The Topeka state journal., 1900-12-08
STATE OF SIEGE.
Santa Fe Managers and Tele-
graphsfs Uneasy.
Much Uncertainty and Many
RumOrs in Circulation.
COMPLICATE SITUATION
Sympathetic Strike Regarded
as Pending on Santa Fe.
Vice President Barr Issues Cir
cuIar to Operators.

santa 4 e system as a result OF the strike
of telegraphers on the Gulf. Colorado &
Santa Fe- 1t is the natural inference
that operators viii be called out on 9TH
ers win.
Trouble is looked for on the A. IT &
> r proper as is evidenced by General
Manager AIudge's order Friday, issued
TO heads Of departments to suspend all
work not absolutely necessary TO the
actual running Of trains in case of q
strike Telegraphers are expected to go
out at any moment.
A runner is current that the men are
prepared TO strike in sympathy if the
strike on the Gulf line is not settled
within = hours The situation is the
same on the santa Fe lines west of Al
buQuerque. General Manager Nevin of
the Santa F'e-Pacifc in an interview,
said:
- contract was entered into and exc
cuLed between the operators on the San
Ia Fe-PacIfic, Southern California ard
san Francisco and San Joaquin Valley
roads within the past two weeks, IS only
70 pc cancelled on 80 days notice. 1t can
not be violated by the telegrapherS ex-
cept at the sacrifice OF theiI, integrity.
The one cause that could be assigned for
strike on these lines would be one Of
sympathy for the Gulf Colorado and
santa tG telegraph operators
As time passed and it became evident
Lhat early expectations of settling the
Gulf strike within eight or ten hours
We're not realized, a runor came out
that the operators on the A T. & S. f.
proper would go out Friday noon This
hour passed without the fuIfillment or
the rurnor and General Manager Mudge's
order was issued. Saturday noon was
then named in the current reports as
the time set for the operators to strike.
Prior to Mr. Mudge'S order a.
page pamphlet was sent to all agents
and operators on the Santa F'e system,
giving in detail the proceedings and cor
Tespondence between the company Off
Gals and the Gulf operators. It was
issued from the third vice presidents
office under date of Wednesday, Decem-
Der s.
The pamphlet gives all the kilograms
that passed between the representatives
of the company. Up to December / the
attitude Of both was to consent to ar
bitFauon- The telegraphers had made
some accusations of delay and opposf-
tion against their interests by minor
officials The company was Offering
prevalent Texas road wages and rules
and reguIa tions the same as on other
Santa F'e lines.
Just before the strike was ordered,
with President Dolphin of the O. R T..
in Galveston, the following kilograms
were exchanged:
Galveston, December 4. 1900.
J. M. Barr, Chicago.
After waiting i've months and. re-
peated exhaustive conferences with
yourself and general manager in Chi
cago, and again with general manager
here, regarding schedule submitted by
schedule by you which contemplates
aholishing old schedule altogether, re-
spectlng fifteen positions, a considerable
reduction in former wages at about
Chirty-three other stations and peremp-
tory refusal to consider important rules
submitted by committee The commit
tee have now apparently exhausted all
other ordinary means TO adjust their
grievances on a mutually satisfactory
basis, and We earnestly request that you
agree to submit all existing differences
for matters in dispute to the arbitration
of wholly diSintereSred and competent
persons, TO be chosen and TO act irnne-
diately. NJ NJ. DOLPHIN.
Galveston, December s. 1900
J. III. Barr, Chicago.
Dolphin has misrepresented the facts
to you On the basis Of adding average
Of five years ticket commissions TO
present salaries, advances have been
made at all stations with the exception
of seven At these seven where reduc-
tiOns were made the committee in go
ing over the schedule accepted three OF
them. Total advance in salaries of
agents who also do telegraphing IS
s115.47 and total decrease is $21-35,
making net increase S9412- There were
only two reductions proposed IN salaries
Of operators alone. which was owing al
together to changed conditions of busi-
ness at these points Decrease in these
two aggregated ten dollars The total
increase proposed IN SaiarleS OF opef-
ators alone was S106, making net in
crease sos. In 50 far as eliminating
fifteen stations from the schedule is con- i
cerned, I stated to the committee that
we would not treat with them for
wages at stations where the agents do
no telegrap phing, but Notwithstanding
this fact there are only six stations On
the road heretofore included in the
schedule where we have failed to treat
with them, and the salaries at these six
stations viii certainly not be reduced.
Mr.. Dolphin neglected to state to you
that we had added to the schedule at
least three stations that have never
heretofore been included in it. The sal
commonly paid by other roads in the
state. L J. POLK
Chicago. December s. 1900.
NJ NJ. Dolphin, Galveston, Texas.
Your telegram fourth received The
statements contained therein are not
supported by action taken By Colonel
Polk with whom have communicated /
We have desired to settle the demands /