The Topeka state journal., 1904-05-23

helper should be from to IL cents less.
! according to the local conditions. At 2.
/ later date 1 will send you a more detailed
/ statement of rates applying to the various
highest and the lowest rates given for
each class of work. 1t is not expected
statement will be made to apply at once
to all men who have heretofore been in
and remain in our service, but IN en-
ploying new men It IS desired that the
rates here given should govern and as
| fast as possible, old men working machine
tools, at maximum rates OF nrst class
machinists should be put on general
work, and if incompetent should be drop
ped from the service or their rates ad-
1usted to agree with their ability. Their
places should be filled by men in accord
ance with this letter and accompanying
sfatarnenf of ra tes If anv men are EN-
ployed under contract the rate specified
in the contract will be given in accordance
with this plan. but the rates must then be
placed within the limits named in contra ct
if the men are competent to do the class
of work they have represented. Be gov
(Signed.) "A. LOWELL,
Assistant superintendent Motive Power
BuelkaIew Replies to Lowell.
J. D. Buckalew, the leader of the
strike in this section of the country,
has formulated a reply to the letter
sent out by Mr.. Lowell, in which he
sets forth to considerable length the
position which the strikers have taken.
He says:
1 have been asked by a great many
people what is the cause of the ma
chlnist strike on the Santa F'e system
It is the company rushing to the press
before the strike, making numerous
statements as to what machinists de-
manded, trying to urge the public to
believe that we wanted to control their
shops and, as they stated it, run their
business. They also laid a good deal
of stress on the action of some of our
men. This was only a scheme to mis-
lead the public, end the real facts i'll
the case are that they want to break
up the organization of trade unions on
their system, not only machlniStS, but
all classes of organized labor, and as
they had no contract with US, thought
it would be good plan to try the ma
chinists first. The strike is only in de-
fense OF the cardinal principles of our
organization, as the company has noti-
fed the master mechanics and mechan-
ical ,superintendents on different parts
of the road that they must grade the
men into four different classes of me
chanjcs.
Effect of the Order.
We only have a few of the first grade
that would get the top pay. This class
of men they call all-around machinists,
and the work that is assigned to them
would be to operate any tool or do any
other kind of work when called upon.
1t is a recognized fact among railroad
machinists that if a man does only one
kind of work at q time he is either
floor man, vice hand, machine man or
erecting hand. The way the company
wants it. the floor hand or machine
man would be a second class man and
get from two to five cents an hour less
than what they term an "all-rOund'
machinist. Then they pick out some
other machine that requires less skill
and call this class of men handy men
or specialists. They are to run relays,
borine machines, turret latheS, drill
presses. where drill presses have facing
or turning head. This class of men they
propose to pay from two to II cents
an hour less than frst-class pay.
Then they make another grade of
men they call experienced laborers.
These men are to run stud 1atheS, set
screw machines, bolt cutters and
small drill presses, steam pipe and
spring rigging truck work. They pro-
pose to pay this class of men one-halt
what other machinists are getting.
The rate of pay from Chicago to
Dodge City for machinists before the
strike was "a cents an hour. They
have cut it up so that it runs down as
low as 16 cents an hour. From La
Junta to Ration they were paying be-
fore the strike 81 cents an hour. The
new schedule would bring the men
from 81 cents down to 1872 cents an
hour At Albuquerque and Bakers
held the company was paying before
the strike 3S cents an hour. The new
schedule would bring it down as low
as 20 cents. At a few places they
were paying 40 cents. The new
schedule would bring it down to 21
cents. On the Gulf lines from Gle
burne to Galveston the company was
paying 35 cents an hour. The new
schedule cuts it down to 16 cents an
hour.
Would Reduce Wages.
According to this action the ma
chinist trade would soon be cut all to
pieces, be turned topsyturvy, and a
man would not know whether he was
a machinist or specialist, handy man
or labOrer.
The company states in its letter to
the master mechanics that when they
put a man on maximum rates, and
should he not give thorough satisfac-
ton, or prove incompetent he should