The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-14
RAILROAD NEWS.
Machinists' Mass Meeting Held
at the Auditorium.
Only About 800, Mostly Machin-
lists and Families, Present.
BOASTS THE SANTA FE.
A. E. ireland Says Nudge and
Kendrick Hate the Unions.
Trying to Drive Union Men Out
of Their Jobs.

st sincerely hope that everyone in
this audience. if they find it necessary
to take a railroad trip. will use the
Rock Island or the Union Pacific in
preference to the Santa Fe. When 1
go out on the road, as it is necessary
for me to do quite frequently, 1 al
ways patronize some other railway,
where I find it possible, and I ask you
to do likewise"
This was one of the requests made
by A. E Ireland, of the American
Federation of Labor, in his address
to the striking Santa Fe machinists
at the Auditorium last night. About
500 people heard Mr.. Ireland spreak.
The audience consisted principally of
the machinists and their families.
Much enthusiasm was manifested,
and frequent Outbursts of applause
indicated that the sentiments of the
speaker were also those of the audi
ence. It was hoped that local bust
ness men, and especially those who
are entirely neutral as regards the
controversy between the Santa Fe and
the union, would be present to hear
the arguments advanced by Mr.. Ire
land, but not many were in attend
ance.
In opening his speech Mr.. Ireland
said that it was not his intention to
SKY dDElull& QlSreSDGCJIul regarding
= the Santa Fe or its officials. He said
4 he did not believe in that kind of an
argument But before he finished Mr..
Nudge, Mr.. Kendrick and the Santa
Fe in general received several raps.
He branded the Santa Fe as a mo-
nopOly of the worst type, the only
purpose of which was to get the bet
ter OF the working man. He said that
Third Vice President Kendrick and
General Manager Nudge were bitter
enemies of organized labor; that the
principal purpose of the action al
ready taken by them was to abolish
trade Organiza tons on the lines Of
this particular company, thereby de-
prlVlng the employees of a privilege
given them by the constitution of the
United States, and ne finished by re-
guessing that all good citizens and
business men should boycott the Santa
F'e and throw their sympathies to the
support of the International Associa-
ton of Machinists
In the beginning Mr.. ireland smoke
OF the demands which were made of
the Santa F'e by the machinists several
months ago and which were fatty re-
FUSED by Third Vice President ken
drlck at the conference in Chicago.
These demands" said he ss1vera
absolutely fair in every particular
1heFe was nothing contained in the
proposition presented to the oficiaIs
Tor their consideration against which
Lney should have had any objection
he same concessions asked of the
santa Fe are being made to us nv
Other roads in this country and If is
generally conceded bv true tbinIxino
people that such concessions are due
the emplOye. The Santa Fe. however
refused to consider any proposition
IaVor1ng trade organizations, and
turned us down completely.
1t is a well known fact that the
santa re company is an enemy to
trade organizations or ANYTHING that
IS likely to benefit the emDlOve or nos
erect a A.
rake off. 1t is the company's endeavor
TO abollSh organized labor on its lines
and it was partly to prove that labor
unions are a permanent Institution
and are here to stay that this strike
was called. That a strike should he
called was decided by the men them
selVes-not by James O'Connell. the
president of the union, but bv A vote
OF the majority of the machinists en-
ployed on the lines of the Santa Fe
system The strike has now been go
ing on for almost two months and in
spite of the statements of the officials
TO the effect that it has not effected
the operation of the road, we have
gone FAR towards bringing about the
desired end. The company has been
forced to import disreputabIe and in
competent men from the east to take
the places of the strikers and as the
result its motive power has given out
and its freight traffic is at a standstiI
the engines being unable to move if
upon the machinists. They could not
in justice to themselves or their fami-
lies do otherwise. And it is not only
the interests of the Machinists' union
that are in danger on these lines The
same conditions prevail with the
blacksmiths and the bOilermakers In
short, the Santa Fe is an enemy of
anything bordering on unionism."
Ar. Ireland then spoke on the sub
5ect of mOnopOlies. 1.-The Standard Oil
company he said, els a fair example
OF this class of organizations This
company is in the hands of four or
five men whose principal motive is to
benefit themselves regardless of how
they may hurt others. This is so with
all such corporations. The Interna-
tional Association of Machinists. how
ever, grants to each of its members
the same rights and privileges as are
given to its officers. Equality is one
of its leading principles. 1t has but
one purpose, and that is the better
ment of its members"