The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-09
RAILROAD NEWS.
Complete History of the Strike
of Santa Fe BOilermakers.
Was in Progress Ten Weeks at
San BernardinO.
MUTUAL CONCESSIONS.
Both the Men and the Company
Yielded.
Was Model Strike, as Strikes
Go. 80
MUTUAL CONCESSIONS.

The San BernardlnO sun gives the Iol-
lowing excellent resume of the strike
on the Santa Fe coast lines, and how
it was settled:
on the morning of May 81, the boiler
makers employed al the Santa Fe shop
in this city walked out on a strike be-
cause one of their number, c. L. Will
son. was, as they. believed unjustly
given the alternative of being trans
ferred to Seligman, Arizona. or taking
his time The boilermakers were fol-
lowed by the apprentice boys of the de-
partment, to the number of 19, VINO
struck in sympathy with them. I'M
mediately upon the walkout the strikers
sent their committee to Mechanlcal
Superintendent Joughins, presenting to
him certain grievances, among them the
case of Wilson.
While the matter was in progress OF
arbitration, trouble was brewing at
Needles. Some 80 days before the
boilermakerS at that place had given
the company notice that if it did not
raise their wages from 3l12 cents to 40
cents an hour in given length OF Tune,
it might expect strike. The destlneo
time drew to close, and there being
no sign of the desired raise forthcoming
the boilermakers at the desert towr
walked out, just three days after the
trouble in this city commenced,
On the day of the strike at Needles
there had been a heated session in the
office of Mr.. Joughins in this city anc
when it had been concluded 1t was
generally UNDERSTOOD DtlWStIl tliC liiCi-
in this city and the management that
the points which the former demanded
We're conceded, and it was likewise
agreed that the men would very Hkely
be back in their old places IN lew
days time.
Just at this juncture the secretary of
the local union received a letter from
Needles telling of the trouble on the
desert. From that time on there was
a standstill among the local men, They
did not go to work, as had been expect
ed, and when queried as to the reason.
they replied that matters had not been
arranged to suit them. 1t gradually
leaked out, however, and shortly after
the men here admitted the fact, that it
was a case of sympathetic strike. They
were going to hold out until their
brothers at Needles received the con-
cession which they had demanded
Such was the beginning of the trou-
ble and the stand taken by the strik-
ers OF the many conferences which
took place between the men and the
mana cement, between that time and the
present, there is no use of making men
ton. Suffice it to say they all came
to naught
The length of the period of rest be-
gan to tell on the strikers and they
were getting along by giving grand
balls and depending upon the generosity
of their grand lodge. while the santa
F'e bobbed up serenely with a shop full
of contract men, which the management
claimed were just the kind of men they
mad been looking IOT ali the llIIS, dliu
knew how to doctor sick engines to
ct"
But of all the talks and conferences.
the one which really did the business
was the meeting which took place in
the Office of General Manager Wells in
Los Angeles, July 26. At that time, it
will be remembered, six committeeman,
three from this city and as many from
Needles, met with the above named
official for the purpose of arriving at
some final settlement. Mr.. Wells was
perfectly willing and stated that the
company would be willing to give the
men at Needles 80 cents per hour and
tine and a half for overtime.
The committee told him their desires.
Among other things, they asked that
w J. Ritchie be reinstated as foreman
of the boiler shop in this city to sue
coed James Madden, the present fore
man, and also that the apprentice boys
be apportioned at the ratio of one ap-
prentice to every five boilermakers
These two points Mr.. Wells would not
concede and said that he would tie up
the road before doing SO.
and the men returned to this city-the
men from Needles going back to the
desert.
The hair splitting was rather between
Mr.. Wells and the men from this city
than the Needles committeeman, who,
having gained their point, were ready
to settle. but who were supporting the
men here because of syn pathy. 1t was
diSO SldltO tIldt lut 4NeSuitS ICpIeotllle-
tives were inclined to have cold feet,
even on the day of the conference; nor
did the high temperature of their own
town tend to warm them. For upon
arriving at home they met with the
union men there. and it was generally
agreed that the proper way to act in
the matter was to accept the terms
offered by the company and allow the
question of apportioning apprentices to
be arbitrated after they had returned
to their work
Armed with this vote. Chairman
Carlton of the Needles grievance COM
mittee arrived in the city yesterday
morning. Going at once to the boiler