Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-03-13
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR STRIKE.
The Knights of Labor Strike Oh the Texas
Pacific Road Spreads all Over the Gould
Southwestern System.

The knights of Labor Strike Oh the Texas
Pacific Road Spreads all Over the Gould
Southwestern System.
SEDALIA, Mo-, March 5. 7O0employes of the
Missouri Pacific Railway company at this
place have struck. This statement has
caused great alarm. as it is supposed to be
the inaugural step of the great strike on the
Gould system contemplated by the Knights
of Labor.
At 10 o'clock this morning an order was
issued by the executive board of the Knights
of Labor, district assembly 101, in session at
Marshall, Texas, ordering strike of the
machine shop men employed on the Gould
Southwestern system of railroads.
In compliance with the order the men
struck at Sedalia, De Soto, and st. Louis and
it is expected that like action will follow
at various other points. 700 men quit work
at the Sedalia shops; $40 at De Soto, and be
tween 200 and 300 at the shops in st. Louis
The running force of the Gould system
including shop men, track men and train
men, is 1900. Of these 5000 are claimed
to be Knights of Labor, but up to this after
noon only those employed in the machine
shops have struck. 1t ia estimated that at
1t is thought probable that if the mana
gers do not accede promptly to the demands
of the strikers that all the remaining Knights
on the system will be ordered out. The cause
of the strike has been very difficult to get at,
but the following statement is as cOmpre-
hensive and perhaps as accurate as has yet
been made.
On the 18th of last month, the district as
sembly No. 1O1, of the Knights of Labor, held
general business convention at Marshall,
Texas. Among the delegates to that meet
ing was Mr.. G. A. Hall, foreman of the wood
workers of the Texas Pacific car shops at
Marshall. He had secured, it is alleged, a
leave of absence for the purpose of attend
ing the convention from his immediate su-
perior, Mr.. j. A. Casby, the master car
builder.
He returned and worked one day. That
evening he received a note from Mr.. Casby,
stating that his services were no longer re-
quired, and it is said assigning as the cause
that he had been absent from his business
without leave.
The local grievance committee of the
Knights st once considered the matter, and
his reinstatement was demanded and either
refused or neglected. A strike was then Or
dered by this local committee, and upon the
failure of the men to obey the order meet
ing of the executive board of the Knights
was called.
The executive board ratified the action of
the local committee, and issued general
order upon which the men quit work at Fort
Worth, Marshall and Dallas.
This action of the executive board, it is
claimed, was not so much in the interest of
the one man Hall as a strike for the princi-
pie involved. One year ago there was an
agreement made between the Knights and
the managers of the system that no man
should be discharged without due notice and
investigation.
This contract, the Knights contend, has
been violated in the instance of Halls dis
charge. The Texas Pacific railway is one of
the five roadsin the states of Missouri, Kan
sas, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana which
comprise the southwestern Gould system.
The Knights of Labor employed ON these
five roads are under the immediate direction
of district assembly 101. The local strike
in Texas failed of the desired result.
The executive board of the Knights of
Labor of this southwestern system has been
in session at Marshall, and in communica-
ton with Receiver Brown and other officers
of the Texas & Pacific railroad, since March
first. When the first lot of men walked out
the board asked for an adjustment of the
trouble by the reinstatement of Hall and
some others who were subsequently dis
charged. With this request the board gave
notice that refusal to comply would be
followed by q strike on the Gould system.
The railroad company failed TODD asdesired,
and to day the executive board gave the word
for q general strike Of shop men.
LATE HxHL10KNCB.
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