The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-28
The Kansas City Southern
Strike at Pittsburg.
Railroad Shops Are Not Safe
Place for Visitors.
WARLIKE APPEARANCE
Miners Are in Sympathy With
the Strikers.
Nonunion Men Guarded Behind
Strong StOekades.

A representative of the Chanute Tri-
bune was in Pittsburg, Kas., and visited
the Kansas City Southern shops. the
scene Of the machinists' strike In
story which was written back to his
paper he says.
A very warlike appearance is pre-
scented by the yards which IS not safe
place for a stranger to remain long, es-
Decially IN the evening. lest he be mis-
taken for one of the imported men and
be hustled off by the strikers sympa-
/ thizers.
The machine shops, repair sheds. and
a portion Of the yards are enclosed by
a solid ten-foot stockade. erected since
the trouble as a protection 10 the COM
pany's property and to the nonunlon
men working inside. There is nearly
mile of fence-lilSe StCckade, which IS
said to have cost the company some
thing over 1900 Within its walls
about e nonunion men. or ''scabs,' as
they are freely and bitterly called by
the strikers and symDathizers, are
worked, boarded and lodged. They are
not skilled workmen. but helpers, WhD
have some little experience and are able
after q fashion to do repairing and keep
for short dura ton the engines in rum
! ming order They are mostly foreign
+ ers. and never leave the stOckade. for
should they be caught in town they
would be sure to suffer bodily injury
not from the railroad men. but from thu
miners and other union men who sym
3 IdLHlLE SIIDD&1l Will tie StilhEIS. HI
deed. it IS said that the miners are be
/ ing restrained with difficulty from
marching in a body TO the h c. 3.
shops and demolishing them. and at
any moment some hot-headed ones by Il
few stirring words may precIpItate a
( Wild break for the shops and a bloody
battle. The stOckade is patrOled day
# and night by armed guards who have
[ orders to let no one pass within or hold
any conference with those at work in
side At night the guards are doubled,
and as further precaution electric
arcs have been strung along at regular
the scene at the shops presents very
vivid picture. Within are the suppIna
scabs and the armed patrol pacing
slowly back and forth. while without
/ directing a nerciless onslaught Of jeers.
{ mOckery and deorecatOry remarks at
those within the Enclosure. Occasion
ally man Will come hurrying down
the track and with hasty I want
three good men at once rush off into
the darkness with his small detachment
Of volunteers. Presently a warning shot
from some point in the inclCsure viii
give notice that the party has been dis
4 covered and further attempts a mis-
ehler viii be prevented by force If neeu
be
JTp in town the !strikers gather in
groups and quietly dhScuss the situation
While their more violent sympat hizers
urge immediate vengeance on the de-
tested ScabS. The nOn-uniOn men haV-
+ ing become terrified at the threats
made against them are dropping out
daily and sneaking out of town. As YET
no clash has occurred between the fac
tons and it is probable that the knowl-
edge of the 500 Winchesters stacked at
convenient intervals about the shops
together with the influence of the rail-
road men who wish TO avoid any riot
ing VIII have much weight in suppress
ing an outbreak.
Both parties are as firm as ever and
a settlement is as far away as it was
when the strike was first inaugurated.
! Supplies for the non-union men have to
be shipped in by the company as moth
ing can be purchased for them from the
local merchants. The strikers on the
other hand are receiving outside aid and
declare that they are financially pre-
pared to stand out for two years if
necessary to win their cause. The ma
chinists have been Joined by several of
their fOremen and also the car men and
I painters and there is strong talk of the
telegraphers walking out As the com
pany is constantly shipping in men to
+ replace those making their escape which
is great drain upon the resources and
+ patience of the officials it Is possible
that oVertures may be made during this
/ week.