Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-10
The TELECRAPHERS STRIKE
IS DECLARED BY RAILROAD OFF,
GALS TO BE PRACTICALLY
BROKEN ALREADY.
GENERAL MANAGER NUDGE
SAYS HE HAS MEN IN SIGHT TO FILL
ALL VACANCIES,
And Has Rescinded the Order Clos
ing the ShOps-The Strikers VIII
Not be Taken Back Upon Any
Terms. But Their Places viii be
Filled by Promoting Men Who
Stuck to Their Keys.

TOPEKA, Kans., December 9.-The
officials of the Santa Fe road take a
decided hopeful view of the tele-
graphers' strike situation. They all
say the. backbone of the strike is
practically broken already and that the
affairs of the road will be in their nor
NAL condition inside of two weeks. The
officers felt justified tonight, in view
OF the alleged Improvement in condi-
lions, in resembling the order closing
the shops H. U. Nudge, general sup
erintendent of the road, sent out a
general order this afternoon to all OPP
orators who had not gone out. offering
to promote them if they would continue
in their resistance to the strikers. He
told them that they had been faith
ful to the interests of the company
thus far, and that they could fill out
their application blanks for the better
positions at once. The general man
ager added that all the men not taking
part in the strike should have better
positions if they were. capable of filing
them and that their old places would
be filed from outside sources.
Mr.. Nudge expressed great satisfac-
ton this evening at the order he had
sent out, and said it was only fair that
the company should thus recognize
those of the men who had been faith
ful to their interests
Il feel much more sanguine about
the result of the strike than l did last
night" said Mr.. Nudge.
Il thought then that we would have
a serious time. In this belief the or
der was issued for the closing of the
shops. Today the conditions seem TO
be so much improved that the order
closing the shops will be rescinded.
/ think we can use all our old men
in the old way. This much is certain.
however, not one of the men who
nave gone cat on the strike viii be ia
ken back into the employ of the COM
pany. Those who were formerly be-
low them will be promoted over their
heads, and they will see that the road
can get along without them. Some OF
the strikers have already made appli-
cation to be reinstated in the employ
of the company, but it will be of no
use. This will be permanent They left
our company without a cause, and
now they will have to suffer for their
neglect"
General Manager Nudge. in company
with some of the other officials Of the
road, spent several hours as the tele-
graph keys in the general Office of the
road to-day, transmitting the necessary
messages. They have adopted the plan
of sending much Of their matter by
mail. This morning il seemed as
though the operators had decided 20 go
10 work again. Some few operators
had offered TO work under the mis- ap-
prehension that the strike had been de-
clared OF, but soon, left again.
C. 7. Mcclellan, superintendent of the
eastern division, returned this afternoon
from a trip of inspection over the en-
tire division in his private car. He
started out yesterday afternoon as soon
as the news @of the strike became
known. He reported that matters were
very satisfactory so far as the eastern
division is concerned.
Mr. MeClelland visited all the oper-
ators along the route and asked them
point-blank if they intended 10 strike.
IN case a man would answer in the
affirmative, he would be quickly in
formed that his services were no long
er needed and a check was given TO
him. This had the effect in some places
and the operators agreed TO remain al
work. To-day. however. many who
made such an agreement struck as
soon as they ascertained the facts in
the case.
Probably twenty operators are out
on my division tonight said Mr.. Ne
Cielland, but have men in sight for
all these places. Men are coming TO
night from Chicago. Kansas City and
St Louis and soon all the stations on
the division viii be supplied with op-
orators
". NJ. Coombs. chief despatcher for
the eastern division. reported that ali
trains were running satisfactorily.
Some were late. but that was a natural
consequence. He said that the plan
had been adopted OF sending all TIE
west-bound freights over the cut-on
from Argentine 10 Emporia. where they
could take the double track on west.
The east-bound freights VIII be des-
patched on the main line.
Mr.. Coombs said that most Of the
trouble came from the men on the
Argentine cutoff. When any OF the
faithful men would attempt 10 send
q despatch reporting the condition Of.
tie trains, some OF the strikers were
Immediately cut in and the effect OF the
message would be lost However, he