New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-14
PRESIDENT REINHART TALKS.
EXPERIENCE OF THE SANTA FE ROAD
WITH THE A. r. Y.
MOST OF THE MEN WHO QUIT WORK IN oBEDI-
EXCE TO DEBs WILL GET THEIR OLD

MOST OF THE MEN WHO QUIT WORK IN oBEDI-
EXcE TO DEBs WILL GET THEIR OLD
PLACES AGAIN IN TIME.
To few railroads in the United States has the
great strike been Of more moment than TO the
Santa Fe system with its army of 5000 men and
a trackage OF 1900 miles With Its eastern
terminus at Chicago It's giant arms reach south
TO Galveston and Guaymas In old Mexico TO
Denver and Ogden on the north and TO San Fran
cisco and Los Angeles on the west. Despite the
fact that It Is operated under Federal authority
on account Of It's receivershio. It was almost com
pletely parayzed for while by the American
Railway Union under the manipulation OF Debs
President j. W Renhart. Of the Santa Fe, re-
turned from Western trip Thursday night, and
Yesterday. Just before leaving the city for rest
at the home OF a friend near Sandy Hook. he was
called upon by Tribune reporter
Things have been looking very bad In the West.
said Mr. Relnhart but the skies are clearing now.
and the strike will soon be ancient history. 1t has
been A colossal movement from the beginning. and
for a time looked omlnous. but any thoughtful and
reasonable man could foresee the end after the
first few days The Atchson Topeka and Santa
Fe felt It severely. In fact. for time there was a
complete paralysis on our roads, Notwithstanding
the fact that are operating the system under
Federal supervision While the Santa Fe has been
4 big loser and an innocent loser too. by the strike.
st!ll because OF the fact that the Government was
IN a sense operating the system, and there was
less disposition 10 interfere with on account Of
that fact we did not suffer like OF the other
roads running out Of Chicago With some of the
roads the loss must have been enormous. This is
the third hard blow the Santa Fe has had recently.
Its adversely began with the suspension OF silver
coinage. This staGnnted BUSINESS over vast area
that the Santa Fe runs through. Many of the
,ba vfa ausat ba
second blow came when the coal miners strike was
ordered We supplying other roads besides
our own. and It made tremendous difference In
our tonnage Then came the climax when the
American Railway Union tied everything up tight.
II looks now as II we had got down to rock bot
tom"
"WIm the American Railway Union continue 20
exert a powerful influence the Santa Fe?'
Il do not wish 20 De quoted saying anything
harsh against the American Railway Union. the
Knights OF Labor. Mr.. Debs Mr. Sovereign. or. in
fact. any OF the labor interests ! think K IS a
time for peace. The strike is over"
Was Pullman worthy Of censure FOR refusing to
lrb.trate?"
Il DO not care to say anything on that subject.
/ saw Mr. Pullman only few days ago. and We
had long talk on the subject As TO whether We
were Il the OF different opinion re.ative
70 the matter Of arbitration. do not care % say.
How did the American Railway Union approach
she Santa Fe Just prior 70 the strike?"
In the same way they approached the other
roals They demanded that We stop hauling Pull
man ears. | had talk few days ago on this very
point with General Manager B. +. Yoakum. Of the
Guf Colorado ami Santa F. at Galveston. Our
relations with our emp.oyes are or have been very
cordial. We have the regulation arrangements With
the Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers. the Fire
mems Brotherhood AMI the Conductors Ass)cia-
ton under which We are required to give a notice
10. Ia, rAf % in 10 eor-
templltad or discharges made. We have lived
up 10 these agreements. AMI during the hard times
OF the .ast year We did not reduce wages, but In
stead Gu, down The working force wherever we
found 10 advisable. This resulted n establishing an
exce,eut feeling between the brotherhoods and the
I Mon began 20 build up a membership among our
hoods but who went into the Union thus belonging
20 two societies AZ the same uI.2, one day rep
heard AZ General Manager Yoakum's office. in GA
weston. and made the demand relative TO the Pull
man boycott to watch / nave alluded.
"'Whom do You represent asked Mr.. Yoakum.
hr'l<'mem9 THIS : the first I WIS aware that our
cnp'oyes had any grievance
emploves' said Mr. Debss Representatives 1T is
a general grievance that We have against Pullman
'Eut we have no grievance against Pullman
said Mr Yoakum We simply do business with
him as we do with scores OF other large concerns.
Ne fulGI our contracts with him and he with us.
There is no grievance between and Pullman.
But the American Railway Union demands that
YOU stop running Pullman cars, or else they VIII
cali out your employees who belong to the union.
we have no contract with the American Rail
way Union said Mr.. Yoakum. but we nave CON
tracts with engineers. nremen ana conductors
II they have no grievance against US and we nave
no grievance against Pullman. we ran 10 see the
ense or Justice in complying with the demands OF
an outside organization with which We nave no
contract and which organization has no shadow or
claim upon US. We must refuse your demand
Then the members OF the American railway
| 'nion in our employ were called out. but II was
very far from IA general strike and they went
ptit very reluctantly" said Mr. Relnhart.
''What will become of Debs ana the american
Railway Union on the Santa Fe SYSTEM
II do not wish to be quoted on that point,
In accordance with those of the majority OF tne |
railway managers has expressed the opinion Una.
Debs used poor generalship in trying TO call out
all the employees AT once. and that IL would nave
points. keeping half OF the union at work so that
hc members could support the other nan ls
here any force In that view? ~
II think there is" said Mr.. Reinhart.
~ soon as Congress stops fooling with the tariff
Money now tightly boarded will be pushed into
rode channels and shall have fairly good
lines again. But no improvement can oe tnpsStet pyhet
20 long az investors are In the dark as TO what
mr. important tariff laws are TO be.
"Will the American Railway Union men VINO
off their places on the Santa Fa get their old |
Dcrths back again, now that the strike Is OH
probably in great majority OF cases they |
vii The most Of them quit work with great
.eInctonce Many OF the new men. especially |
rom the East who have been hired VIII take
, disIike TO the country and throw up their jobs
,ftnr few weeks. and the old men VIII naturally |
yet their places