The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-08
FROM Mr.. KENDRICK.
He Issues an UItimatum to
Maehinlsts.

Thursdays reports regarding the
trouble between the Santa Fe and the
international Association Of Machinists
tended to show that a strike on that
road would probably be prevented. For
the last two days the general impress
sion has been that the company's diff
culties would be overcome and that the
proposed strike would come to nothing.
This opinion was corroborated by re-
ports from Washington, where the ex-
ecutive committee OF the Machinists'
association Is IN session, and the alb
sence of any action whatever on the
part of the local employees of the road.
II seems however, that the officials Of
the santa re still believe that trouble
viii eventually be brought about.
]. W. kendrick, third vice president
of the road, under whose supervision
all the labor troubles of she road are
handleds To-Day issued a notice regard
ing the action the company will take
towards the men in case they should
strike. This notice has been posted
throughout all the machine shops of
the Santa Re and Its branches and in
dicates that the officials expect trou-
bic within the next few days.
In his ultimatum ito machinists who
are members Of the International As
/ ISOLATION OF MachiniStS, Mr.. Kendrick
gives the men their choice of action
should they be called out He states
explicitly that should the older men
in the employ of the company see fit
to become dtsloyal to the company and
to follow the lead of young and reck-
less men who have little or nothing a
stake" they must accept the conse-
quences. Which is one way of saying
that they viii be bIacklisted. The fol-
lowing is Mr.. Hendricks ultimatum in
full:
THE ATCHIsON. TOPEKA & SANTA
FB RAILWAY SYSTEM.
Notice-To Machinists Who Are Mem
Z - A -a-.As
of Machinists
You have been called upon to vote to
strike or not to strike, on account Of
refusal of this company to enter into
a contract with. the international As
ISOLATION of MachinistS, to which or
ganization many of you belong. You
have an undoubted right to leave the
service of this company, If you desire
to do so. In order that there may be
no further misunderstanding, however,
the management desires to state that,
having informed you of it's reasons for
refusing to enter into an agreement
with the above named association you
will act in this matter with your eyes
open and must accept full RESPONSE
bility for what follows. 1t often nap
pens that after a strike is concluded
the men who left good places feel that
the employer is bound to take them
The claim is often made that certain
men have worked for that employer
number OF years, that Iney nave eSldD-
lished homes and reared families, and
that it viii work an especial hardship
upon them if they are obliged to seek
employment elsewhere. The differences
that now exist between this company
and its men are due to the efforts of the
organizers of the above named order.
You know that the speeches referred to
in the letter Of April 1, as having been
made at Cleburne Pueblo and Topeka,
have also been made to you, either in
the same or similar words. You know
that as respents the nature of your en-
ploYment and the PAY that you receive,
you have no Just grievance.
The officers of this company have ia
ken pains to acquaint you with what
was done in Chicago during the meet
ings with the committee in order that
you may be able to judge for your
selves. If the older men in our en-
ploy see ut to become disloyal to this
company and to follow the lead of
young and reckless men who have lit
tie or nothing at stake, they must ac-
cept responsibility for such action NO
obligation can attach to this company
to furnish them with employment up
on termination of the threatened strike,
should it occur. It is fair to state for
your information that in case of
strike, the places of the men who leave
the service of this company can and
will be filled Immediately. (Signed)
J. w. KENDRICK,
Third Vice President.