Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-12-10
THE ROCK ISLAND.
photographers Decide on Striking
For Recognition.
Tn, Operators Put or For u Long Time
Rnd individuals said to Have D0en
Dr0wbeaten By Of
ilclnls.

CHICAGO, Dec. s. The telegraph oper-
ntors ON the Rock Island road Will be
called out this morning Mt every ONCE
from Chicago 10 the remotest point OF
the compapy's line.
This decision was reached mt meet
ing OF the committee representing the
men held ut the Palmer house last
night, and the decision was ratified by
Grand Chief d. &. Ramsey, who was
summoned, in view of the critical stage
which affairs had assumed.
The number OF operators employed on
the road is G75: every one OF them be-
longs to the Order of Railway Tele'
graphers, and every one OF them Will 90
the bidding of the chief. 1t Is possible,
too, that conflict may arise between
the operators and their employers on
other lines, though the Order OF Rail-
way Telegraphers declares its intention
to prevent any such occurrence.
In fact. the members OF the commit
tee positively assert that they have
done all in their power to avoid the
strike on the Rock Island, and have
been compelled TO call 1t because OF the
notion of the officials of the company.
Notwithstanding this decision for
peace, the operators, by rule OF their
association, will be compelled to refuse
to do any work to help in the move
ment of the Rock Island trains, and IN
this way it is possible the strike may
spread.
So far as the company is concerned
its officials declare that they can get u
carload of operators from the Burling-
ton, Cedar Rapids 4 Northern company
and that this carload will arrive to-day.
The members OF the order say 1t is .
bluff.
What the demands or concessions are
will be best explained in Mr.. Ramsey's
words He bases his statement upon
facts supplied him by the committee:
"The operators on the Rock Island
wish to be placed in the same position
rs those on other prominent lines. The
leading men among them began gather
ing information as to the pay their
fellows were receiving, and eventually
nppointcd a committee to draft rules to
be submitted to the company for con-
sideration. Meantime, the subordinate
officials. and as l am informed, Mr.
Allen. went over the road browbeating
and intimidating the men. and inform
ing all who showed themselves in favor
of the step being taken that they would
be dismissed.
..Some men were actually dismissed
because they were members OF the v.
RI. Therefore the committee called
in my aid for the purpose OF trying to
bring about an adjustment OF the mat
ter.
1.-The committee called on General
Manager st. John last week and from
time to time the members were put on
on some pretense or other. They were
told they would have an audience in the
early part OF this week with Mr. Swift,
who was out on the road and who. am
given to understand, was pursuing his
work OF intimidation.
Yesterday, when the members OF
the committee called on Mr.. St John,
they were asked if they had list signed
by ma iority of the opera tors express
ing desire for the recognition OF the
organization. The members replied
that they would not supply the list,
that the request was altogether un-
nreccdented Then Mr.. st. John said
he would not treat with them, nor
would he treat with ne. He would not
recognize the order. So the committee
has met and decided to order strike.
l approve Of this action. The order is
strong and has the support of all fair
minded men"