The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-07-13
THE STRIKE AT CLEBURNE
About a Score of Machinists Were
Put 10 Work.
OTHER MEN WALKED OUT AT ONCE.
Machinists Have Issued Statement Civ
ING the Grounds for Their Action.
Three Hundred Men Are Out.

Cleburne, Texas, July 12.-This morning
the management placed twenty machinists
at work and the boilermakers and their
helpers, the blacksmlths and their helpers
the sheet metal workers, the painters and
their helpers joined the strikers, and about
800 men are now out
The machinists have issued their circu
lar setting forth their grievances as fol.
lows:
To the Publc:
In order that our neighbors and friends
In Cleburne aud the general public may
know the true cause of our present trouble
WIN the company we, the committee APP
pointed by the machinist union of Cleburne
desire to make the following statements
every assertion of which can be proven and
to the truth of which affidavits without
end can be obtained If necessary. The first
article In the agreement between the men
for the mechanical department of the Santa
Fe railway and the officials Of the road
reads as follows:
Rule /. Employees shall receive fair and
impartial treatment"
We claim that this rule has been violated
in the fact that an employe, d member -
our organization, was Disseminated against
in being removed from his place of work
without any charge being brought against
him further than that he had been too ac-
tive in committee work" when the employe
in question had never been absent from
his foreman, and with his wages deducted
for absence and with transportation fur
nished by the company'S officials.
Rule reads as follows ANY employe
feeling that he or they have been unfairly
dealt with or Disseminated against shall
have their grievances adjusted by the head
OF the department and committee from
the employees"
We claim that this rule has been violated
in the fact that when the committee ap-
pointed under this rule called upon the mas
ter mechanic and the mechanlcal spperin-
tendent their demands were not considered,
the statement being made that the com
pany's representatives proposed to run the
business to suit themselves and not to
suit the men, and If they, the committee,
or other compeny employees did not like the
treatment they received they were at FER
feet liberty TO quit.
Rule 3 reads rs follows: 'If, after lnves-
tiGatloa. It is found that an employe has
been discharged without just cause he shall
be reinstated.'
This lule has been violated In the fact
that no Investigation WAS made by the Of
hcials. except that one Of the officials stated
to thu committee that they had already in
vestigated the activity of the empioye In
question in his committee work.
Rule reads MS follows: amy differences
that can not be satisfactorily adjusted at
place of origin. committee shall he fur
I,ished with transportation TO and from
pace of final settlement, and any committee
of employees shall have the assurance OF
audience" We assert that this rule mas
been violated In the fact that the local Of
ficials, instead Of referring the matter 10
the higher powers. declared all negotiations
off and summGrily dismissed them from the
companv's service The agreement from
which articles are quoted was entered INTO
between the company and the men June l,
for the company by John Player. super'n-
tendent Of machinery, and J.. ]. Polk 2 n
eral mcnag5r. and by Z. r. ELLIOTT, Charles
mon Firth than this. in Il supplementary