Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-16
A SANTA FE STRIKE
Continued from First Page. J


probably place the railroad company and
the brotherhood in proper light before
the public, so that the latter may fairly
judge the merits of this latest and most
startling movement.
For several years the Brotherhood Of
Engineers has been recognized and fOS-
tered as legitimate and reputable trade
association by the Santa te Railroad COM
pany. Fully 80 per cent OF the engineers
employed by the read are, and have been
for years, brotherhood engineers. From
time to time the representatives of the
brotherhood have met with the managers
of the railroad company and discussed
grievances, or entered into a friendly con-
sderation of matters looking the improve
of the engineers. 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 the interest
OF the safety of the lives and property of
its patrons. No just request that has ever
been made to the company by the repre-
sentatlves of the brotherhood has ever
been refused, and but very recently, the
very mileage schedule which is the cause
of the quarrel between the brotherhood
and the Chicago Burlington x Quincy
Railroad company was submitted to the
Atchlson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
company and in due and in friendly con-
ference was accented and put in force by the
company. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa
Fe railroad company through its proper
officers, thereupon, about February l en-
tered into a contract with the locomotive
engineers and tiremen upon the Santa te
and Southern Kansas railroad system. 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 fol
lows: That no engineer Or fire
men should be suspended or discharged
upon any charge whatever without first
having an impartial hearing; a board Of
inquiries is established, composed of the
division experiments, division mechanics
and disintere5ted engineers from the Ci-
vision on which the complaint may arise,
who shall investigate the charges OF mis-
conduct, and right of appeal is in all
cases given from the local to the general
offices. Rights OF iremen and engineers
to act as committee on conference are
recognized and leave OF absence granted
for that purpose. Every item in this long
contract, consisting Of twenty-six articles,
the larger part of which looked to the ben
eft of the employees was carefully gone
over at Chicago by the representatives Of
the Brotherhood Of Engineers and the vice
president of the company. In cOnsidera-
tiOn of the concessions aud large benefits
and advantages given and the perfect con-
fidence bestowed by the company upon
this class of its employees, the engineers
and tiremen agreed through their repre-
that they would not fail to
perform their duties under the contract
and agreement without giving the thirty
days notice. On the Sth and 9th days Of
March conferences were held at the request
of representatives of the brotherhood
with the managing officers of the Santa Fe
road at Topeka upon the subject of the
Burlington & Quincy strike, at
which meetings the question of the duty
of connecting roads to haul Chicago, Bur
lington & Quincy freight was discussed, and
finally iesulted in the service of a notice by
the representative OF the brotherhood !
upon this company to the effect that
that after Sunday morning, the 18th, the
engineers and firemen would refuse to haul
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy cars. There
was no notice of q strike or suspension Of |
work: no notice Of any grievance. On the
there was on the part of the rep
reSentativeS of the brotherhood repeated
OF any purpose TO lnJ6re
the Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe railroad
or TO refuse to perform their
duties as engineers. They also admitted
that they had no grievance
against the Santa Re road but that they /
'
and desired to aid them in their fight. The
grievance committee repeatedly stated that
no strike would be ordered; that each man
would act for himself The company as
Sured the grievance committee that they
could not expect that the company would |
act IN violation of the laws Of the United |
States, that it was commonly understood !
and was their belief, that the act of con-
yress required them to haul the freight Of |
al connecting lines when presented with |
Dut discrimination. They would |
ay their notice before the board of !
directors for their consideration, !
pending which it was presumed that no /
action would be taken by the engineers, !
not without the notice provided /
or in their contract.
Since that time in no instance have any
engineer against his wishes been asked to /
laul any train containing Chicago, |
e. Quincy cars. At no time, /
however, has the company put itself be-
Iound the pale of the law or done any |
hing TO visit upon it the penalties and |
1unishmentS for it diSobedience