The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-03-31
REPORT
OF the Labor Commissioner on the
Sedalia Strike.

The flowing is the report of Commits
siouer of Labor Statistics, kochtitzky, OF
March IS, concerning the late railroud
strike
Hon. John 5. Msrmaduke, Governor, Jefferson
City, Mo.
DEAR SIR: In conformity with your re-
quest have carefully examined into the
causes, ETC., of the late strike OF railroad
employees by personal observation and in
yestIgs tiop, both at SedsIis and 81. Louis,
and while / sm not at present prepared TO
make such recommend ations as / may
hereafter desire to make, from facts con-
nected herewith. i lay before you the fol-
loving as a psrtislreport, resersing further
explanations and recommendations for
the next annual report Of this bureau, hop
ing then TO be more fully prepared 70 pre-
sent reasons and arguments bearing on the
subject.
The strike OF the shop men in the en-
ploy of the Missouri Pacific railway sys-
lem in Missouri, Kansas, and Texas, COM
mencing Monday, March 8, 1885. was not
an impulsive outbreak oil dissatisfied en-
ployes, bat it was sn action decided upon
alter full deliberation and consideration OF
every point. The grievances OF the en-
ployes were ba.ed upon repested reduc-
ZION of wages and shortening oil time in the
shops of said Missouri Pacific railroad and
leased lines operated by it, bringing the
wages Of the employees below the wages
paid by other lines In This tale and IN
Kansas and Texas.
The feeling of dissatisfaction was in
tensi6ed by the publication OF the financial
statement of the Missouri Pacific Railway
company at the last annual meeting of Its
directory, showing q large earning for the
road, but neglectipg to show the deficiency
In the earnings of its leased and other
lines operated by il; and when, on March
| 9 a notice was posted In the shops that an
other reduction would take place, dating
from March l, the employees determined to
quit
This has been, so far as is known, the
| first strike that has ever been made where
The strikers" we've thoroughly and sys
tema;ically organize, ami the control and
manage ment OF it remained In the hand:
of the organisation. Every movement wa:
directed by the executive committee, and 8
perfect police system maintained under
which the property of the railroad com
pany and private individuals was fully
projected.
AS this strike was novel In its features
and different from all strikes heretofore, 81
was also It's settlement, it Being the frs
time in the history of strikes that a settle
ment was made by arbitration by the OFF
cisI Representatives of to great states.
By this Intervention the employees Sc
cured more than they possibly could have
secured had they attempted to adjust the
difficulties with the officers of the rsilroad'
themselves; and they also secured 8
stronger position in the opinion of the pCb
lie than any strikers have ever secured be
fore, while the railroad officials on the
other hand became convinced that arbitra
ton was better than resistance.
The cheerfulness Of the railroad oficial
in complying with the suggestions made b,
the representatives of Missouri and Kansa
for basis Of adjustment, and especiall,