Atlantic railway the following telegram’ in answer to his wire urging early settlement of the present strike: “Your night letter received. Regret inconvenience to vour citv and people along line due to present strike. This is a situation created, however, by employees and not management of road. I have been making every cf fort to persuade the employeces to exercise reason and common sense but they have been badly advised and are now being made victims of their union leaders who fear possible influ ence on gther roads of accepting what they must realize is a reasonable wage on Atlanta Birmingham and Atlantic. “The employees have my sincere sympathy. Am glad to know that at Fitzgerald they are conducting them selves with dignity and forbearance and hope they will continue to do so.” Mayor Pittman had wired Col. Bugg as follows: “We would urge you in the interest of the city and the people along your line to make every effort for an carly adjustment of the strike. The men are conducting themselves with dig nity and forbearance and have the sympathy of this community.” Not Leaders’ Strike W. M. Martin, general chairman of the engineers employed by the A, B. & A. and chairman of the joint fed eration committce representing the thirteen crafts now on strike, replied in no uncertain terms to the charge of Col. Bugg that the striking em ployees were dupes of their union chiefs. “We want it understood once and for all that the cessation of service which is now in effect was made on the initiative of the men who are out.” he declared. “It was started by them without direction or influence of any other organization or agency and is being prosecuted by them at their own volition, uninfluenced and un hampered. “The grand lodge officers of the Brotherhoods,” he continued, “had nothing to do with the negotiations, except in a passive advisory capacity, from December 29th, when the first proposal of a wage reduction was made, until March sth when the men severed relations with the operators of the road and placed the negotiations in the hands of the grand lodge offi cers. 2 “This walk out is unique in the annals of controversies between em ployers and employees in that there has never been a strike order jssued,” Mr. Martin stated. “The only force that impelled the men to leave their jobs was their own consciences. Qur employer, the Atlanta Birmingham & Atlantic railroad, had violated the law in its attempt to avoid the pay ment of a just and reasonable wage scale. We could do nothing else but leave the service. | “Mr. Bugg infers that the em ployees of the Atlanta Birmingham and Atlantic railroad are being used to fight the battles of all union labor against all railroad operators of the country,” continued Mr. Martin, “We entered this contest to protect our own individual rights. If the rail roads have seen fit to make this fight a test of strength between capital and labor we are so placed that we must accept the challenge and our case is so palpably just that we can win it without the assistance of our sympa thizers on other railroads. “However,” concluded Mr. Martin, “we are standing pat on the laws of the land as they directly control in this particular case. We did not pass these laws, in fact they were passed over.our protests, but they are the laws of our country and we are going to fight to the last ditch to have them enforced.” Income Tax Man At Chamber Commerce Mr. Parker of the internal revenue department of the United States gov ernment is at the Chamber of Com merce assisting local people in making out their income tax returns. He may be seen at any time during the day after nine o'clock. Mr. Parker does not expect any appreciable decrease in the number of incomes to be turned in for taxation in this section but estimates are the total amount of the incomes will be under that of last year. This is styled a “loss taking year” by officials of the bureau. M Slayer Ot Lover ; . | Gm On Tnal; ~ (By International News Service) . ARDMORE, Okla, Match 10.—A girl with white face and set lips came into court today to face twelve men will have her fate in their hands. vt " eol h"( By et s o Col. Bugg Explains Finances of Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlant ¢ Col. Bugg Refutes Charge of Ex orbitant Commissions From Sale Of Bonds. The Leader publishes below a let ted received this morning from Col Bugg ex-president and receiver of the A. B. & A, in which Col. Bugg ex plains the financial operation involved in reorganizing the road in 1916. The letter follows: Atlanta, March 9, 1921. Mr. Isador Gelders, Editor, : Fitzgerald, Leader-Enterprise, Fitzgerald, Ga. Mr. Isidor Gelders, Editor, I have just seen an item from your issue of March 2nd headed, “Confi dence in Bugg as Receiver,” and thank you for your straight forward state ment with respect to having misquo ted me, With reference to the last para graph of the clipping T have in which you say, “It was stated by one of the| labor leaders in Chicago before the Labor Board that out of a large bond issue the road really received approx imately one-third of the amount, the two-thirds going as underwriting char ges and commissions.” While I do not think that such a statement was made before the Labor Board at thei hearing, at the same time there was a statement sent out to the newspapers by Mr. W, S. Carter, headed, “To be released when Mr. W. S, Carter Ap pears Before the Railway Wage Board in Chicago, probably Tuesday or Wed nesday, Januory 25 or 26th.” In that advance copy (which I understand was furnished the newspapers gener ally) there was a statement substan tually to the effect that you mention. I am writing you for your infor mation, not asking you to publish it, although there is no objection if you desire to do so. I simply want to give you the facts about the erroneous statement which is going around. The present operating company, the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Railway Company, was organized and took gver the properties operated by the Receiver of the A. B. and A. Rail ‘way January 1, 1916. In this reorgan- Jization all the capital stock of the A. B. and A. Railway Company, amount ing t 0525,000,000, all of the preferred stock amounting to $10,000,000, and the first mortgage gold coupon bonds amounting to $14,443,000 were wiped out, leaving only the underlying issue of first mortgage A. B. & A, Railway bonds of $4,090,000. In ths regrganization the holders of receivers’ certificates accepted for their holdings an issue of first mor tage bonds of the new company par for par, this issue amounting to $5,- 200,000, and the holders of the first mortage gold coupon bonds of the A. B. and A. Railroad = Company were permitted to buy stock in new Com pany par for par upon payment of $12.00 per share of stock. Before the Receivership this stock was quoted on the New York Stock Exchange at about $6.00 per share now. The new company as organized is as follows: Common Stock ________ $30,000,000 15- year income mortage bonds __ § ehnkobbascanenimeiie 58200000 A. and B. Underlying bouds __..__ S sR S e S 090000 The amount received from the sale ‘of the stock at $12.00 per share-$3,600,- 000-was applied to the payment of equipment of the A. B. and A. Railway ‘Company then due or past due, togeth= er with equipment notes of the old company due at a later date, and to plyment of interest due on underly ing bonds, to the payment of legal ex penses of the receivership incurred during several years, interest charges and the fee to the underwriting syndi cate referred to by Mr. Carter, the ‘com missions in question amounting to $73,000 and $144,000 respectively, the balance of the amount received be ing turned over to the new company for working capitol. 3 The amount of $72,000 paid to the financial agents and $144,000 to the underwriting syndicate were the only fees paid for the flotation of the stock issue and are considered very reason able. > This was one of the most drastic reorganizations of railroad properties in the history of the country, the fxed charges under this reorganization amounting to only $204,500, or annual fixed charge per mile of road operated of $321,000. The A. B. & A. Railway Company earned interest on the under lying bonds, and on the 15 year in come mortage bonds and a small sur plus besides up to the time it was taken under federal control January 1, 1918. Very truly yours, | B L. Bugg, Receiver ° . . Herric Again Will Head French Embassy (By International News) WASHINGTON,March 9.—Presi dent Harding decided to send Myron Herrick of Ohio bac¢k to his old post ‘as Abassador to France. It is learned authoritatively today, Mr. G. F. Butler of Ambrose was a business visitor in our city Wednes day. Gossard front lacing Corsets in all sizes and forms— ; Miss Virginia Gaines tf. Qr qumm jompson of Waycross, S ARCha & e Sage i Prmeeaad THE LEADER-ENTERPRISE AND PRESS FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1921. AUDITORIUM COMMITTEE MEETS THIS AFTERNOON The jont committee from the city council, board of education and Woman’s Club appointed by Mayor J. L. Pittman Monday to confer and make definite plans for a high school auditorium is in session at the city hall this af ternoon. The Leader will carry a full report of their plans to morrow afternoon. (By International News Service) PARIS, March 10.—French military patrol upper Silesia was attacked by Germans and several were wounded the Polish Legation announced. The French in upper Silesia are on police duty pending the plebiscite on the question of whether the territory shall be French or German. BERLIN, March 10—Berlin is apathic over the Allied advance except for bitter press comment.. Dr. Walter Simons, Foreign Press Minister, is expected to address the Reichstag to day. A huge crowd greeted Simons on his return from London where he conferred with the Allied Premiers. o Recreation Center ‘ ° Free For Strikers Full Time Secretary Retained; Junior Memberships Be Accepted The board of managers of the Young M-=n’s Recreation Center last night extended an invitation to the employees of the Atlanta Birmingham and Atlantic railroad to use the gym nasium, reading room, game tables and athletic' courts free of charge. The board yesterday retained Mr., Ben F. Tolle as corresponding sec retary and supervisor for the Center. Mr. Tolle is straightening up the ac counts of the organization and will accept new memberships upon appli cation at the Center in the old Good man building, south of the First Na tional Bank on Grant street. Under new regulations passed by ‘the board, junior memberships will be ‘accepted from boys between the ages of twelve and sixteen. A junior mem bership entitles a youngster to the privileges of the Center from 4 to 6 o'clock each afternoon and 10 to 12 o’clock Saturday mornings. No boys under sixteen will be allowed in the building after curfew. A regular membership at $l.OO per month .en titles the member to privileges of the organization at all hours every day. e e——" Sa—————— Miss Thelma Temple s makingher home with Judge and Mrs. Frederick M. Powers on South Lee Street. Farm News Secti Conducted By C. T. OWENS, Secretary, Ben Hill ' County Farm Bureau Federation Ben Hill County Advisory Board, Marion Dickson chairman, Mrs. S. M. Whitchard, vice chairman, C. T. Owens, secre tary, J.LE. Turner, Treas. Meets second and fourth Thurs days at Chamber of Commerce at 2:30 P. M. Fitzgerald Council—A. J. Swords, chairman; Mrs. H. M. War ren, vice chairman; H. H. James, secretary. Meets sec ond and fourth Thursdays at Chamber of Commerce, at 1:30 p. m. Dickson’s Mill Council—R. R. Dorminey, Chairman; Mrs. A. W. McCall, vice chairman; J. J. Burres, secretary. Meets second Mondays at Mill. Bowen’s Mill— W. H. Lee, chairman; Mrs. S. E. Watson, vice chairman; W. R. Wadkins, secretary. Meets first Friday at Crisp School house, at 2:30 p. m. Williamson’s Mill Council—]. Horton Taylor, chairman; G. M. Young, secretary. Meets second Friday, at Emory schoolhouse, at 2:30 p. m. Vaughn-Taylor Council—W. H. Roberts, chairman, Mrs. R. L. Stone, vice chairman; C. E. Rhett, secretary. Meets third Friday, Vaughn-Taylor school 2:30 p- m. Ashton Council—Wesley R. Walker, chairman; J. Roscoe Kimball, secretary, Miss Flossie Robitzsch, vice-chair man.. . Meets fourth rFiday at Dorminey and Ashton Schools alternately. FARMERS’ EXCHANGE | COLUMN | (All Products listed by farmers with secretaries of their own com munity councils will be turned over to C. T. Owens for publication in this section.) PRODUCE FOR SALE VELVET BEANS; $l5 per Ton J. B. lope six tons. D. Z. Luke, five tons. N. L. Blackstone, one ton. F. F. Stokes, two tons. J. A. G. Ragsdale, 20 bu. of bunch. H. A. Morehead. 20 bu. stringless. A. Lundy, one and one-half tons. PEAVINE HAY, $3O TON J. J. Shedd,three tons. R. R. Dorminey. two tons. Mrs. A. B. McCathatt, four tons. CORN, §l. BUSHEL - D. Z. Luke, 100 bushels. ~ Mrs. A, B. McGathatt, 200 bushels A, J. Swords, 200 buushels. SEED CORN, $2.00 BU. H.T. Newsom, 100 bu. Little White Bugg Says He Will Be Ready to Run Others Tomorrow FREIGHT TRAIN RUNS Tinney Is at Throttle As Train - Leaves Birminbham (By International News) BIRMINGHAM, March 10.—First freight train since the A. B. & A. strke began to run today from this point to Lineville, Ala, W. L. Tin ney,, lumber man and former engin eer wa s at the throttle as the train pulled out of the yards. Passenger train service on the A. B. & A. will be resumed tomorrow between Atlanta and Manchester, Re ceiver Bugg announced. This will be the first regular service since the 'walkout last Saturday. ;\ Workmen will be recruited for ‘other trains from men applying {orl work. Tomorrow’s service crew is already engaged. Two trains will be 'run, one on schedule No. 2 returning on schedule No. 15 about one hour late. Citizens of Omega indorsed the stand of the A. B. &A. Receiver. | : | (By International News) ; MITCHELL, 'S’ 1), March 10— St. Paul train No. 106 bound from Aberdeen to Sioux City was wrecked at Cuthbert, S. D., this morning. A wrecking crew has been sent out. No word of casualties has heen received. . | Mediators Confer 1 . With Bugg And Men e | United States Commissioners Seek Solution for A. B. & A Tie Up | Information reached local union of ficials last night ' that the United States Board of Mediation, created by the Newlands Act of 1913, would confer with Judge Samuel H. Sibley and Receiver B. L. Bugg of the At-i lanta Birmingham and Atlantic in an cffort to find a solution for the deadl lock in the wage controversy which is tying up the railroad. ' The Birmingham Loan and Trust Company, whose petition caused the appointment of a receiver for the A. B. & A. yesterday filed an amend-‘ ment to its petition asserting the Newlands Act to be Aunconstitutional." Should that contention be sustained at the hearing set by Judge Sibley for March 26th, the Board of Media tion would of course be held without authority to help in the present diffi culty and the conferences, whatever they offered in the way of a solution, would be considered as having never been held. The Board of Mediation has been in conference since Monday with the Grand Lodge Officers of the Brother hoods. J. A. G. Ragsdale, 20 bu, Whatley Prolific. PEANUTS, $1.50 BU, S. E. Leverett, 20 bu. N. C. Run ning. ‘ S. E. Leverett, 50 bu. Lewis 63, wilt resistant. CANE SYRUP, $1 GALLON Dr. D. B. Ware, 500 gals. J. Horton Taylor, 500 gals. Mrs. C. B. Batton, 200 gals. A. W. McCall, 200 gals. T. G. McCall, 500 gals. SWEET POTATOES, 75¢c BU. A. J. Swords, 100 bu. ety REGISTERED.SWINE J. Horton Taylor, six unbred and six bred registered Duroc gilts. Roscoe Kimball registered duroc pigs, male or female. PRODUCE WANTED WANTED—IOOO ‘Hens, 75¢ each, 20¢ Ib.; Fryers, 40-70 c each, 25¢ Ib.; Geese 85c each. For Cash. CASPER A Thought for the Evening : A VERSE AND A VIGNETTE . By Dan G.Bickers LEADER AND FOLLOWER Once there was One on earth who said: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” And one came after him who saw the Way, and knew the Truth, and gave his Life ____ A sacrifice___ In obedience unto his Master! SR TR g e THE POSTPONED VERSE Will you please excuse me for a'while___ I know the cause may make you smile___ But at the office door I see My nine year boy who waijts for me. : So let the verses wait a bit, Perhaps they’ll mellow and be more fit__ While I go join that lad of mine ___ He’s calling me by our pet sign. My nine year boy is waiting there__ May grow impatient; 1 must share His comradship while it may be___ Soon he will get ahead of me! ; 5 HIS LARGER SPHERE WOODROW WILSON Unburdened of the heavy weight Of office now, he who of late Was leader of a Nation here may rest ! Rest? He is but released from limitations small, ; To service, not for one great land alone, : But for ALL PEOPLES with his own, : For all humanity, aye, for all the race; God, give him more courage, strength and grace, We, who have followed him, now ask, To take the largest, supreme, eternal task! || STANDARD OIL CO. M Il PLANT IS BURNING Il (By International News Service) } W YORK, March 10.—Fire ]l{ , . out at noon in the plant of [ {| te Standard Oil Company’s ] || Brookiyn plant. Four tanks are || reported to have exploded, others ll || are threatened. !H e | | “WEITE” 2 RMIES ; SEEM _§I_:I£CESSFUL Reported that Kerensky May Re sume Anti-Red Command BOLSHEVIKI DEFEATED Trotzky Takes Personal Com mand As Defeat Impends (By International News Service) BOLSHEVIK UPRISING IN BATUM BATUM, March 10—A Bolshevik uprising has broken out here. Thous ands of persons, in addition to the Allied mission and members of the Georgia Government, are leaving. The Bolsheviki hold the railway from Kutais to Batum. - TROTZKY LEADS REDS 'TROOPS TO VICTORY ..LONDON, March 10.—A Moscow wireless announces the surrender of the Kronstadt Fortress by the Anti- Bolsheviki,assording to an exchange telegraph dispatch from Helsingfors. The Times printed an unconfirmed report from Riga that the Rebels took Petrograd and Soviet leaders fled in automobiles. ‘ It is reported that Krasna, Jagorka and Oranienbaum were taken by thei Rebels. A central news dispatch ’iromi Helsingfors reports that Trotsky led the Bolshevists in recapturing Krasna and Jagorka. Advices from the foreign office are that the Rebels captured Pskoff for Fortress. It is reported in Riga that the Bolsheviks are retreating along the Nicolaievsky Railway. Many British officials profess to believe that the Whites in Russia now have a chance for success. De velopments are being watched closely. The Star asserts that Kerensky, for mer Socialist Premier of Russia, is in London in touch with the foreign office. He is quoted as saying that he is confident of success. The Star expressed an apinion that Kerensky may soon appear in person as the leader of the Whites, n . Senate Postpone ® N\ - Columbian Treaty (By International News Service) WASHINGTON, March 10.—The Senate has postponed action on the Columbian Treaty until an extraor dinary session early in April. The postponement was forced by -oppo ‘nents of ratification. ° | e e e e ———— Dr. G. W. McLEAN DENTIST Rooms 512-513 . Phone 438 Garbutt-Donovan Building Fifth Floor Sunday by Appointment FARMS For Rent SYDNEY CLARE \ ° | Home Furniture Co. Goes In New Home Old Place Will Be Remodelled for Bradshaw Music Company The Home Furniture Company is moving today from its old location on Grant street into the new Bowen block on Central avenue and Main street. It .wilk have fronts on both streets in the new building and stor age rooms on the second floor. The moving will be accomplished before the end of the week. Wther. the Hoine Furniture Com pany moves out.of the Grant street it will be remodelled for Bradshaw Music Company which will vacate its present quarters next to the Leader Publishing Company and the oppos ite front on Pine street, and the old Post Office building on the corner of Central avenue and Main streets. In its new home the Bradshaw Music Company will be the most im posing music store in South Georgia and one of the largest and most com pletely equipped in the entire state. The building will be shared with I K Staten of the Staten-Converse Com pany of Valdosta. . Mr. Bradshaw stated today that he did not expect the new locaton to be ready before April Ist as extensive remodelling must be done. S T A. H. Thurmond and Homer Wat ers returned this morning from At lanta where they attended the Auto Show. ” 500 Bushels Fulghum Oats Re-Cleaned These are select quality; see them before buying Goinglat 90c Bushel. 30 Gallons Ga. Cane Syrup - In OnefGallon Cans, selling at "7S5c |gallon White Spanish Peanuts | (One Ton) Selling at $4 per hundred pounds sacked We carry a full line of PAINTS AND OILS Fitzgerald Hardware Co., Corner Central and Grant HARDING-CUMMINS HOLD CONFERENGE Author of Transportation Act Seeks Whose to Blame NATIONWIDE WAGE CUT New York Central Joins Penns ylvania Wage Reduction (By International News Service) WASHINGTON, March 10.—Sen ator Cummins of lowa, author of the Railroad law, after a conference with. President Harding announced that ‘the senate will shortly conduct an in vestigation of the entire railroad sit uation. 1+ will probe whether the roads are grossly mismanaged and f there is justification for the present high rates. NEW YORK CITY, march 10.— It is reported that the N2w York Cen tral will follow the lead of the Penn sylvania in a drastc program of re trenchment. The New York Central has already given notice of a wage reduction effective April 1. It is now prepared, it is reported, to announce further reductions, CHICAGO, March 10.—Informa tion received at local headquarters of the railway labor department of the American Federation of Labor indi cates that virtually every large rail road in the country is preparing to put wage reductions into effect for-all their employees. E. M. Jewell, chair man of the committee, said in discuss ing the proposed reduction announced by the Pennsylvania lines. An official of the Association of Western Railway Executives, who declined to be fuoted, said that Mr. Jewell’s statement probably was true and that further wage reduction an-- nouncements might be expegted at any time. LABOR PREPARES FOR STRUGGLE WASHINGTON, March 10—La bor leaders are preparng for defen sive action against any general move ment to reduce wages. Announce ment of reduction by the railroads. has brought strong protests. Name “Bayer” on Genuine ’ \// Beware! Unless you see the mame: “Bayer” on package or on tablets you are not getling genuine Aepirin pre scribed by physicians for twenty-one years and Froved.safe by millions. Take Aspirin only as told in the Bayer package fer Colds, Headache, Neuralgia, Rheuma tism, Earache, Toothache, Lkumbago, and for,Pain. Handy tin'boxes of twelve Bayer Tablets of AsFirin cost few cents, Drug gists also sell larger packages, Aspirin 18 the trade mark of Bayer Manufacture of Monoaceticacidester of Salicylicacid