The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-09

TOPEKA, Kan. April s.-Eleven huadred
machinists, boiler makers, b.acksmths
and their helpers, employed in he shops
Of The Atchison, Topeka and S'nta Fe
road at this place, quit work at / O'Clock
to-day, and, acting with their fellow work
men in the same departments along the
line of the entire system, are on strike
| for better wages. 1t is reported by the
strikers that the firemen and brakemen
are also out, but at this writing this lacks
confirmation. The demands OF the men
are that their pay be increased - cents 4
| day: that inexperienced men, who get less
than than the regular rates shall not be
! required to do the work of skilled men,
and that when the COMPANY deems it
necessary to reduce expenses that gangs of
men he not discharged or laid off, but that
the number of hours be reduced. The
pay of machnists, boiler-makers and
blacksmiths is now s.. 80 per day and
helpers S1.50 A demand is made for An
| increase to S2.15 and Sl.75, respectively.
The demands have been presented to the
management in writing. and by it elected.
The last meeting of the Topeka men was
held on Thursday, when Il resolution to
strike was agreed to. Since then they have
been working as usual until 12 o'clock to-
day, when they suspended at the usual
hour for dinner.
At o'cl ok today. the management not
having acceded to their demands, they
quietly took their lunch baskets and quir.
They will hold a secret meeting this even
ing: but the men say that not hing will
come of it. except to appoint local com
mittees to take charge of affairs, unless
the management has a communication to
submit. The strike came without warn
ing in Topeka except to the management
nf Z ha na6 Not Int of la., l-oI
advance of the hour set to knock off
work, and when the news spread to the
business part of the city it was not
credited, until the men themselves ap-
peared on the streets and confirmed it.
The strike has been brewing several
weeks. The demands of the men have
been the subject of numerous meetings of
the grievance committee and much CORES
pondence with the management. Finally,
on Tuesday, the ultimatum of the men
was placed in writing aud copies of 1t pre-
sented to General Superintendent Nicker-
son and superintendent of Machinery
John Player In this the management
was notified that unless the company
signed the proposed schedule of wages by
noon today the men would quit. No at
tenton to this notice was paid by the Of
ficers. After the strike was ordered the
men learned that Mr. Nickerson and Gen
eral Manager Frey had quietly taken
special train last night for Fort Madison,
la. The men had been led to believe until
the very hour they quit that the manage
ment would sign the new schedule, and
when they were ordered by their commit
tee chairman not to resume work at |
o'clock the order was unexpected, but the
men made no protest.
Traius were running as usual this after
noon. and were manned by their regular
firemen and brskemcn.
f,,,a of = ba 81,
a surprise to both sides, as the railway
officials had considered the mems threats
as bluffs and the men had up to the last
hour felt confident that their demands
would he acceded to. At the offices of the
Santa Fe this afternoon no one could be
found who could or would talk authorita-
lively on the situation. Mr.. Frey and other
high officials being out of the city. Superin-
tendent of Machinery john Player,
however, claimed that the men in the
other departments affected by the strike
were not in sympathy with the movement.
Mr.. Player said:
1--WE pay our men better wages than any
other road, and have recently raised their
wages in order that our system might be /.
superior to all others. The men have no
The strikers make broad !
statements, that unless their demands are I
acceded to the mel. all along the lire will /
go out in sympathy aud tie up the whole /
system
The trainmea held a meeting tonight, /
but, as anticipated today, nothing OF i'm /
portance was done. An adjournm menC was /
taken until Sunday afternoon, when, it is |
stated, they will take definite steps.
The men in the Santa Fe shops at +
Ottawa, Kan, went out tonight, aud IL IS .
rumored that others will soon follow suit. /
La JUNTA, Col. April S.-AIl Of the (
machiuists. blacksmiths aud boiler-nakers 4
employed by the AtchiSon. Topeka and /
Santa Fe at this point, numo oeriDg about /
fifty men, went out at noon today. Al! !
concerned are reticent, but 1t is under |
stood that the strike is general along the !
line III these departments. Trains are all /
running on time.
ALBUQUEBBUE, y. NJ, April st is /
rum ored that tie machinIsts, mechanics /
and boiler makers OF the Atlantic and Pa
citic railway have been dissatisfied for
some TINE. and are likely to strike at any
hour. The officials OF the road, however,
discredit the report.
DENAEG, April S-Private advices iust
received here from Albuquerque, y. NJ.
axe to the effect that all the mechanics IN
the employ of the Santa Fe aud the At
laulic aud Pacific at that place went out 4
on strike this morning. Inls i point
OF considerable Importance, as II IS the
junction of the two roads named.
Fort MADISON, April s.-OAe hundred +
aud twenty employees Of the Santa fe
boiler, machine aud blacksmith shops I.
here struck this afternoon Tor lU per /
ceut advance ia wages.
The WORLDS FAIR WORKWsN