The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-30
NO STRIKE NOW.
Situation in Topeka Suddenly
Brightens Up.
Men Go to Work This Morning
as Usual.
MR.. BUCKALEW HERE
MR.. BUCKALEW is HERE
COunsels Moderation and LabOrs
to Prevent Trouble.
Announces After Meeting That
Strike May Be Averted.
Remarkable Change of Feeling
in Topeka.

The Santa Fe machinists went to
work this morning as usual.
J. D. Ruckalew, third vice president
of the International Association of
Machinists, arrived in Topeka Friday
and addressed the local lodge of the
association at their rooms on Sixth
avenue last night. Under his influence
the local members of the union have
begun to take a more serious view Of
the prospective strike and today the
situation presents a brighter aspect
than it has for some time. In fact,
the opinions of the men regarding the
strike have changed considerably dur
ing the last few days and at present
they are inclined to favor a peaceable
settlement with the company. 1t may
be said that the strike has been in
definitely postponed.
1T is not my custom said Mr..
Buckalew, after the meeting last
night. ito do much talking for the
newspapers. but in view of some
things that have already been said, I
Will say that there will be no strike
tomorrow or at any future time if I
can prevent it"
This statement, coming as it did
after other members of the union had
made statements decidedly to the con-
trary. was something of a surprise.
When asked to explain~ his statement
Mr.. Buckalew said:
me purpose OF my position is not
that of an agitator or to influence the
men to do something for which they
viii be sorry afterwards. I do not
take pride in the strikes in which the
union has been involved. and rather
than make trouble for the men and
the company 1 would favor a peace
able settlement We will do that.
however, which concerns the good of
the members of our association"
ssWfH there be a striker" was asked.
I cannot answer that question sat
isfactorily' replied Mr.. Buckalew
and 1 therefore decline to answer it
at all. All I can say is that there will
be no strike this week nor none at all
if can arrange differently"
Are the men still holding to their
demands? was asked, and Mr.. Buck
alew evaded direct answer to the
question by launching into a discus
sion of the merits of the case.
4 have made a canvass Os the sit
uation and I have found to my salts
faction that 1t is the company that is
in the wrong. The majority of the
mem bers of our association are skilled
mechanics. 1t is to their interest that
their trade be protected. We believe
that we could furnish the company
with good reliable men and we en-
deavored to make contract with
them, thinking that it would be better
This, however, was refused by Mr.
Kendrick and the immediate object is
to get him to change his mind.
Further than this do not think that
the men have any grievance of i'm
portance. I find that the general feel
ing towards the company is not a Bit
ter one, and if it is possible to arrange
a peaceable settlement We will do so.
Mr.. Buckalew was then asked if the
men on the coast lines were out on
their own accord or in compliance with
orders from the officers of the assOcia-
tion, but he declined to answer. He
did state however, that the men on
both the coast lines and the AtchisOn
proper were ruled by the same or
ganization and would be governed by
the same officers as the men on the
eastern lines of the road
Mr.. BuckaIew came to Topeka from
his Headquarters in Little Rock, Ark,
and expects to spend several days
among the men in order to become
ton. He is only a young man-not
over 3O-but he is much more con-
serVative than Wilson. his predecessor.
Where Wilson talked too much. he
talks too little, and where Wilson un-
dertook to influence the men by his
fiery speeches and his attacks on the
officials of the Santa F'e, Buckalew
gives them the benefit of his superior
knowledge as regards matters of the
present kind and endeavOrS to start
them off on the right track with a
clear view of the rights and wrongs
involved in the controversy. Wilson is
now carrying on his work on the lines
of the Rio Grande railroad, and it is
probable that Buckalew will be as
signed regularly to the lines of the
Santa Fe. or at least until the present
trouble has been settled.
No one heard Mr.. Buckalew speak
last night but the machinists. After
about $50 of these had collected in
the hall the doors were closed on all
outsiders and the meeting was held
secretly. After the meeting was ad-
journed Mr.. Buckalew was asked
whether his speech was one that con
cerned the local members of the
discussion of labor troubles in gen
eral. He refused TO discuss his speech
but it is probable that he said some
things that he did not wish the public
to hear and that he gave the local
men a few pointers on the strike
question. The fact that the meeting
was held behind closed dors is con-
elusive proof that what he had to say
was for the ears of the machinists
only.
The feeling of the members of the
International Association of Machinists
as regards the strike question has un-
dergone a remarkable change in the
last day or two and if the present con-
dftions continue there viii probably be
no trouble for the company. Some of
the men-those who will not listen 10
reason-are in favor of immediate &C
ton, but there is a general feeling Of
contempt for the men on the western
lines of the road who have taken the
matter into their own hands, thus maxi
ing it all the harder for the Topega
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