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What President Baldwin’s “Hot Letter" Should
Contain.
The question of tlie petition of the Savannah
Electric (ompany to Council for a reduction of the
specific taxes of that company rests where it was left
by Council at its meeting last week.
It is assumed that there will lie no new develop
ments m the situation until action is had upon the
(iuckenheimer amendment to the tax ordinance
which, ii adopted, would grant the reduction asked
by the Electric Company. Council will have no
opportunity to act until its regular meeting next
Wednesday, unless a special meeting should be
called for an earlier date, which seems hardly prob
able.
It is announced in the Press of the city that Presi
dent Ceorge .1. Baldwin of the Electric ( ompany
has addressed “a warm letter to .Mayor 1 iedeman,
in which he replies to statements made at various
times by Alderman Wilson in Council in opposition
to the reduction of the company's taxi's, and in
criticism of the city lighting service.
rublie interest in the contents of Mr. Baldwin s
letter is augmented bv an impression which pre
vails that the people are but partially informed as
to what Mr. Wilson said in his speech, by reason of
the fact that the doors were closed and Council went
into caucus before lie concluded liis remarks. Ob
viously, President Baldwin would suffer from a
handicap in making a full reply to Alderman Wilson
if, himself, not in possession of the whole of the
alderman \s speech.
At present it is not known whether the letter
will be read in open or secret session. It is sur
mised, however, that Mr. Wilson will not claim the
immunity from publicity that was extended by its
defenders to the Electric Company at last meeting
of (’mined.
While it is not contended that any Alderman
may be declared an < nemy to unionized labor, there
are three members of Council popularly supposed to
represent most directly the interests of that element
of our citizenship. Os this trio, two have heretofore
committed themselves without reserve to the cause
of the Electric Company's petition, while the third
Alderman voted with the two first mentioned, but
gave notice that he reserved the right to change j
his attiude in any future balloting, should he feel
so disposed. Os course, the other two may likewise
clningi l their views with regard to the merit of the
Electric Company’s petition without in any way
stultifying themselves, and if is yet hoped by many
who have heretofore supported these gentlemen in
the primaries that they will feel that the additional
light which has been shed upon the subject amply
justifies their abandonment of the position they
formerly assumed.
The Reason respectfully suggests that the three
Aldermen above referred to will be enabled to
quickly reach a conclusion as to where their duty
lies, if the officials of the Savannah Electric Com
pany will write a letter to Council giving a full ex- |
olanation of the crushing in its incipiency of the
effort of the company's conductors and motonnen to
unionize themselves a couple of years ago.
Such a recital will be regarded as incomplete un- !
less the company goes very deepW into details con- !
corning the methods adopted by its officials to get
possession of the charter granted by the national
THE REASON
organization of street railway employes to the
Savannah local, when the latter was secretly insti
tuted. r l his document was secured by the office of
the Electric Company and photographed. With it
came a complete list of the names of those of the
employes who had attached themselves to the union.
These were promptly discharged, alter the company,
it is fin ther stated, had provided itself with a
corns of strike-breakers similar to those recently
employed in Pensacola, and quartered them in a
near-by city ready to be dumped into Savannah in
case the local men decided to strike in protest against
the wholesale discharges.
The motormen and conductors, realizing that
some one in their councils had probably essayed the
role of .Judas Iscariot, submitted with what grace
they could, and agreed to disband their local or
ganization. 'They elected to surrender when the only
alternative was industrial annihilation.
r l hese employes had supposed that the mere join
ing of a union would not be regarded by the com
pany as a capital offense. Elsewhere in this country
they knew there were unions of street railway em
ployes which were at least tolerated by the employ
ers of the men forming them. What was there in
tin* atmosphere of Savannah that should cause this
city to be selected as the slaughter house for labor
organizations .'
The Savannah local union of the street railway
men. throttled while yet in a state of embryo, re
turned its charter to the national officers of the’
union, after tlm Electric Company was through with
it, and terminated its brief and disastrous career.
A point most in need of elucidation is. how came
tht* charter of the local into the possession of the of
ficers of thi 1 Electric Company.' Was it procured by
means of throats, intimidation or persuasion?
With tin* history above related behind tin* Elec
tric Company, how could its spokesmen declare in
Council at the outset of the controversy that a reduc
tion of the company's taxes was desired especially
for tin* benefit of its Savannah employes, upon
whom, it was said, disagreeable consequences might
descend owing to the prevailing hard times, unless
the company's request was acceded to.
It was not explained why it was that Alderman
(iuckenheimer was chosen by the laboring men to
lead in their behalf rather than Messrs. Perritt, Wil
kerson or (iaudry.
Bring Seashore to Your Home.
The cool sea breezes may be brought to your
home by patronizing the Savannah Electric Supply
Co., -10 Drayton Street. Look up their announce
ment in this issue and send them any business you
may have in their line.
Mr. Cardan’s Announcement.
The Reason takes pleasure in calling the atten
tion of voters to the announcement of Mr. J. .J. Caro
bin for Receiver of Tax Returns elsewhere in this
issue. Mr. Carolan is a native of Savannah, and
for many years held a responsible position with the
steamship companies having offices here. He lias
served the city faithfully and well, both as alderman
and fire commissioner. 11 is record as a business man
is clean and above reproach and if elected to the
office he seeks, the duties thereof will lie in safe
hands.