The record-union., 1892-10-18
LABOR TROUBLES.
STRIKE OF TELEGRAPHERS ON
TIE SANTA FE.
Nine Hundred Men Quit Work In Re.
sponse TO a Supposed Order
From Chief Ramsey.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIox.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
TOPEKA (Kas.) Oct. 1.-THE tele-
graphers on the Santa Fe system, to the
number of 900, struck this morning in
response to an order from Chief Ramsey
Of the Order of Railway Telegraphers.
The source Of trouble is the Gulf, Colo
RADIO and Santa Fe, which is operated by
the Santa Fe. The operators of the Texas
line, to the number of several hundred,
had schedule for increased wages be-
fore the officials, but it was not allowed.
The Santa Fe operators struck in SYM
pathy with the Texas operators. No trains
are moving in Texas. The train dis
patchers on the Santa Fe proper are tax
ing the stock trains in transit to division
points, when they will leave their keys
also.
General Manager Robinson of the Santa
Fe road says: ''The strike occurred
under misapprehension. Grand Chief
Ramsey did not order our men out.
l have traced the matter down, and find
the order for the strike came from Dodge,
and that an operator by the name of
Johnson wrote it and signed Ramsev's
name to it. He only intended it as a joke,
and when the men learn this they will re-
turn to work."
The men here do not credit Robinson's
statement. The Santa F'e officials also
contend the order for q strike ON the
Gulf, Colorado and Santa re was not
made by Ramsey, but by his assistant,
Tobey, who claims authority to sign
Ramsey's name.
RESULT OF A HOAX.
TOPEKA (Kas.) Oct 1.-THE great strike
of telegraphers on the Santa Fe system
was all the result of hoax. The oper-
ators were informed by Chief Ramsay to-
night that the order directing them TO
strike was forgery. and instructing them
to return at once to their positions. The
operators Immediately returned to their
KEYS, and the work of Strengthening out
the tangle caused by the strike was began.
Operator Baker, after reading the accounts
OF the strike on the Gulf, Colorado and
Santa Fe divisions of the Santa fe sys-
tenn, thought he would play joke upon
the manager of his Office, and wrote out
message ordering strike, and signed
Chief RamSay's name thereto, and laid it
on the managers desk. Manager Sweet,
after reading it, Immediately repeated the
message to the next station, and within
fifty minutes it was received by very
operator on the system, and fifteen min
utes later everyone struck.
Baker doubtless is the only man who
got all the fun out of the joke, for it was
a most serious business for the Santa Fe
road. 1t was not until o'clock this
evening that Chief Ramsay was put in
possession of the facts, and he immedi-
ately ordered the men back 10 work.
During the day the entire system from
Chicago to the Pacific Coast. and from
Kansas CITY to Galveston, was practically
tied up, over two thousand operators be-
Ing IDLE. The only man who remained at
his post was the operator at Barclay.
Kansas, who says he knew the order was
hoax. The loss to the company is very
great, while the only benefit to the oper-
ators is in showing the perfect manner in
which they are organized. Joker Baker
was discharged.
THE RIO GRANDE STRIKE,
DENVER Coli, Oct. I7.-There is no
material change in the Rio Grande strike.
Trains are sent out from here but go only
to Pueblo and Canyon City. No trains
are yet crossing Marshall Pass or run
ming on either of the lines between Sa-
Ida and Grand Junction. All the BUSH
ness for Aiamosa and Santa Fe go from
Pueblo via Las Vegas Pass. The passen-
ger business from California is trans
ferred to the Colorado Midland at Grand
Junction.
Business on the second and third divis-
ions is about at a standstill, and the
effects of the strike are felt all along the
line. The men on the first and fourth
divisions are still at work, and it is
learned that the conductors and engineers
on these divisions will not strike unless
forced to do so by their superior officers.
Chairman Vickroy, of the Order
OF Railway Telegraphers. said to-day
that unless q settlement of the train
mems strike is made the telegraphers on
the Rio Grande would all come out,
The strikers are peaceable, and no dis
turbance has occurred.
A STRIKE DENIED.
NEW YORK, Oct. H.-President Marvel
of the Atchison says there is no truth in
the report that the Atchison telegraph
operators have gone on a strike.