The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-03-20
THE STRIKE IS ON
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa
Fee Road Deserted.

4 IlS AlCillSOils lOICkd ctiiNA Oc'I'to
Fee Road Deserted. :.
CHICAGO, March 1J.-Thirty-two hundred
! miles Of railway were tied up this afternoon in
exactly ton minutes by the brotherhood Of
| Locomotive Engineers and firemen. Tie
entire main line Of the Atchi5on, Topeka and
Santa Fo company, and ali its bran hes, were
| brought to 2 standstill. The stretch OF terri
tory from ST. Paul on the north to FL Pa5o on
the south-practically the whole breadth of the
United States--is now inyoled in the struggle
that started between the Burlington company
and its employees.
The tired" feeling that SO suddenly attacked
the engincmen in the far west today seems to
have infused also their chiefs in Chicago.
Lights were ont at their rooms in the hotel at
q startling early hour, and each Of the prinei-
pal executive officers Of the army Of 10000 men
was apparently dccpin peaceful slumbor. Re.
peated knockings by newspaper men, bearing
bundles of kilograms telling Of the battles
spread, were without avail. IL was ut II p. m,
when an almost furious pounding at the door
of Chief Sargent brought that gentleman forth
clad in his night robes and sleeplly rubbing
his eyes. Mr.. Sargent was innocent rs a babe
Of all kuolcdge that there was to be or had
been another strike.
A meeting of delegates from the engineers
and iremcn Of every road entering Chicago
were in session once more today and viii be
again tomorrow. Today they voted east and
west, unanimously to uphold the Burlington
men. No uniform plan Of action was detcr-
mined upon, that being deferred until TO-
morrow
TIE MEN ARE "rInEp."
KANSAS CRY, March Engineers and
fremen on the vast system oil the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa ZEE Railroad company went
on a strike at 4 O'Clock this afternoon. The
strike created iutense excitement and surprise
in this city for the reason that tie road has not
been handling burlington freight. That the
strike was ordered by some one in authority,
there is no doubt, but IN this city tue men pro-
fess to be in utter ignorance Of the issuing Of
any such orders and say that they have quit
because they are tired"
The first indication Of trouble here was al
4 80 o'clock this afternoon, at which hour the
Usage City express was scheduled TO depart
Conductor Murray gave the order to start,
when Engineer Higgins quickly stepped down
from his cngideers cab and refused to pull out.
The train was finally sent out an hour later with
Engineer Furst Mt the throttle. Mr.. Furst is
q regular Santa Fe engineer, but he has a
grievance against the brotherhood, and as he
mounted the engine, he remarked:
"Thc brotherhood gave me the worst OF it
once, and now | am going to get even"
At the same time that Higgins left his en-
CINE at the union depot, forty men employed
work, all declaring themselves tired"
Nothing positive can he said as to the origin
or cause of the strike The men had a griev-
ance a month ago, and at that time had a con
ference with officials, and they were granted
all thew asked for. Resolutions adOptcd at the
grievance committee meeting at Topeka some
days ago threatened strike if the company
accepted any Burlington freight, but it has
been understood that the Santa Fe was not
handling any of the boycottcd business what
20
lied to speak for the strikers Chairman Con-
roe, of the grievance committee, having left
last night
Rumors are persistcntly circulated here late
tonight that n strike will begin on the Kansas
City, Fort Scott and Gult system, at 10 p IL.
tomorrow, and on the Missouri Pacific at ! p.
IN. tomorrow. Engineers g.. both roads dis
claim any knowledge Of any such plan, but
tho sn':ei and surprising turn of affairs ON
the Santa Fe this evening strengthens the be-
lief in the reports. The journal had private
advices tonight from Pleasant Hill in this
state, to the effect that Missouri Pacific
engineer was heard to say that there would be
n strike on that road tomorrow.
At 800 p. IN. today the general manager Of
the Santa Fe system received at Topeka,
Kas an official notice from tho chairman
Of the grievance committee of the road stat
ing that the engineerers and tiremen would
stop work ut p. M When ten minutes
ELAPSED tho strike had taken place. ID ocI
cured on what is called the main line Of the
Santa Fe which extends from Kansas City to
El Taso, including all branches, such as the
line to Denver, but not trunk lines further east
than those controlled by the company In
giving the notice no grievances of any charac-
ter whatever were mentioned. This was, for
the moment ut least, apparently imoXplicable.
for the agreement recently entered into by the
| company and men provides that thirty days
| notice shall be given whenever a conference is
| requested and before the mon have the right
| to withdraw from the service of the company.
About 800 mon, including engineers aud fire
men, quit work. Their stoppage virtually
brought to stand-stillprobably not less than
| 10000 pcrsonsl
The agent has been at pains to Learn .he
! facts concerning the relationship of the broth
| crhood engineers to the Atchison. Topeka and
| Santa Fee company, and n brief dispaSsionate
| statement of the facts concerning the relation
! ship without commentary, viii probably place
| the railroad company and the brotherhood In a
proper light before the public, SO that the lat
| ter may fairly judge OF the merits Of this latest
| and most startling movement. For several
| years the brotherhood OF Engineers has been
| recognized and fuStCrod as a legitimate and
reputable trade association by the Santa Fo
| railroad company. and fully ninety per cent Of
| the engineers employed by the company are,
| and have been for years, brotherhood engiu-
! GERS, From time to time representatives Of
! the brotherhood have met with tho managers
of the railroad company and discussed griev-
| anceS or entered into n friendly Gonsid-
Grafton of matters looking To improvements
OF the condition and remuneration Of engi-
nvcrs. Tho company has done this purely in
| pursuance of u Iolicy which it is believed 4
/ duty to the public 10 pursue, VIZ: to have sta-
! billy and experience in its motive power de-
! parmcnt in the interest of the safety cl hre
and the property of its patrons. no Just re-
| quest which had ever been made IN the com
pauy by representatives OF the brotherhood
HAD ever been refused, and hat very recently
Che nil,a"c schedule, which is the cause OF
the vu3nci between the brotherhood and a.,
Chicago. Burlington and Quincy. was sub
mitted 10 the Abhisen. Topeka and Santa +,
! railroad company, and in a friendly conference
was accepted ana PUT IN force by the company
The AtchiSon, Topeka end Santa re railroad
through its proper officers, tAreupon, about
| February l. entered into contract with IN,
! locomotive engineers ana irenrH upon tht
/ Santa he and Southern Kansas rai'road sys.
tenn. by this contac. &c benefits and all
> Naai2G,s were given 90 this class OF employees,
The very first Pre-, ision cf ,his written con
( tract is, in substance, rs follows,
! That no engineer or irCmcu should hc SuS-
/ pended or discharg, Il upon any charge what
/ ever, without tirs, having a far and impartial
hearing \ board oi inquiry IS established
Z composed OF division SupeUintoudout>, the d.
r vision rlAuagNr. master mechanic and 1i\iS