The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-18
MEETING is fHELD.
WOrkmen at Topeka Shops Dis
euss the Situation.
Would Respond to a General
Strike Order.

Santa F'e boilermakers at Topeka held
g meeting Tuesday night which was
addressed by Harry J. Thomas, dele
gate from the striking boilermakers on
the Santa F'e coast lines. The men here
expressed a willingness to respond to
general strike order, for the purpose Of
sustaining the demand of the coast line
bollermakers for a raise in pay.
According to the latest information
received here. the general strike order
viii not be issued by President John
Mcneil Of the Boilermakers' union eX-
cept as last resort.
A conference is now being held in
Kansas City between President Nc
Neil and Assistant superintendent OF
Motive Power Nettleton, at which the
issues of the strike Will be discussed
and some definite conclusion rea ched.
Mr.. Nettleton is representing Superin-
tendent Henderson who is now absent
on g trip on the Oklahoma division.
Superintendent Henderson has frank
" declared that the Santa Fe viii take
back only such of the striking boiler
makers as are needed The boilermak-
ers demand that all the strikers be
taken back, and President McNeli says
that unless this is done, a general strike
win be ordered. The situation is there
fore decidedly critical
The boilermakers claim that if the
company takes back only such OF the
strikers as are needed, there viii be
none taken back.
There are now about fifty out of 200
b0ilermakers on the Santa Fe system
on a strike. The boilermakers who are
out are located as follows;
Needles, Cal .....--.-.....--.....l ~
San Bernardino. Cal.......-.......-..-1
Roswell. n ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 10
Seligman, Ariz.... ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 3
BarstoW, Cal.-.-.---.. .----..--..... }
The boilermakers are still working a (
the following points;
Topeka kan--..------- %
Cleburne, Tex.-.--.-.... ..........-...30
La Junta, Colo. Observation-Disclosures. 10
Ration, N NJ -------------. ---.--- -
FIT Madison, Ia.--...- ..-....-. 10
Albuquerque, n. M-........-.....-.-.#.-lO
Topeka is therefore the point Of great
Importance, as there are more men To-
Gated here than at all the coast line
shops together. 1t is for the purpose of
giving the Topeka b0ilermakers the
straight goods" about the strike that
H. J. Thomas was sent here by the
bOilermakers union at Needles. Mr.
Thomas formerly lived in Topeka and
worked at the shops
Mr.. Thomas was seen by a reporter
for the State Journal and asked to give
inf0rna ton concerning the situation on
the coast lines. He said
THE officials of the road have mis-
represented the situation as it exists
out west, and it was deemed best to send
a representative here to tell our mem
bers just how things stand. That is my
object in coming. As far as I have been
able TO learn we have the sincere sym
pathy Of the Topeka bOilermakers
There is no brotherhood in existence
which works in such harmony as the
boilermakers
BARRED FROM THE SHOPS.
II have been ordered to keep out of
the shops here, and so I have to see
the men on the streets after working
hours. The foreman of the boiler shops
told me that he did not want me to
come around there, and I don't know as
i blame him. I expect I would have
done the same thing in his place. / Ger
tatnly shall respect his orders.
The meeting last night did not &C
cOmplish much. We are awaiting for
more definite news concerning the re-
suit Of the conference at Kansas City
believe that the men here realize that
II a general strike is ordered. it will
be for the good of the whole organiza-
tten, and there is a general feeling that
q strike could do much to help the
union at this time
Now In regard to the situation at
Needles and San Bernardino There
have been so many misstatements con
corning our demands that I have
brought with me an exact copy of the
paper which we filed with the officials
WHAT THE MEN DEMAND.
Mr. Thomas here produced the follow
ing document:
May %. 1902.
"Mr. G. r. Joughins. Mechanical Superin-