Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-17
KEEPING THIR WORD.
The Santa Fe Road Opens the Ball-Ru-
mOrs That 1t Will Be Followed To-Day
by the Union Pacific, Missouri Pacific
and Others.

KANSAS CITY, March 15.-Engineers and
tiremen on the vast system OF the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe Company went out on
a strike at O'Clock this afternoon. The
strike created intense excitement and sur
prise for the reason that the road has not
been handling Burlington freight. That the
strike was ordered by some one in authori-
ty there is no doubt but in this city the
men profess ignorance OF the issuing OF any
such orders and say they have quit because
they are "tired." The first Indication OF
trouble here was at half-past four O'Clock
this afternoon when the Usage
City express was scheduled to depart.
Conductor Murray gave the order to start
when Engineer Higgins quietly stepped from
the cab and refused to pull out. At the
same time that Higgins left his engine at
the Union depot, forty-three men employed
in the Santa Fe freight yards, at Argentine,
quit work, all declaring themselves tired"
Nothing positive can be said as to the
origin or cause of the strike. The men had
d grievance month ago and had confer
ence with the officials and were granted all
they asked for. Resolutions adopted at
the grievance committee meeting at Topeka
some days ago threatened a strike if the
company accepted any Burlington freight,
but it has been understood that the Santa
Fe was not handling any boycotted bust
ness whatever.
Have Got Along Together.
TOPEKA, March 15.-Thls afternoon J. F.
Goddard, General Manager of the Atchison.
Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, received the
following telegram:
j. +. GoDDARD: The engineers and fire.
men OF the Santa Fe system quit at this
afternoon.
TSigned7 T. CoNRoE.
10 which Mr.. Goddard transmitted this
reply:
TOPEKA Kas., March 15.-T. CoNRoE,
Chairman Grievance Committee, A.. T. & S.
F. R. R., Kansas 'ity: At $50 this after
noon | received your telegram notifying me
that the engineers and firemeM, whom you
represent, would quit at o'clock to-day
AS we have faithfully kept every written
and verbal agreement made with your or
ganization, your action is surprise, and |
would be glad to know on what it is taken;
also do you intend that it shall cover pas
senger train service as well as freight.
lSigned] j. F. GODDARD.
A PLAIN STATEMENT.
The Associated Pres agent has learned
the facts concerning the reia ationship of the
Brotherhood OF Engineers to the A. T. &
S. F. Company, and a brief statement of
the facts concerning the relationship with
out comment will probably place the rail-
road company and Brotherhood in a
proper light before the public. For several
years the Brotherhood OF Engineers has
been recognized and fostered as Il ltgiti
mate and reputable trade association by
the Santa Fe Railroad Company. Fully
80 per cent. Of the engineers employed by
the company have been for years Brother
hood ngineers. From time to time the
Of the Brotherhood have
met with the managers OF the railroad and
discussed grievances OrenterCd into friendly
consideration OF matters looking to i'm
prOyement OF condition and remunera ton.
The company has done this in pursuance
of a policy which it believed it was its
duty to the public to pursue, viz: To have
stability and experience in its motive
power department in tie interest Of the
50 fety and OF the life and property of its
patrons. No just request which had ever
been made to the COMPANY by representa-
ClNCo VI tlit DIoCuCl uoOu lldo
EVER BEEN REFUSED
and but recently the very mileage schedule
which is the cause OF quarrel between the
Brotherhood and the c., B. & Q. was sub
United to the A., 7. & S. F. Railroad Com
pany, and in friendly conference was ac-
cepted and put into force by the company.
The A, T. q S. F. r. R. Co., through its
Nff1 h,r oI,@ ,l>
entered into contract with the loco.
motive engineers and tiremen upon the
Santa Fe and Southern Kansas systems.
By this contract large benefits and advan-
tages were given to this class OF employees. |
The very first provision of this written |
contract is in substance as follows: That |
10 engineer or fireman should be suspend |
I'd or discharged upon any charge whatever |
without first having fair and impartial !
rearing. A board of inquiry is established !
composed OF division uperlntendents, divi- |
ion master mechanics and disinterested |
engineers from the division from which the |
complaint may arise, who shall investigate |
charges OF misconduct and the |
RIGHT OF APPEAL
S in all cases given from tine local to the |
general officers. The rights OF fremen and |
'hSlHeVlS W ttIV do IL COLhllllltee Oh Ioh-
erence are recognized and leave Of absence |
granted for that purpose. Every item in |
his long contract consisting of twenty-six |
articles, the larger part Of which is looked |
20 benefit the employees, vas carefully gone
over at Chicago by representatives OF the
OF Engineers and the Vice
President OF the company. In considera-
ion of the concessions made and the large |
benefits and advantages given, and the
perfect confidence bestowed by the COM
)any upon this class of it's employees, the
engineers and fremen agreed through their
representatives that they would not fail to |
perform their duties.
To Strike To-Day.
KANSAS CITY, March 15.-Rumors are cir
n,lo tod 70 ninht that q strike will henin on