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


It will be remembered that at 4 O'Clock p
m, on the 18th inst, the engineers and hre
men of the Atchison, Topeka SAINTS
Fe railroad very generally ceased work
In view of the vast importance Of
this line of railway to the com
mercial and industrial interests OF the state
We believed that it was our duty to institute
inquiries concerning the origin or cause OF
this trouble. And with view OF obtaining
authentic information We invited confer
ence with committees repre- sentlng tine
brotherhood of Engineers on Friday after
noon. A committee consisting of Messrs
Hamilton, Cook, Wood and Johnson, met us
by appointment in the governors office, and
q discussion of the situation, continuing until
nearly o'clock, followed. On our part We
endeavored to ascertain whether the engl.
neers and fireman on tbs Santa Fe road had
any cause of complaint or grievance, and
what was the origin of the trouble On the
lines of that company. The discussion re-
suited in statement by the commltte pres
emit, that they had NO authority to end the
strike, and 30 promised to telegraph Mr.
Conroe, chairman OF the grievance commit
tee to come to Topeka and meet Governor
Martin and the board of railroad commits
sioners the next day. The confidence
ended.
Saturday at o'clock Mr.. Conroe came to
the executive Office in company with MIR.
Hamilton, of Topeka, and Mr.. Morton, OF
Texas Mr.. Conroe was asked to state what
the cause of complaint or grievance which
led to the cessation of work, by the engineers
and fire men was. He stated in reply, that
their principal grievance was the handling,
by the company, of a portion of the freight
sent to it and delivered by the Chicago,
Burlington 81 Quincy road; that their object
in striking was to aid the striking engineers
and fremen in their contest with the Chi
cago. Burlington & Quincy company; that
they believe there was combination, among
the railroad companies of the
country, to destroy the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Engineers,
that the newspapers asserted, and they be-
Geved, that the strike was contest for the
the life of the brotherhood that if the Chi
cago, Burlington d. Quincy railroad won
Its con est with the brotherhood similar
contest would be provoked npon some other
line and the same fight would go on; that if
that was won there would be succession of
such contests on the different railroads, one
following the other, and all aiding each
other; that they believed that it was in possi-
BILE for the engineers and fremen, as
individuals, to secure justice for
themselves or to protect their
rights without organization; that
the people generally were compelled to in
yoke the aid of legislation, national and
state, to protect their interests against the
aggressions, extortions and greed of the
railroad corporations; that the railroad en-
gineers and iremen had no other protection
except that which was afforded by their Or
ganization; and that if their organization
was destroyed they would be at the mercy
Of the corporations. AS confirming their
belief that the Santa Fe contemplated an
attempt to aid the Chicago,
Burlington d Quincy movement in crush
ing them they stated that, during a recent
period thirty-seven new engineers and about
forty firemen had been brought to Topeka;
that these men had been unable to obtain
more than six or ten days work in month;
that this fact created good deal of uneasi-
ness among the engineers; that it was be-
lieved that it was the purpose of the COM
pany to hold these engineers and fremen
here with view ultimately, of inducing
them to accept situations on the c., B. &
Q. railroad.
This was one fact.
Another was that they knew that the rela-
lions of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
and the Santa Fe had been in the
past very intimate.
Another war that they believed that great
many of the stockholders of the Santa Fe
were stockholders in the Chicago, Burling-
ton d Quincy, and they hoped, by inaugur-
kting lay-of on the Santa Fe, to compel
the stockholders of the Chicago, Burlington
& Quincy to interfere and put an end to
the contest on that line, in order to protect
their interests on both lines.
I believe that this statement summarizes
briefly, all the complaints made touching
The trouble on the Santa Fe. Both commit
tees distinctly and emphatically stated, that,
IN so far as the wages paid them by the |
Santa Fe, their hours of labor, or their
treatment by that company were concerned,
they had no cause of complaint, and no
grievance of any character whatever. In
other words, the trouble on the Snnta Fe
railroad related entirely to the difficulties
between the @: B. q Q. company and its en-
Santa Fe was solely caused by the desire of |
the men to aid their brothers on the @. B. d |
@. system in their contest with that CON-
pany.
We discussed all these points 1T length, |
with Mr.. Conroe and his associates, and |
many of them were also discussed with the |
committee that met on Friday.
Replying to their statements and argu- |
nents, we endeavored, on our part, to an
'wer, in so far as we possessed any informa- |
lion, the statemeI is and arguments of the |
committee. We sisted to them that our in |
,erest in the controversy was the interest of |
he people of Kansas, whose business, indus |
tries and commerce were 80 largely affected |
oy the strike, and that we were anxious, if |
It was possible,t to ascertain all the facts con-
nected with it, and to print or suggest some |
plan for an adjustment of the differences
and settlement of the strike. We had in |
NEW, as we stated to them, two or three |
plans, but, before presenting any plan, we
wished to ascertain all the facts connected |
with the trouble on the Santa Fe.
Concerning the complaint that the Santa
Fe had been hauling c., B. d Q. freight the |
railroad commissioners, in company with |
Mr.. Conroe and the grievance COMMITTEES. |
proceeded to the Santa Fe general Offices.
and called upon Mr. Goddard to ascertain
the facts.
In presence of Mr.. Conroe, one of the |
members of the board stated that the chief |
cause of grievance, as stated by the commit |
tee, which occasioned the strike, was the |
handling Of @: B. 90. freight by their COM !
pany since objections were made thereto bv |
the strikers representing the Brotherhood Of |
Locomotive engineers. Mr.. Goddard stated |
that SINGS that objection had been made. |
nI 49, -. Ill