The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-10
SHOP WHISTLE BLOWS.

uninterrupted and close to schedule. In
effect the strike is over
The company's confident attitude was
further strengthened by the following
dispatch from Williamsburg, Kas.,
takea off the wire after the strike order
had gone into effect:
ITO NJ. NJ. Laalphin, President o. r. T..
santa Fe MEMBERSHIPS win stand
loyal your call Gulf cause, but don't
confirm Newman's newspaper state
ments- We have no grievances Santa
F'e proper justify strike.
IA B. HARDING
A. B. Harding was o. r. T. chairman
of the Santa Fe system until few
months ago. J. A Newman is now
general chairman.
From the beginning of the trouble the
effects of the strike has been perceived
but little here Trains ran in and out
OF Topeka over Sunday, east and west,
as per schedule. Some were on time,
some late. The California Limited made
its Saturday night run through Topeka
an hour and a half late, and caught up
to fifty minutes behind schedule at
Dodge City. No. Z was behind it. Sun
day morning No. was an hour behind
time. No. was an hour late, vet came
in ahead of No. 5, which was laid out
over two hours. No. was on time, as
was also 406. No. was two and one
half hours late.
The company has been sending men
out to take the strikers places steadily
we have been having an increase in
applications for vacancies right along"
said superintendent of Telegraph G. c.
Sholes. Seventy-five men were sent
down on the Gulf before the strike be-
gan here. They are getting in fair op-
Grating shape down there now. We are
diSposing the men in other places now
as they come along.
I'VE are having working force suff1-
cient in this Office to handle our busi-
ness and will have a full force to-
night We are filling in the divisions
where a larger number of men went out
first You hardly know there is a
strike. am confident that by the end
of the week everything will be straight
ened out and the fact of a strike viii
hardly be known"
HAVE NOT GIVEN UP.
According to members Of the Order of
Railway Telegraphers, the struggle is
still on. Sunday business was light,
they say, and the rush of the week just
opening will try out matters. They look
for help from affiliated lines and other
orders.
Division Chairman Whitney came up
from Newton, meeting with Division
Chairman W. A. Purkett and the strik-
ers at this point, arranging plans OF
campaign. Mr.. Whitney says: 1.-The
men all went out at Newton, and made
a strong stand on the middle division"
Advices were received by the teleg-
rapherS to the effect that trainmen were
going out on the western division, also
that the trainmen on the Gulf, Colorado
& Santa F'e had given the officials OF
that road until o'clock Monday morn
ing to settle with the telegraphers or
they would strike.
/. C. Badgely, one of the local leaders,
said: 1--WE have aGvices that the opera
tors on the Missouri Pacific stand ready
to go out in sympathy. While it would
not directly affect our position, 1t would
be an indirect support. The o. r. L.
has q. 600 members and if the move
cfQ cd a
would tie up the roads of the country
We also have information in an indirect
way that the conductors and engineers
on one of the western divisions will take
up our cause if we hold out for four
days.
I'VE are accused of breaking a con-
tract with the company. This is not so
Article 80 of our schedule has not been
violated by US. 1t does not apply in
this instance 1t has nothing to do with
going out of service Thirty days
Telegraphers are not required to give
thirty days notice when they quit,
neither does the company give thirty
days notice in discharging man.
THE contract, as far as there IS a
contract, is to give thirty days notice
when a change is wanted in the wage
schedule or rules and regulations. It
doesn't say anything about working. II
the company wants a change in this
book they give notice and the teleg-
raphers have thirty days in which to
accept or decline. II the men want d
change in the schedule they give notice
to the company for the same period.
I'VE have not asked for any change
in our schedule. We have not violated
Article 80 by our action. This paragraph
from the schedule has been put before
the public with a partial explanation. To
say that we have broken our contract
by leaving our desks when called out in
support of the telegraphers on the Gulf.
is putting a meaning into the para
graph that is not there in the words.
There are things in the schedule
constantly violated by the company, Tor
that matter. The telegraphers let them
go without presenting grievances.
could name you instances. For example,
one rule calls for ten hours duty in
certain offices, including one hour for
dinner. That makes nine hours of work,
doesn't it2 Well if a man lays off
day ten full hours is deducted from his
pay
Here is Article 80:
Article XXX-The Atchison, Topeka
e Santa Fe Railway company, on its
part. and its telegrapherS on their part,
do hereby agree that they will perform
their several duties and stipulations
provided for in this agreement until
thirty days notice has been given by
either party to the other, requesting
change in same"
THE ROADS STATEMENT.
Chicago, Dec. 10.-F'rom advices re-
ceived today the officials of the Santa F'e
company are fully convinced that the |
telegraphers strike is nearly over. At
10 o'clock Third Vice President Barr re-
ceived from General Manager Nudge, at |
Topeka, the following message.
Newman at Wichita is sending mes |
sages TO all operators telling them that |
they have agreed with President Ripley |
to arbitrate and that they can return to |
work subject to call again.
Regarding this message. MI. Barr said: |
so far as the railroad company is |
concerned there has been no agreement /
to arbitrate and this action on the part /
of Newman simply means that the /
strike is fizzling out"
President E. P. Ripley confirmed Mr. |
Bars assertion that there had been no /
agreement to arbitrate and emphaticai- |
" reiterated his statement of Saturday |
that no operator who had joined this |
strike, in violation of the agreement with /
the cornUany would be re-ernploved