The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-19
Strong Probability That There Will
Be Strike of Its
Trainmen.
A Struggle to Test the Relative
Strength OF Companies
and Men.
Tho Strike OF shopmen Along the Union
Pacific In statu Quo-Not Gain
ing Strength.

TOPEKA. Kan., April 1%-A sensation OF
| considerable magnitude was created this
| afternoon when il was noised about that q
general strike of all trainmsn of the Santa
Fe system would occur Tomorrow. II has
been discovered that joint committee ap-
pointed by the five organizations OF train
men this afternoon called upon John
Player, superintendent OF machinery, and
requested him to inform them whether it is
true that the company decided to annul Hs
aoon as possible all contracts with the or
Ranizatlons they represented aud make no
new ones. intimatinR, IL q satisfactory M
swer was not given. that the men would
strike. Player said hs would surely respect
all contracts in force with all trainmen'a
organizations. Whethcr'th the men consider
the answer satisfactory it is difficult to tell,
as they are very retioent on the subject.
hand 1t appears that the strike will proba-
bly, not take place tomorrow. but the diff
GUILTY is by no means settled.
In speaking of the probable strike ON the
Santa Fe road q RAILROAD man to-day made
the following significant statement: "The
strike inauQurated here O week ago was the
beginning of the trouble which is to test
the relative strength of the railroads and
organized labor all over the country. 1t 10
now the understanding among the men
| that the real reason their contract was not
signed by the Santa Fe was on account or
| the agreement recently entered into by the
general managers and presidents of the as
| socistion of all the railroads in the country
to sign no more contracts with organized
labor. as they said, for their own protection.
This agreement was entered into bv all the
roads in the United States at meeting held
in Chicago about the time President Man
vel died, and we reach our conclusions
| about the action taken at the meeting from
| an article written Immediately after by
President j. g. Clark. of the Mobile d
Ohio.
This letter was published in the Rail
wav Age, and the writer proved from his
standpoint that the railroads must com
bine to defeat the organization OF labor. or,
as he said, to meet organized labor. Many
roads, including the Santa Fe, have CON
tracts with other organizations than ours.
and 1T is the understanding of the men
that these contracts are to be annulled al
the earliest possible moment
General Manager Frey was seen, but re-.
fused either to deny or affirm the correct
ness of the strikers opinion. He said: II am
not member of the general man agers' as
soclation, and have never attended any of
their meetings, 60 l don't know anything
about the matter.''
KANSAS C1TY, April 18.-A Topeka special
to the journal says committee of Santa
strikers from Argentine received emphatic
assurance from Gov Llewellyn that in case
he should be called upon to furnish troops
to protect railway property he will abso-
lutely refuse to do go. II is said also that
he promised the strikers If they were in
need of aid he would send Adjutant Cen
eral ORTIZ to Argentine with instructions ia
insure the strikers proper protection.