Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-04-15
SANTA FE STRIKE.
An Unpected Walk Out OF Machinists All
Along the System-The Points mt Issue.


chanics in the employ of the entire At
Gibson, Topeka & Santa Fe system,
including its leased lines, struck Mt I
o'clock this afternoon on precon-
certed signal.
Messages to headquarters here report
the strike general from Chicago to CAL
ifornia and to Galveston.
In this city LOO men went out on
the signal. These included the boiler
makers and all the other employees OF
the great shops
1t is said that the firemen and other
employees will strike later.
The strikers here include the ma
chinists, boiler makers, blacksmiths
and their helpers employed in the shops
of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
road at this place. Acting with their
fellow workmen in the same depart
ments along the line of the entire sys-
TEN they are on strike for better
wages and other demands.
The demands Of the men are that the
pay shall be increased 25 cents day
and that inexperienced men who get
less than regular rates shall not be re-
quired to do the work of skilled men.
The men also ask that when the COM
pany deems it necessary to reduce ex-
penses gangs of men be not discharged
or laid off, but that the hours be re-
duced.
The pay of machinists, boilermakers
and blacksmiths is now $3.50 per day
and of helpers 81. so, and the demand is
that it be increased to S27j and s1.T5
respectively.
The demands were presented to the
management in writing and by it re-
jected. The last meeting of the Topeka
men was held on Thursday, when the
resolution to strike was agreed to.
LATER STATEMENTS.
TOPEKA, Kan, April 1O.-Thcre were
no developments in the strike of loco
motive shop men of the Santa Fe Rail-
road Co. yesterday and the seriousness
of it cannot even be approximated. The
strikers are 10th to give out the partic-
ulars of their grievances, and those OF
them who know the exact terms OF the
proposition submitted by the grievance
committee to the railroad company adj
NIT that there is little if any differences
so far as wages are concerned. While
the men are now receiving as good
wages rs are paid by any road running
north or west out of Chicago, the prop.
osition submitted to the grievance com.
mittee by the company provides for the
increase which was demanded origin
ally. So it is not a money difference
that prevents settlement of the con.
troversy.
The real point Mt issue is whether
the company shall enter into written
contract with the three unions con-
trolling the mechanics in the locomo-
tive shops or continue to deal with the
men as individuals. as it has been do
ing. No distinction has been made be-
tween union and non-union men, and,
while the union does not ut this time
demand the employment of union men
exclusively, the company officials feel
that their demands are :. step in that
direction.
SO far no excitement has been mani
tested and each side treats the other
with marked consideration when dis.
cussing the situation. The shop and
yards are deserted. The strikers have
studiously avoided them. and even
should they show an inclination to
loiter on the companys property they
would not be permitted to do so, as q
force of watchmen has been on duty.
The fact that the strike was on was
widely advertised and as result n large
number of applications for positions
were received from men DESTROYS of fill
ing the strikers places. None of these
have been acted upon and will not be
for some time mt least, because the Off
Gals realize that to employ new men
under the circumstances would create
i'll feeling and this they are anxious tc
avoid. The company's representatives
are free to admit that they prefer to
have the old men return.
In strike of this kind the company
has n decided advantage over the men,
for the reason that the business of the
road can proceed for some little time
with little interruption with compar-
atively small force of shop hands Very
few mechanics are required to keep UP
with the daily repairs on the locomo'
motives, but of course large force is
necessary to do general overhauling.
The officers are confident that they will
have an ample force to proceed with
the daily repairwork until settlement
is reached. The strikers are equally
confident that they will not.
Notwithstanding the entire absence
of ill-fceling that is visible there is an
expressed determination on both sides
not to yield from the respective stands
they have taken. The strikers, ut
meeting held yesterday, decided to dc
all that was possible to induce the ap.
prentices TO go out with them. Should
u, chic n xxyou11 nn6Ou bt.