The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-05
WALkOUT AT La JUNTA.


Word was received here today that a
number of Santa F'e shopmen at La
Junta, Col, declared a strike. laid down
their tools and walked out yesterday af-
ternoon for the reason that the COM
pany would not discharge a nonunion
workman who was employed in the
shops 1t is not known just how many
men are affected by the strike but an
advice received at the Santa Fe general
offices this morning from the master
mechanic in La Junta states that a force
of men worked last night This indi-
Gates that part of the men are still at
work.
The news of the strike came as a
surprise to the local officials of the
Santa Fe. Not over a month ago a
strike similar to this one occurred
among the shop men at La Junta and
1t is stated that the greater part of the
men who struck at that time went out
yesterday. The cause of the former
strike was a slight delay in the arrival
of the monthly checks. After consider
able parleying between the men and
the authorities at La Junta General
Manager Nudge went out there and al
though he did not think that the men
had done the square thing by the com
pany he was lenient with them and is
sued orders for the return of the ma
jority of them. They were all glad
I
out the impression that they would
hereafter cause the company no trou-
BILE at La Junta. Their promises were
short lived, however, for they are out
again and it is thought by local rail-
road men that they will be unable to
get back.
The present strike at La Junta af-
fects principally the boilermakers in
the shops at that place. The strike in
July affected about 200 men but the ex-
act nl1n1 her of who nIIf
has not yet been learned 1t is expect
ed. however, that about the same num-
Der of them are striking and more may
follow.
La Junta is an important point on the
Santa Fe and that road has a large
number OF men emkHOyed in the shops
there but at one tint General Manager
Nudge threatened to transfer all of the
work done there to the shops in Topeka
if the men continued to show their dis
satisfaction with the manner in which
the road conducted its affairs. The gen.
eral manager is now in Kansas City
but it is expected that he will leave
shortly for the scene of the strike. If
he does the strikers may look out for
trouble for Mr.. Nudge is not the man
to forget the promises they made him
and which they have broken so readily.
The name of the man whose dis
charge was demanded by the commit
tee which called on the master me-
chanic at La Junta last Thursday aft
ernoon is not known but it is stated
that he is a good workman and that Is
all that the Santa Fe requires of their
employees. Tt is generally known that
the Santa Fe is not in sympathy with
organized labor and does not intend to
give in to every slight whim of their
employees. 1t is stated that the road is
willing to do the right thing by their
men but that the officials do not intend
to discharge a faithful workman be-
cause he is not a member of union.
1t is thought that the road will stand
by the man who is the cause of the
present trouble and will on no condi-
tions give in to the strikers.
1t is not known for a fact but it is
thought that the present trouble is the
result of instructions from the officers
of the union These men know that they
are not very strong on the Santa Fe's
lines and for several months they have
been endeavoring to strengthen them
selves on this particular road If TINS
is correct and the heads of the orders
think that the men are justified in their
action at La Junta, general strike OF
all the shopmen on the system may be
declared.