The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-03
p. E. COOK CORRESPONDS.

MI. gaze LQ6Q siam neQ the QOCkSL
book together and went home.
P. E. COOK CORRESPONDS.
He Has a Lengthy Correspondence with
Judge Caldwell About Wages.
The div after the lockout at the Santa
Fe shops on July End at a mass meeting
of the A r. L. in this city, committee
of the laid off men was appointed head
ed by P. l. Cook, to call on Treasurer
Wilder, of the road, and find out when
the employees would receive the two
months pay then due them. Mr.. Wilder
at that time did not know when they
would be paid and could not make any
promises. The committee was instruct
ed to lay the matter before J udge Cald-
well, which they did In due time they
received the following answer, dated at
Wequetonsing, Mich, July 18th:
"P. E. Cook. Chairman. Topeka. Kas.:
DEAR SIR-Your letter in relation to
payment of wages due the men has been
referred to the receivers, with positive
instructions to pay as soon as they can
raise the money. You ought to be paid,
but recent events have put il out of the
power of the receivers to pay anything
from the earnings and they will be com
PEELED to borrow money for the purpose
of paying wages. Yours truly,
"HENRY G. CALDWELL"
Soon after the receipt of this letter Mr.
Cook again wrote to Judge Caldwell IN
der date Of the 23d- lis letter was as
follows:
DEAR SIR-Your letter in answer to
our communication IN regard to wages of
the Santa Fe employees received, and in
reply would like TO say: 1t was no fault Of
ours that the company did not have
the money with which to pay wages.
We are locked out without any notice as
to the cause and against our wishes, and
when our committee called on Treasurer
Wilder ne gave US no satisfaction as to
when we would get it. and did not APP
pear to be concerned as to whether we
ever got paid or not
MIR. Wilder also stated to US that it
was costing the company $4,000 per
day to carry the fight against the
strikers Now it looks to me ike asking
for bread and being given a stone.
s.Since writing the communication re-
ferred to in this letter 1 have been dis
charged and told that 1 would never
again be employed by the company SO
long as it was in the hands Of the re-
ceivers. No reason was assigned for my
dismissal In fact the general foreman
in the department in which l was en-
plOyed told me that they (the Off
cials) asked him to bring charges
against me. The general fore
man says that there was not a thing that
he could say detrimental to me as a me-
chanic or man, but inasmuch as you
have referred my letter to the receivers,
there fore, l have reason to believe thai
there lies the cause of my dismissal
have a wife and three children depend
ent on me for support l am located
here so that l cannot get away without
great sacrifice TO my property aud with
no pros poets of getting anything to do in
the city, and because l was selected as
chairman of the committee to wait on
Mr. Wilder. the treasurer, and to COM
municate with your honor l have been
discharged Is there any justice in this
when the company was owing me over
two months wagesf
81 would like TO appear before your
honor in person and make statement Of
my case and / ask you 10 request the re-
celvers to furnish me with transportation
for that purpose.
81 hope you will pardon me for annoy
ing you in this matter. Though it may
be triding to you. let me assure you
it is very important to me.
Il have the honor TO be your obedient
servant, p. COOK
The reply to this letter has just been
received, and is as follows:
@DEAR SIR-YOur request to furnish
you transportation to enable you to ap-
pear before me to make a statement Of
your grievance cannot be complied with
for two reasons: ~ l am just now out of
my circuit ~ If l was in my circuit /
could not hear and decide your case
upon your own ex parte statement. The
receivers are entitled to be heard NO
court should attempt to decide dispute
! without hearing both sides.
~If you think you have a grievance en-
titling you 10 a Judicial investigation you
can file your petition with Judge J. B.
johnson, master IN chancsry at Topeka,
I and he will hear the evidence on both
sides and decide the matter.
las to the payment of wages due you,
/ I have instructed the receivers to borrow
money to pay all past due wages Yours
truly HENRY c. CALDWELL"
Before this letter was written Mr.. Cook
| had received his pay.