Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-03
ALLIED WORKERS OUT
BIG STRIKE ON ATCHISON, To-
PEKA AND SANTA FE.
Protest Against Conditions Imposed
by Company-Between 10000 and
$4,000 Men Involved.

Over 800 machinists and a large number
Of allied workers on the Atchison. Topeka
and Santa Fe railroad were reported out
on strike up to o'clock yesterday after
noon. When the whole striking strength
Is brought out embracing not only the
machinists but the Allied Metal Mechanics
Association, boilermakers, blacksmiths. cop
per workers. helpers. ETC.. as well, the total
number involved, according to President
O'Connell Of the Machinists' Union. may
approximate between 100 and 1900 men,
The strike was ordered on instructions
from headquarters here, after the men
along the line had voted unanimously in
favor of the step. A telegram today from
John Mulholland Of Toledo, national presi-
dent of the Allied Metal Mechanics, an
nounced that he has ordered his men to
cooperate with the machinists, which
means sympathetic strike from that quar-
ter. embracing probably about 1000 men
engaged in semi-skilled labor in the Santa
Fee shops.
Mr.. O'Connell says that the machinists
are out all along the Santa Fe from Chi
Gags to San Francisco, and on its
feeder lines. 800 of these being now spe-
officially reported out The Allied Metal
Mechanics. the boilermakers. etc, in prac-
tically all Of the shops west of Albuquerque
are also reported out. Mr.. O'Connell added
that the men are prepared to continue the
strike indefinitely; that they are asking
only the same working agreement now in
operation on other railroads and discon-
tinuance of the spotter and detective sys-
tenn, which. he said, is carried on by the
company Ito a shameless degree"
THE system he said, is honeycombed
with detectives. and the men are watched
the moment they leave the shops and
marked, blacklisted and disseminated
against If they protest their right to do as
they please.
1--WE will not tolerate interference. Other
railroads must keep their hands off in this
strike. The challenge has been thrown
down by the company, defying us to a test
of strength. We have done everything pos
sible to avoid trouble. The company has
been hiring men all along the line and over
the country and herding them in camps
slipping them into the shops and letting
our men go. 1t Is a question of self
preservation.
THE men have been given strict warning
against violence. Any member who in in
tense anxiety enters into an encounter with
man put into his place does so without
the advice or instruction of headquarters
and makes himself liable to suspension
and expulsion. We propose to carry on the
strike within the law. Members have been
warned that they must not be party to
violence of any kind, but that they have
right to make their grievances known to
any one employed to take their places, but
to that extent only"
Total on Santa Fe System.
Approximately 5000 men out on the Santa
Fee system IS the strike situation today as
claimed by President O'Conneu of the In
ternational Association of Machinists This
statement is based on reports received this
morning from all along the line. OF the
5,0OO about 100 are machinists and the
others are boilermakers. blacksmiths, tin
smiths, copper workers, helpers and the
semi skilled labor Of the Allied Metal Me-
chanics. The reports say that twenty-one
shops and round houses are affected; all
shops west of La Junta, Col, to the Poetic
coast being completely tied up. East OF Ia
Junta to the Chicago terminal is not affect
ed as much, hut 1t Is announced here that
all machinists in that section are out and
the allied interests in some of the shops as
Well kilograms from John Mcneil of Kan
sas City. president of the Boilermakers and
Iron Shipbuilders, and John SIocum of Ch:-
cago, president of the Brotherhood of
Blacksmiths, say that they are in entire &C
cord with the machinists and have given in
structions for cooperation.