Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-03-31

!, hspdie their freight7
70 this, Conroe replied that he d1d no
know of q single instance where sue
freight had been hauled by the Santa II
company.
During the conversation with Mr.. God
dard the whole question of handling the
b. d q. freight was discussed. he stated a
. the committee that he had abstained from
hauling @. B. & Q. freight for the purpos
OF avoiding any occasion of oHense to tn
hope and expectation that ltha diff
cuitles upon the c., B. q @. system woult
soon cease, and that the obstacle to tn!
movement Of that freight would be cleared
away; but that it would be impossible fol
the company to maintain long that state OF
things; that the company was already threat
ened by tie c., B. d @. company with Law
suits; tnat peremptory demands were being
made upon their company for tho move
ment OF freight, and that the company were
expe citing to be served with the wrlts q
United States courts compelling them to
perform this duty.
During the discussions in thel executive
Office the question of handling c., b. d q.
freight was also brought up, and elected
from Mr.. Conroe q statement that, person
any, To know OF no freight from the T., b.
Santa Fe, although he had heard that in
some instances c., B. d G. freight had been
handed.
Relative to the statement made by Mr..
Conros on behalf of the Brotherhood Of Lo-
connective Engineers, that the railroads were
combining to destroy that organ.
ization, Governor Martin replied:
you ought to be certain of your facts. Ger
tainly, nothing ought to be done on sur
misses or suspicion. Now, what are the pub
lished and well understood facts concerning
the relations of your organization with
the railroad companies of the country? /
understand you have within forty days past,
| entered into contract or agreement with
the Santa Fe railroad, that company treat
ing directly with your Brotherhood through
Its officers and grievance committee, and
| formulated complete agreement covering
the rights of pay, hours of service, discipline,
conditions of trial and discharge, and that
| you have similar written contract or 6gree-
nent with the Missouri Pacific, with the
Chicago, Rock Islond IL Pacific, with the
Union Pacific, and with the Fort Scott d
Gulf railroads. These include nearly all
the lines that operate in Kansas. I under
| stand that you have similar agreements with
very large number, if not nearly all, Of
the important railroads of the country.
Many of these written agreements, or con-
tracts, have been made within the past year.
Now, if the railroad companies were COM
bining to make war upon your Brother
hood, for the purpose of destroying it, would
they not have refused to have en-
tered into such contracts? The prejudice
| against railroad company for violating
| contract is much more severe and bitter
than against any other violator of an agree
ment. I put also, as against your surmise,
Or theory, certain facts within my personal
knowledge. In the course of general and
rambling conversation with several promi-
nent railroad officials of Kansas, within the
past year and half, they have explicitly
stated to me that they regarded the organi-
cation known as the Brotherhood of Loco
way service OF the company. 1 recall con-
versation, had at the Copeland hotel in
this city, some five or six months ago,
with MIR. G. w. Smith, first vice
president of the Santa Fe railroad, in
which he emphatically expressed such senti-
ments touching your brotherhood. I recall
a similar conversation, not pore than year
superintendent of the Fort Scott & Gulf
railroad i'll which he expressed similar ideas
concerning your Brotherhood. Both of these
gentlemen were emphatic in saying that
the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers had elevated the standard of
morality, and improved the discipline of
railroad engineers, and was of substantial
Judge Humphrey here said that he had
been brought in contact with the different
managers OF railroads operating in
Kansas and bad heard, at times, the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Engineers spoken of
by some of these officers, but had never
heard one of them speak disparagingly of
the order, but had heard those who spoke of
okk
General Manager Ho1ie, of tho Missouri
Pacific railroad. Only few days ago Mr..
j. F. Goddard. general manager of the
Santa Fe railroad called at the Office of
the railroad commissioners to
discuss certain questions pending before the
board, having relation to other matters,
and, in the course of general CONVERSE
zion, said: II do NOS wish to see the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Engineers destroyed,
nor its efficiency impaired. have noticed
with pleasure its value in our service, es-
pecially in New Mexico, where society is
somewhat chaotic" Judge Humphrey fur
Their said: "From all the information have
been able to gather am perfectly satisfied
that your suspicion that there is combined
ization is entirely unfoundsd."
Discussing the suggested idea that the con
test on the c., B. d Q. railroad would be fol-
lowed by similar contests inaugerated by
the railroad companies on other railroads.
Governor Martin replied: sit seems to me
that your suspicion is not q reasonable one
If the Santa Fe had purposed engaging in
the contest with your Brotherhood, it would
have been guilty of an act of unspsakable
folly to have made contract with you,
which it could be accused of violating. IF it
had entertained any idea of antagonizing
the Brotherhood, or of disoharging engi-
neers belonging to it, it seems to me that
instead of entering into contract with your
order, it would have inaugurated the contest
before it had commenced on the G. B. & Q. |
system. Before the strike began on the G. |
B. d Q. system, there were undoubtedly |
several hundred, if not several thousand |
railroad engineers out of employment, or |
hunting for jobs. If the Santa Fe had en-
tered into contest with your Brotherhooda |
month ago these unemployed men would |
have focked to ito service. They are nov in |
the service of the G. B. & @. company and |
PROBABLY will not entertain any idea of |
their service. Up to the present ]