The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-04
Two Versions of an A. r. e.
Strikers Application
For Employment Again - No
Blacklist in Use.
C. T. LOGSDON'S CASE.
Seeks to Secure Position
Through Supt. Turner.
Supt. Turner Says Hundreds of
Strikers Have Got Places.

Charles T. Logsdon of Emopria. one
of the Santa Fe employees who went out
with the A. r. U. strikers in 1894. ap-
piled to Superintendent Avery Turner
for reinstatement one day this week
but was told, so he says, by Mr.. Turn
er. that he had no time to talk about
these applications for reinstatement.
THE fact is.'' said Mr.. Turner, that
I am harrassed every day, not only by
personal applications for reinstatement
but by letters. My time is not my own
and if it were do not care to hear the
details of your case" said the super1n-
tendent to Logsdonf so says OLgsdOn.
L desire to state my proposition and
think you will find it worthy of consld-
eration.' replied Mr. Logsdon-
No it isn't. L don't care to hear it, ="
insisted Mr.. Turner.
Il have no work and have family to
provide for said Mr.. LOgsdOn-
That is unfortunate" remarked Mr.
Turner Why don't you go to some
other railroad and seek employment,
he said after a moments reflection.
That's exactly what 1 want to do,
but L want to be cleared up here and
not receive my discharge before L go to
work after securing employment on
some other line. If you will permit me
to use your name for reference in case
of inquiry and will then help me a little
1 can easily get work. said LOgsdOn.
"Wen,'' said Mr.. Turner, Il can't do
anything for you You forget what an
Two years or more without work is
ample punishment L think" replied
Logsdon.
In this case can't say that it is"
replied the superintendent.
y am not anxious to get back on the
Santa Fe, but simply want to be pro-
tected from the black list of strikers
which this company has furnished to
others and which would prevent me
from holding a job anywhere in the
nUited States" said Logsdon.
Il can't consent to make the conces-
sions which you demand and prefer to
talk no longer upon the subject con-
cluded Mr.. Turner.
The above is the interview as related
by LOgsdOn.
In reference to Logsdon's case Mr..
Turner said today:
If Lossdon states that he was black
listed by this company for going out
in the strike of 1894. he simply indulgeS
in a fa1sehood, that's all. There is no
such thing as a blacklist of striking
We don't furnish a list of the employees
who went out in the strike to
any other line. and have never furnish
ed such a list. The records of the
company show what men went out in
the strike, and if a man applies to an
other company for work and the COM
pany writes US fOrinformaiton we simp-
1y state the date of his discharge and
the reason for discharging him.
Hundreds of the strikers of 1884
have found employment on other lines,
getting employment. Hundreds of the
men have been reinstated on the Santa
Fe. AS far as letters of recommenda-
tion are concerned, the general officers
never give out letters of recommenda-
ton. They are not in a position to do
it. If letters are to be given out the
division officials are the men to do it.
If the officials of other lines write me
or other of the general officers about
employees we can only give our per-
sonal recommendation. But formal
letters of recommendation are never
given out from the general Offices
''LOgSdOn was a SWitchman at En-
poria. and when. the strike came up he
quit work, went up town and bought an
uTn nbrella and then proceeded to strut
about the yards. 1 was compelled to do
some of the switching in the Emporia
yards myself, and he took great pleas
ure in seeing me do it. 1 haven't given
him employment because he is not the
kind of a man 1 want. If another line
wrote me about him, I would simply
give the date and cause of his dis
charge, as in any other case.
This talk of blackhsting is all rot"
said Mr.. Turner in conclusion. THE
men made their records themselves, and
their records are not destroyed, that's
ALL