The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-02


the least so far. He said he could give
no estimate of the number of men
affected by the lockout.
Coast Lines Situation.
'"The lockout order does not apply
to the Santa Fe coast lines, of course,
said Mr.. Nudge in answer to a ques-
ton. 1.-The strike is already on out
there. We have sent 400 machinists
out there to fill the places of the
strikers, and have everything running
along as usual They have notified US
that they do not need any more men,
and we are therefore prepared to de-
vote our attention to the lines this
side of AlbuqIerque.'
The Santa He coast lines are out
side of Mr.. Mudge's direct jurisdic-
ton, though they are under Supt.
eraI Manager Wells is in charge of the
coast lines.
Strikers Have Money.
Third Vice President Buckalew of
the Machinists' union stated that the
strike would probably last for several
months, and during that time the as
sOciation would care for all men that
were compelled to give up their posi-
tons because of the trouble.
THE present financial conditions Of
our organization, said he, lis such
that we will be able to care for our
men for at least a year All of the
men will be furnished with money
from the treasury and the association
will see to it that their families are
cared for. There viii be no suffering
because of the strike and what hard
ships the men will have to undergo
will be rewarded by success in the
end.
IN my opinion continued Mr..
Buckalew, ''the Santa Fe wants a,
strike. Why, 1 do not know, but prob
ably for financial reasons. It may be
that they do not wish to recognize the
union and think that a strike will go
far towards bringing about the de-
sired end. They certainly did not
want peace for If tNay did they could
have had it. We have submitted rea-
sonable propositions to them, but they
have refused to negotiate with US. AS
far as MI. Nudge is concerned, how
ever l will say that he is Il gentleman
and a man of business, and I think
that if the matter was left to him we
could make a contract. AS 1 under
stand it, however, he is simply acting
according to Instructions from the
headquarters of the road in Chicago
and the company's end of the entire
affair will be handled by Mr.. Ken
drick, the third vice president of the
Santa Fe."
Wilson May Come Back.
There is some probability that T. L.
Wilson. the fourth vice president of
the International Association of Ma
chinists, and the man whom the Off
Gals of the road hold to be respOn-
sible for the present trouble, will re-
turn to the Santa Fe to direct the
strikers now that the strike has been
declared. Wilson is not very high in
the estimation of the officials of the
Santa Fe, nor the machiniSts them
selves, and in case he should return
some trouble may develop.
Wilson is now at work on the lines
of the Rio Grande railroad said J.
d. BuckaleW this morning. although
I refuse to discuss the mans char
acter or his relations with the Santa
Fe, I do know that he has a reputa-
ton Of being fighter and will be a
good man to have on the scene of the
trouble. I intend to stay in Topeka
for several days vet. but I win have a
good deal of travelling to do before
the present trouble is ended and it will
be necessary to have somebody at this
point. I cannot say definitely who my
successor will be. 1t may be WILSON,
Cain and Black Talk.
Sunday was a busy day for the Santa
te officials in charge of the operating
department. They knew that a strike
was inevitable, and were busy getting
everything in readiness. The wires pc
tween important Santa Fe points were
kept hot with messages. Nonunion
machinists to supply the places of the
strikers were being called into action,
and measures were being taken to pro-
tect the locomotives and machinery of
the company from injury. 1t frequently
is the case that strikers employ the
last hours of their employment in
dosing engines with chemicals which
are intended to put the engine out of
service in a short time, and leave the
company without effective motive pow
d. E. Cain, general superintendent of
the Western Grand division, arrived in
town Sunday for the purpose of attend
Ing the time card meeting which is in
progress at the Santa Fe offices today
Finding how things were turning out
Mr.. Cain returned to La Junta today
in order to be in personal charge of the
Effn1 q
to a State Journal reporter:
Il don't know what the situation is
out on the western grand division. We
have about $50 machinists under my
jurisdiction. They DO not want to
strike. They realize that they have no
grievances. But they are being drag
ged into it. The man who has stirred
up all this trouble is Wilson. l start
back to Colorado today to look after
things. We are very sorry that this
trouble has occurred
General Passenger Agent w. J..
Black was asked today whether the
strike and lockout would interfere with
the running of trains.
No" he said, 7 don't think there
will be any difficulty. The company is
prepared for this thing, and has mada
Its plans for what has happened"
Mr.. Buckalew's Statement.
J. D. Buckalew, third vice president
of the International Association of
Machinists who is in charge of the
strike situation in Topeka for the in
ternational union. gave out the fol-
lowing statement:
Yes, we called out all the men on
all the lines of the Santa Fe railroad
this morning at o'clock, and as far
as I know it is a success. I regretted
very much to do it. but the order
came from headquarters and we have
to OBJ ey. 1t looks like the COMPANY
wants trouble and have been prepar-
ing for it for some time. Some three
weeks ago they laid off about 200 of
our men and last week they began to
hire non-union men to take the places
of the men laid off. We stood for that