The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-10
Denied at New York.
Chief wilkinson Explains How Railroad
strikes are Ordered.

MILWAUKEE, April 1O.-The Jenkins
investion did not attract much of
crowd today. One or two attorneys and
a few labor men came and got seats
early, but except for the newspaper men,
the room was deserted up to the opening
of the session.
Chief Wilkinson. of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen, was the first wit
ness. lie related facts concerning the
conference of the Northern Pacific at
the time of the threatened strike. The
men had thought they could not leave
the employ of the railway.
After a great deal of discussion as to
the right of the chiefs to consult with
the men. he and his associates came to
the conclusion that they could not advise
the men to leave the employ of the re-
ceivers but could advise them to remain
To do otherwise would be in contempt of
court.
In reply to an inquiry by Chairman
Boatner 10 how strikes are ordered,
Mr.. Wilkinson said aggrieved trainmen n
had TO make written complaints to their
lodges and these complaints are referred
in turn To the local and general grievance
committees. The matter finally reached
him, if it was not adjusted. 1t requires
a two-thirds vote of the members and
the unanimous consent Of the committee
to cause strike.
How strikes Take Place.
All he can do is to consent to strike.
but a strike cannot be ordered without
his consent. No steps toward a strike
had been taken by the Northern Pacific
men, nder cross examination by Con-
gresham Stone, Wilkinson said strike
ordinarily required a months time to
start. He denied that he had any power
to order a strike without action by the
employees. There are about $4,000 train
men in the United States. and about 80
per cent belong to the order. He is not
in the employ Of any road and was not
affected by the order, only through his
official position.
Replying to questions as to whether
there had been any violence in the strikes
he ordered, Mr.. Wilkinson said there had
been no violence, and that violence does
not always accompany strikes. A con-
ference with the receivers had been
ranged for when the order made.
During a cross examination by Mr.. Cur
lis, Chief Wilkinson said a strike had
been ordered January /, and had
the order been obeyed it would have re-
suited in stopping the traffic of the road,
and that the stoppage would have lasted
as long as the men held out
He thought he had a legal right to
corfer with the employees of the Northern
Pacific to order u strike, but the road
being in the hands of receivers affected
his right TO some extent. He realized if
he came in contact with the court he
should be liable to imprisonment
Injunction Denies His CHS.
Mr.. Wilkinson thought the Injunction
had denied all his rights He was famil-
lar with the Northern Pacific road nd
knew the tying up of the road would re-
suit in public hardships at certain points
He would not admit that he had ever
sanctioned an illegal strike and that there
could be an illegal strike when
regularly ordered He exhibited
the rules of the order which provide for
the expulsion of those who take part in
a strike not regularly ordered.
Mr.. Curtis asked: as it proper to
order strike for the purpose Of coercing Q
court opening road.''
~Witness said he did not know whether
the men could quit in the face of an in
junction or not
When this examination had been con-
cluded, Dir. Wilkinson said he desired to
make statement He said the men had
thought if the court could reduce their
wages 10 per cent and compel them to
work, it could reduce their wages so Der
cent and there would be no end tn II
He said he did not think the court had
any more right than I company had 10
compel the men TO work, whether il had
power or not
Little Better Than Serfs
In answer to question by Mr. Terry
Wilkinson said the men considered the
labor organization of very great import
ance; that without them. thev would ne
little better than serfs; that the organi-
citations had improved the condition of
the men at least 90 per cent, and that