The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-10
STRIKE MAY SPREAD.
Situation in Horton Shops Is
Not Improved.

Horton, Kan, March 10.-The 80 men
employed as helpers in the boilermak-
| ing department Of the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific railway shops at this
place, who, having become diSsa tisfied
with their wages, threw down. their
tools tuesday morning and walked out
| of the shop, refusing to work longer
unless higher wages were granted
| them, are still out, and the prospects
! for their return to work-this week at
| least are very limited indeed. Public
| opinion in Horton is slightly in the ia
| Eor of the shopmen and the men, as
whole, are very bitter against Cum
nll.gham, the superintendent of the
Horton shops. Mr.. Cunningham has
only been in Horton for a short time,
| having been appointed to his present
1 DOait1on about month ago to succeed
Superintendent Powell, resigned. Dur
ing that time, however, he has sue
ceeded in creating an enmity among
/ the employees of the shops which prom
ises to cause him much trouble.
| The trouble among the boilermakers'
helpers dates back several months. For
some time the men at that place have
exhibited growing dissatisfaction ia
regard to their wages In some way
they have been given to understand
| that they are not receiving ass much
money as is paid to similar employees
on other roads and even on other parts
! of the Rock Island According to their
statements they are only being paid
from sixteen to seventeen and one-half
cents an hour while men doing similar
work at other railroad points are re-
ceiving wages which exceed that
amount to the extent of several cents.
This is the principal reason the shop
men had in striking and whether their
wages will be increased to conform
with the standard scale remains to be
decided by the railroad cOmpany's rep
resentatives.
Immediately upon hearing of the
Sfr af 1o VIC cnn In
ton T. Roope, assistant superintendent
of motive power for the Rock Island,
with headquarters in Topeka, and E.
/ D. Robinson, master mechanic for the
same road at Harrington, Kan, left for
Horton, arriving there on the same
morning of the strike. Upon their ar
rival there meeting was called when
| terminated in a conference between Mr..
Roope, Mr.. Robinson and the members
of a committee representing the IN
terests of the BoilermakerS' union.
At this conference the men stated
| their demands, but Robinson and Roope
refused to comply with them. The lat
| ter, however, were very anxious that
| the men return to work, and offered
| to take the matter up and report their
1 decision to the men within ten days II
| they would do so. The helpers answer
to this proposition was prompt ana
decided refusal, and the meeting ad-
journed without anything of Importance
having been accomplished.
The strikers claim that they have
have asked for a raise in wages several
times in the past, but that each time
they were put off with nothing but
promises. AS a last resort they decided
to take the matter over the head of the
shop superintendent to the officials in
Topeka, and ultimately get a decision
from the Chicago officials. Their state
ment was held-up in Topeka, however,
and Mr.. Roope and Mr.. Robinson took
it uOon themselves to settle the strike
fxxrif11 no nj Of no \
The strikers say that it is for this
reason that they refused to accept Mr..
Ropes proposition, fearing that if they
yielded too easily they would again be
put off.
Mr.. Roope and Mr.. Robinson spent
both Tuesday and Wednesday in Hor-
not and returned to Topeka at $50
o'clock yesterday evening. 1t is expect
ed, however, that they will go to Horton
again today and make a second at
tempt to right matters.
It is the hope of the motive power
officials of this district of the Rock
Island to be able to settle the trouble
at Horton without taking the matter up
before the higher authorities, but it is
not thought that they will be able to
do this 1t is reported here that the
heads of the mechanical department
have already been notified and that the
general master mechanic has left the
headquarters of the road in Chicago
with the intention of taking the matter
up III PG15OA ne 10 6Ap0Cleu TO pass
through Topeka today on his way to
Horton. This is just what the strikers
wish for and in case it is true a speedy
settlement is anticipated.
AT Sfoclock last night the members
of the Boilermakers' union at Horton
together with the helpers, held a meet
ing behind the closed doors of the
opera house at that place and for about
two hours no one was allowed to &C
either in or out. At about 10 O'Clock
the meeting adjourned quietly and the
men left Immediately for their homes
without giving out any information
regarding the transactions of the meet
ing. 1t is supposed, however, that the
business of the meeting had some con-
} nection with the stand that the boiler
makers will take in case the demands
: of their helpers are not granted. The
I general opinion is that if the helpers
l demands are not complied with. the
: boilermakerS will strike, thus makine
matters worse. Should this occur about
so or rs men would become involved ir
the strike and the company would be
compelled to close down the entire shoT
: at this place, for without the boiler
n makers and their helpers the work OF
r the other employees would not be very
t effective When speaking of the pos.
: sibility of the employees of the entire
r boiler shop being called out, one man
r who is prominent in the ranks of thu
o Boilermakers' union at this place, sai(
f / yesterday:
LAS things stand now the boilermak-
ers are working under difficulties. Al
of our helpers are out. thus leaving u.