People's voice., 1893-04-14
Gossin of the Strike.

TOPEKA, Kan, April lO.-There 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 ad-
nit that there is little if any differences
so far as wages are concerned. While
the men are now receiving as good
wages as 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 Il settlement of the con-
troverSy.
The real point at issue is whether
the company shall enter into a 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 at 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 a
force of watchmen has been on duty.
The fact that the strike was on was
widely advertised and as result large
number of applications fos positions
were received from men desirous of fill
ing the strikers places None of these
have been acted upon and will not be
for some time at least, because the Off
cials realize that to employ new men
under the circumstances would create
i'll feeling and this they are anxious to
avoid. The companys representatives
are free to admit that they prefer to
have the old men return.
In a strike of this kind the company
has decided advantage over the men,
for the reason that the business of the
road can proceed for some little time
with little interruption with a compar.
atively small force of shop hands. Very
few mechanics are required to keep ur
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 repair work until settlement
is reached. The strikers are equally
confident that they will not.
Notwithstanding the entire absence
of ill-feeling that is visible there is an
expressed determination on both sides
not to yield from the respective stands
they have taken. The strikers, at a
meeting held yesterday. decided to dc
all that was possible to induce the ap-
prentices to go out with them. Should
they succeed in this it would undoubt.
edly prove great factor in preventing
the company from keeping its rolling
stock in condition. The apprentices,
many of whom have served nearly
their full time of four years, could
with little assistance, keep up with the
ordinary repair work and prevent the
train service from being seriously Grip
pied for period of six weeks or two
months. There is no likelihood that
the men in the ear shops will join the
strike for there is nothing to be gained
by such action. They can be furnished
with work for not to exceed two OF
three days if the strike continues and
unless some settlement is arrived at
by Wednesday large number of them
will have to be laid off.