The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-09
RAILROAD NEWS.
NAV Be Further Trouble on
Union Pacific.
Is Claimed Union Men Imported
Under False Pretenses.
WOULD SEEK REDRESS.
Strikers Want to Stop I'M
pOrtations.
Some Reports Concerning the
Situation on That Road.

There is the prospect of trouble with
the Union Pacific for ITS Workmen OF
strikers If reports from Omaha, Nep-
are to be believed. The cause of the
strife now is that the company is de-
ceivine eastern card men, taking
them west under the pretenSe that there
is no labor trouble and putting them
in the places which their union brethren
occupied until the strike of a few
months ago was declared. Recently "a
rnachinists were brought out from Gin
cinnti, Ohio. four of whom were union
men They were put to work but soon
found out the exact conditions ana
promptly quit. These four We're Ger
mans who could not speak English, but
through an interpreter gave out an IN
terview as follows:
I'VE came from Hamilton, Ohio, where
we were at work in a contract machine
shop We were steadily employed at
regular machinists' wages. Wnen we Went
to consult the Union Pacific's agent
about coming out here we were told that
no strike was in progress, that every
thing was peaceable and quiet and that
we would undergo no danger of having
to supplant strikers or union men IL we
came out. While we were getting the
union scale, it was not as good money
as that offered by this agent, and we
were induced to accept his offer because
of the increase in pay, having been as
Sured by him that there was no strike.
We did not learn of the existence or
strike until We. reached Council BluHs,
we left the crowd and premises without
delay We were warned by the COM
pany's guards that if we ventured out
side we would be killed by the strikers,
but this did not look reasonable to US,
as we were leaving because we would
not take strikers places
Here we are in a strange city with
out employment, having sacrificed good.
steady work on the promises held out
to US by this agent in Cincinnati
The men are we'll dressed and intel
igent. There is talk of trying to hold
the Union Pacific responsible for this
condition, but by what means this Will
be done or attempted is not definitely
determined If it appears impractical
BILE to resort to legal action the men
probably will go on farther west. since
they are out this far, and seek employ
ment at their trade in contract shops
Besides these four mere are two
more union men who hold mach1nistS'
cards in the crowd that came IN They
are still on the inside of the shops, but
there is no thought that they will re-
main there. They claim to have been
deceived by the employment. agent as
the other four were, but are not ready
as yet to leave the shops.
Strikers are much wrought up over
recurring incidents like that of yester-
day and last week, when the Indiana
men We're brought out They declare
that something will be done, if possible,
to prevent the company from taking
men away from steady work in the east
pretense that there is no strike. They
say it is not only an imposition on the
men who are thus made the objects of
traffic, but on the strikers as well and
the public. They contend that while
these men are skilled mechanics in most
cases, their pecuniary resources are
meager and they leave home with just
enough money to bear their expenses
until they can reach their destination
and go to work, as they are led to be-
lieve, at extra large wages under peace
able conditions
A Topeka man who recently came in
from some of the western points on the
Union Pacific line says that the strikers
are bound to win in time. 1t may take
long while to do it, but he asserts it
is only a question of the motive power
running down to such a condition that
it will be impossible for trains to be
operated. He asserts that several times
on the Kansas City-Denver part of the
system which runs through Topeka, it
is necessary for engines to be taken out
of the trains on account of leaking so