Newspaper Page Text
Urges Germans to Remain Calm
As Allied Troops Come
SNIPING IS REPORTED
Dusseldorf Is Occupied But Has
“Business As Usual”
(By International News Service)
LONDON, March 8-—A mixed force
of French, British and Belgians occu
pied the important industrial German
city of Dusseldorf this morning with
out incident. The Allied military ad
vance into the Ruhr district began at
dawn. The American Army of Oc
cupation did not tarticipate. The
occupation of Dusseldorf was com
pleted at 9:50 o'clock this morning.
The French moved on Duisburg and
Ruhrort at 6 o’clock this morning and
expected to occupy both towns, which
are important industrial and coal cen
ters, during the day.
There are about 120,000 Allied
troops on the Rhine, not counting the
small American Army. The French
furnished most of the troops that ad
vanced from the Rhine. Reports that
France will mobilize an y of her mil
itary classes were denied today.
The advancing French were sup
ported by light artillery, rapid fire
guns and two squadrons of airmen,
No real opposition was encountered
although some sniping is reported.
The Belgians were {first to move
into Dussulldorf. Great crowds gath
ered in the streets watching the sol
diers planting batteries to sweep all
important squares, The bridges are
heavily guarded.
EBERT APPEALS
FOR CALM
BERLIN, March B—Pres. Ebert
has appealed to the German nation to
remain calm in the face of the Allied
advance from the Rhine. The Ger
man Cabinet remained in session un
til after midnight to receive the re
port of the course of foreign minister
Simons at London.
GERMANY WILL NOT
YIELD, DECLARES EBERT
BERLIN, March B—Following the
proclamation, signed by President and
Chancellor Ebert was addressed to
the people of Dusselldorf today. “Our
opponents are occupying German soil.
This is a breach of the Treaty of Ver
sailles. Violence may trample down
justice but the German Government
will not rest until the foreign invader
succumbs to our just position”
PEOPLE OF DUSSELDORF
TAKE PLIGHT CALMLY
DUSSELDORF, March 8-—Three
thousand French, British and Belgian
troops hold this city this afternoon.
More troops are coming. The people
are calm and no signs of hostility
are in evidence.
An Allied Flotilla entered Duisburg
at noon. The occupation of :Duisburg
and Ruhrort by infantry and calvalry
was completed at 11 o’clock with no
hostile manifestations. Tanks were
brought up during the day, entering
Dusseldorf this afternoon. Business
went on as usual.
GERMANS GO HOME
LONDON, March B—German
conferees, headed by Dr. Simons, left
for Berlin this afternoon.
STOCK GAMBLERS DO
NOT FEAR DEVELOPMENT
NEW YORK, March B—Action on
the stock market today was interpret
ed as indicating that those on the
inside are not in the least apprehen
sive over the final outcome of the
German Indemnity situation.
GERMANY TO MAKE
PASSIVE OPPOSITION
BERLIN, March B—lt was an
nounced today that the German gov
ernment will remain firm in opposi
tion to the Paris indemnity decisions
of the Allies. For the time being Ger
many will play a passive role await
ing the next move of the Allies. The
cabinet was informed that Belgian
and French troops were moving ahead
hours before the Simons message was
received announcing that the Allies
were putting the penalties into effect.
i it
CIVIC LEAGUE SPEAKER
AT MT. OLIVE SUNDAY
Mr. Geo. P. Morris, chairman of the
rural committee of the Ben Hill Civic
League will speak at Mt. Olive church
Sunday afternoon, March 13th. His
subject is “Good Citizenship.”
NEW HAVANA-MIAMI
CABLE PASSES TEST
(By International News Service)
MIAMI, March B—Final test was
made today on the new Havana-Mi
ami cable of the Commercial Cable
Company lowered last week,shows
it was successfully connected. Ser
vice will begin shortly. g
COOLIDGE SITS AT FIRST
HARDING CABINET MEET
By International News Service
WASHINGTON, March 8—
President Warren G. Harding
met with his Cabinet for the first
time at 11 o’clock this morning.
An innovation was the presence
of Vice President Calvin Cool
idge, who was given the seat at
the end of the cabinet table fac
ing the President.
COAlIlquI)Cll'll"O‘?lll)ll;ll:iolylFAsN
Ladies Take Council by Storm at
Meeting Last Night |
COMMITTEE APPOINTED
Will Show Cost at Next Meet
ing; To Call Bond Vote |
Fitzgerald will have a bond election
for a high school auditorium,.—p';gi)a-‘
bly in May, it became certan last
night after a committee from the
Woman’s Club had appeared before
city council to advocate the auditor-!
ium cause. Council unanimously ap
proved the project. |
The committee was accompanied
by all the members of the board of
education and President U. J. Ben
nett launched the drive on council
in favor of the project, briefly outlin
ing the need for additional class
rooms and an assembly room of ample
size.
Mesdames R. E. I<e, George
Brown, C. C. Persons, E. J. Dormi
ney, C. F. Shewmake, S. L. S 't 5.4
W. E. Yeatman appeared for the
Woman’s Club, and most of them
spoke effectively for the auditorium.
The committee had been appointed by
Mrs. Lon Dickey, president of the
club, at the meeting last Wednesday
when the’club endorsed the agitation
for the auditorium. & ;
Opposition Is Withdrawn
Practically all opposition that pre
viously had been expressed against
the auditorium project was removed
when it was stated by City Clerk D,
L. Paulk that the city had a bonding
capacity of $131,461 in addition to the
$244,000 of bonds already outstanding
Last year, when the 1919 tax reports
showed the city valued at $3,891,000
the outstanding bonds pressed close
to the limit. The 1920 valuation of
$5,363,733 however, leaves ample
room for further civic expansion.
A joint committee representing the
city council, the board of education
and the women of the city was au
thorized to prepare definite plans and
specifications for the new auditorium.
The committee will meet some time
next week. It is composed of Mayor
J. L. Pittman, Aldermen G. L. Kil
crease, J. C. Glover, Lewis and Miller:
Mesdames George W. Brown, RO
Lee, E. K. Farmer, E. J. Dorminey,
C. C. Persons for the Woman’s Club;
U. J. Bennett, G. A. Jolley, Lon
Dickey, Scott Walker, Dr. W. D. Dor
miney for the Board of Education.
Would Add Fire Bonds
W. C. Wilkerson, chief of the Fitz
gerald Fire Department, suggested
this morning to a Leader-Enterprise
reporter that about $5,000 be added on
the bond issue to the amount needed
for the school auditorium and the
money be used to make such needed
extension of water mains. A large
section of the city is practically un
protected against fire because no‘fire
plugs have been installed and ‘the
city has not enough money from its
current income to make the improve
ments,
Chief Wilkerson declared himself
heartily in favor of the auditorium
project and said that he believed its
chances for carrying the election
would be largely increased by adding
a few thousand dollars for better fire
protection. f
Phone 359
For Bettera'l‘})‘.an Average
Altering,
Drfi\zflaaning,
Dyeing,
Pressing,
Tailoring,
We are equipped to do quick
Work That will last long.
THREE-FIVE-NINE
Pressing Club
W. ROY BRAGG, Proprietor
THE LEADER-ENTERPRISE AND PRESS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 19 21
Employees And Operators Present
Their Contentions About Strike
A. B. & A. Will Begin Operating
Trains Soon As New Men
Can Be Recruited
Operators Assert Unions Arei
Willing To Break Road ‘
"' To Sate Avarice |
ATLANTA, March 8 (By Tele
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 proceedure will be fol
lowed in e'mploying men for service
on the road as is done under normal
conditions when additional employes
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, phy
sical, colors test. Enginmen in ad
dition are required to give satisfactory
evidence of a knowledge of the care
and operation of a locomotive.
Just as fast as employes can be re
cruited 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 employes and
their National Union leaders in six
different conrerences. He also met
their contentions 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 Febuary 21st declared
jitself without jurisdiction on the is~
sues as presented.
This declaration followed the posi
tion taken by the Union representa
tives before the board that Athe;board
was without jurisdiction and asked it
to dismiss the case. &
At no time either in conference or
the hearings before the Labor Board
have'the employes or their union rep
resentatives ever met the issue square
ly or suggested the possibility of ne
gotiation of a more acceptable reduc
tion 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 by one
million dollars a year.
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 compell the road to pay
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 a 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 war-time 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.
~ 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 railroals or the public
but benefit the emplayes alone. i
Eleventh, that the labor unions pre-‘
tend to want a 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. . I
Twelfth, that the labor unions have
been on notice of the proposed re-‘
duction in wages and the necessity
therefore since ‘Decemher 29, 1920, ‘
Thirteenth, that the receivership
was_ forced by the union.
Fourteenth, that they were fully in
formed that a receivership wiuld be
inevitable if they insisted on their im
possible demands.
Fifteenth, that the success of* the!
strike can only mean the scrapping of
the road.' T ik l
Sixteenth, that in the face of this
inevitable fact the labor unions have
called the strike,
Seventeenth, that an already dis
tressed section of Georgla and Ala
bama is paying the fearful price of'
‘the labor union avarice. I
Says Receiver and U. S. Courts
Disregards Laws in Wage
Reduction
Employes Charge A. B. & A. Is
in Conspiracy To Smash
Labor Unions ,
The financial interests which con
trol the A. B. and A. have disregarded
the laws of the land in the present
wage controversy because they are in
a conspiracy to smash the unions and
force down the workers’ wages, ac
cording to an editorfal in the current
issue of Labor. The editorial is pub
lished below at the request of the
press committee of the Joint Federa
tion Committee representing the thir
teen crafts now on strike. The ed
itorial sums up the position of the
men.
FACTS IN THE
A. B. AND A. CASE
The railroad managers contempt
ior any law- which does not profit
them to respect, is well illustrated by
the case of the Atlanta, Birmingham
and Atlantic,
This road undertook to reduce the
wages of its employes without at
tempting to comply with the plain let
ter of the transportation act.
The United States Railway Labor
Board compelled the A. B, and- A.
to withdraw its illegal notice and,
after a hearing, directed the officials
of the road to confer with the employ
es—as the law directed—and if an
agreement could not be reached to
submit the points in controversy to
the board. .
Instead of complying with these in
structions, the A. B. and A. entered
into a “friendly” suit with an obliging
creditor, and the road was placed in
the hands of a receiver by a Federal
Judge who acted without waiting to
hear from any one who could fairly
be considéered as representing the oth
er side of the case.
The President of the A. B. and A,
was named as receiver, and the first
order issued to him by the court san
tioned the reduction of wages which
has been forbidden by the Labor
Board. :
This order was without warrant of
law, because the Newlands act specifi
cally deprives Federal Judges of the
power to reduce the compensation of
employes of roads which may , be
playved in receiver’s hands, except af
ter thirty days notice and a hearing of
all parties in interest.
It is to be presumed that the Judge
did not know of. the existance of the
Newlands act when he signed the
order, because it is inconceivable that
he would have flouted the law if #
had been called to his attention.
The railroad attorneys who were
directing the proceedings did not en
lighten the court concerning matters
which were adverse to their claims,
and the workers were afforded no op
portunity to be heard. X
Among the things which should
have been called to the court’s at
tention, but were not, is the provision
in the transportation act authorizing
the Sae Commerce Commission to
readjust rates so as to compel through
lines to pay short lines proper com
pensation for sgrvices rendered.
The A. B. and A. is a short line. It
is in financial difficulties, not because
/its employes’ wages are too high or
because the workers are inefficient,
but because it is compelled to work
for the through lines at less than the
cost of transportation.
It could secure relief by appealing
to the Interstate Commerce Commis
sion for a readjustment of rates, but
it refuses to do that s
Why? Because the financial inter
ests which control the A, B. and A.
and the connecting through lines are
in a conspiracy to smash the unions
and to force down the worker’s wages.
They are determined that the short
lines shall not secure relief except at
the expense of their employes.
The conspiracy will not succeed,
however. The workers will have
their day ih court. The A. B. and A.
and the interests back of it will not be
permitted to “junk” the statutes of the
United States without a struggle. /
Habitual ConltlpatlonCury/
in 14 to 21 Da, .
saxnp e e Baka,
mflw It relieves ptly and
should be taken regularly for 14 to 21 days
to induceregular action. ItStimulatesand
Regulates. Very Pleasant to Take. 60c
per bottle.
“ (Advertisement) . |
Dr. G. W. McLEAN
DENTIST
Rooms 512-513 Phone 438
Garbutt-Donovan Building
- - Fifth Floor :
Sunday by Appointment
ROME HOTEL BURNS
By International News Service
ROME, Ga., March B—Fire
today destroyed the Armstrong
five story hotel. The loss was
$50,000, fully insured. No casual
ties’ resulted.
Will Cut Campaign Short and
Settle Race Quickly
TWELVE PLACES' OPEN
No Announcements Made Yet
for Board of Education
The city primary election was called
today by the city Democratic Execu-‘
‘tive. Committee to be held April 18th,
iwhich is said to be the earliest the
‘primary has ever been held. Regis
tration books open Thursday, March
10th, and will close April Bth. A
)heavy registration of women is ex
pected. ; ‘
' In the field are Drew W. Paulk for
mayor, without opposition; G. P.!
Mingledorff for city treasurer, with-i
out opposition; G. E, Ricker, incumb
ent, and Hubert Roush for the one
place on the Water, Light and Bond
Commission; A. H. Thurmond, Clay
ton Jay, E. J. Dorminey, J. E. Tur
ner, I. A. Cardwell, George L. Kil
crease, W. R. Paulk for five places
on the city council, -
No announcements nave been made
today for the board of education for
which a president ana four members
must be named. No contest is antic
ipated for any of these places.
. The official notice of the prmary,
issued today by the executive com
mittee, follows:
Notice of Primary Election
By the authority vested in the exec
utive committee for the city of Fitz
gerald, a primary election is hareby
called to be held at the City Hall on
April, 18th, 1921, for the purpose of
nominating a Mayor, five Aldérmen
at-large, a city Treasurer, a president
and four members of the Board of
Education, and a wmember of the
Water, Light and Bond Commission.
The registration books will open in
the office of the City Clerk March
10th, at 8:30 A. M. and will remain
open until 6 P. M. April Bth, 1921.
The election will be held under the
Australion Ballot system.
The Polls will open at 8 a. m. and
close at. 7 p. m,
The candidates are required to reg
ister with the secretary of the execu
tive committee on or before 6 p. m.,
April Bth, and pay the following as
sessments: {
EOr. MAyOr Lois fic ol YOOO
Bor. Teedsifrérs (- o 50k 2T egign
FOr AMBES 00l 00l 950
For President and members of
Board of Education___._._____ 200
For Member Water Light and
Bond Commission __________ 10.00
No person shall hire Automobiles
or other conveyances for the purpose
of transporting voters to and from
election. . |
All voters shall vote for at least
five aldermen and four members of
board of education, otherwise said
ballot shall not be counted in so far
as the ballot relates to aldermen and
members- of board, but will be count
ed only for other officers voted for.
By order of the executive commit
tee, '
' N, N. LITTLEFIELD, Chair.
S. G. PRYOR, JR., Secretary.
| Fitzgerald Ga, March Bth, 1921,
®
Loans To Foreign
® o
Powers Discontinued
(By International News Service)
WASHINGTON, March B—Fur
ther loans to European governments
upon credits established by former
president Woodrow Wilson = were
stopped by the Treasury Department
today. Secretary Mellen directed that
action upon claims for additional ad
vances be postponed pending a fur
ther study of committments and other
documents.
i i
SAVANNAH LINER STUCK
ON BOSTON MUD FLAT
(By International News Service)
BOSTON, March B—The Savan
nah liner, City of Columbus, carry
ing thirty passengers snd valuable
cargo out of Savannah for Boston
ran on to mud flats in the harbor to
day. Five tugs-are assisting her. She
is not considered to be in danger.
During a heavy fog this afternoon
thirty passengers ‘were taken off the
stranded Savannah Liner off Lovell’s
Island. |
% ————————————————————
R
(Advertisement)
ARMOUR AND SWi‘,
CUT WAGES 12 PCT.
Employes May Walk Out Is Re
port from Chicago Today
NO CHANGE IN A. B & A.
Situation Remains Unchanged
As U. 8. Mediators Enter
(By International News Service)
CHICAGO, March B.—The wages
of employees of the Armour and
Swift‘ packing companies were re
‘duced twelve and one half per fent
itoday_ A great strike is threatened.
NO CHANGED IN
A. B, & A. SITUATION ¢
ATLANTA, March B—No change
is reported in the Atlanta Birmingham
and Atlantic situation today.
lU. S: MEDIATORS AND
UNION MEN CONFER
Mediation Board Offers Services
under Newlands Act
MEETING IN ATLANTA
Grand Officers of Seven Crafts
Are in Conference
Following the report in the Leader
vesterday that the United States
Board of Meditation, created under '
the Newlands Act of 1913, had arrived
in Atlanta, W. M. Martin, chairman of
the 9Joint Federation Committee,
stated that the mediators would be:
met by the grand officess of seven
crafts who are now in Atlanta.
The union conferces are Val Fitz
patrick, of the trainmen, chairman, J.
P. Hogsed, of the clerks, secretary,
H. S. Huff, of the engineers, Lariscy
of the conductors, C. J. Goff of the
firemen, Denham of the maintenance
of way department, who compose the
committee representing the Brother
hoods.
Following is the telegram dis=
patched to one of the general chair
men of the A, B. & A. crafts when it
became known that walkout had be
come effective at noon Saturday,
“Learning through the press of the
serious situation threatening a strike
of all employees and cessation of train
movement to the serious detriment of
the public interest, the services the:
United States Board of Meditab;;#e'
hereby tendered in accordance? h
the act of Congress July 15, 1913, "
“Commissioner Chambers and As
sistant Commissioner Klutz, will be
at the Piedmont Hotel, Atlanta, Mon
day morning, and all parties are ear
nestly advised and urged to maintain
operating status until they have had
opportunity for conference.. Please
present to Chairmen Cargile, Martin
and Hunter.
“(Signed) Martin A. Knapp, %
' “Chairman.”
° ®
Pittman Says City A
Favors Employees
Local Minister Invited By Union
Chiefs to Talk at Mass Meets
Majority of public sentiment in
Fitzgerald is heartily in favor of the
striking employes of the Atlanta, Bir
mingham & Atlantic Railway, Mayor
J. L, Pittman told the strikers at
their regular morning mass meeting
today. The mayor stated that he had
canvassed many of the merchants
and business people of the city and
had found the majority- opinion to be
that the strikers were entirely justi
fied in the course and that Fitzgerald
as a whole wants them to win. ;
Mayor Pittman’s statement was
made after news had been received
here of the resolutions reported to
have been passed in Tifton, Moultrie
and other towns in favor of the re
ceiver. The men declare that such
resolutions could have been passed
only through a misunderstanding of
the facts in the case,
Preachers Address Meetings
Fitzgerald ministers are being in
vited in turn to address the daily mass
meetings of the striking employes of
the Atlanta Birmingham and Atlantic
railway here. C, A. Ginn of the Ken
nedy Memotial Baptist spoke Sunday,
J. F. Singleton of the First Baptist,
Monday, S. A., Strawn of the Christ
ian is speaking today, I. P. Tyson of
the Central Methodist will speak
Wednesday.
FAKMS
KFor Rent
SYDNEY CLARE