The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-01

pany has not a single one that is
first-class man. foreman included.
The officials claim that things are in
a normal condition at all points. This
we deny. With the exception of Belle
Vile, where one man is employed, and
Temple, where one coppersmith and one
blacksmith are at work, there is not a
mechanic working on the G. c. & s. F.
system at any other point except Gle
burne.
I'VE deny the statement that the COM
pany can get as many mechanics as
they claim to have at work. on such
short notice. when it was impossible to
obtain them under normal conditions,
as the shops have never had a full force
at work at one time since the plant was
established here. The statement (by the
company in the Enterprise of the 22d
inst. is simply a big game of bluff and
we who have had years of experience
with the methods of the railroad COM
pany to deceive their employees or the
public understand it thoroughly This
statement was made by the company
to deceive the public and to discharge
some of our men who might be a little
weak. The company has sent to the
homes of some of our men begging
them to come back to work at an in
creased salary. but they all. to man.
refused to prove traitors to their fellow
men.
THE company has increased our hos
pfta1 dues and has refused to restore
them to what they formerly were. The
company tried to force on all employees
an application called No. 1892, special
applica tion.' by signing which any en-
ploye would be compelled to undergo a
physical examination and answer ssome
40 or so questions and swear to it be-
fore notary public, by which he
valves all rights to DANA geS in case of
injury, and valves all rights to an in
vestigation If the company wished to
discharge him for any cause whatever.
These questions are so contemplate
that any man who has any intelligence
or honor would not ask even a slave to
answer them.
This application form 1892 special, by
legal authority in several instances, has
been said to be the strongest stand that
any railroad company in the United
States has ever taken, or tried to force
upon its employees anything that would
reduce them to slavery or serfdon.
ANY person agreeing to such a con-
freed freed m0 or liberty. The originator Of
such a document should not be toler-
ated in a civilized country, and, to use
the language of the late lamented
sired by the devil and born in hell, he
would be a disgrace to his parents and
a dishonOr to his country This appli-
cation since the date of our strike has
been forced upon some of the employees
of the railway company by their Off
Gals. Also previous to the strike they
tried to force the application on some
of the machinists on the southern di-
vision, after local officials made faith.
full promises that such would not bt
done. The officials have broken prom
| Use after promise and have on dozens
| of different occasions violated our agree
ment which has all along been a thorr
| to the manager ent here ever since Il
| was in vogue. Our position in regard
| to the cause of the strike, ATTRIBUTABLE,
| by the management to the removal o.
| one man from his former position has
| been fully explained before by circu
| lar but we would like to ask the public
| to take into considerat ton the fact tina
| it was the last injustice that we coule
| submit to and maintain our self-respec
| as honest, law-abiding workmen ant
| citizens of Cleburne
| Executive Committee of Strikers"