The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-24
THEY TALK STRIKE
Santa Fe Union Blacksmiths
May Quit September 1.
That Is What the Leaders Say.
Will Happen.
MR. BUCKALEW TALKS.
Bonus System Is Cause of the
Trouble.
Says That Union Men Are
Already Quitting.

Unless the prevailing conditions at the |
santa Fe shops are changed and the |
company does away, to some extent at |
least, with the bonus system the union |
blacksmiths over the line will go on |
strike about September /, say the Off !
Gals of the unions already on a strike. |
In fact the men are now leaving the
shops and are seeking employment with
other roads, thus getting ahead of the
strike order. The bone of contention
between the company and the black
smiths is what is generally known as
the bonus system. This is a system
whereby the men are paid for a days
work and then receive extra pay, or a
bonus, for all work done over that
amount. The company contends that
the system makes it possible for am
pltious men to earn extra money for
the support. of their family, but the
men look at the matter differently and
say that it ultimately means a reduc-
ton of their wages.
The bonus system was the cause of
the bOilermakerS going out on a strike
four months ago and seems to be objec-
tionable to all the classes of laboring
men at the shops. Some time ago the
local union passed over its authority to
the executive council now in session at
Chicago and no action, as far as learn
ed, has been taken by that body. 1t
is up to the union blacksmiths to go
out of the shops or go out of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor if a strike is
ordered. The blacksmiths are affiliated
with the Federation of Labor in such
manner that the men can not do piece
| work and still remain in the union.
Fourth Vice President Buckalew of
the international Order of Machinists
who is in the city for a few days said
this morning concerning the trouble
with the blacksmiths: You may be
sure that something is going to happen
before the first of September. At that
| time there will be none of the union
blacksniths at the Santa Fe shops or
in the employ of the Santa Fe. AS it is
now all the unions which are affiliated
with the American Federation of Labor
are under agreement not to work on the
piece work system and this bonus sys-
tenn which the Santa Fe is now Install
| ing in the shops along the line is form
of that kind of work, consequently the
company will have to change its policy
or the men quit work 5r7
Already the men are beginning to
quit the employ of the company and are
seeking work on some other road. In
this way they get around going on a
strike and will still have employment.
I look for the -blacksmiths to be called
out by the first of next month. It may
be that they VIII not go out on a strike
but they will have to quit work for the
Santa F'e if the bonus system is adhered
to by that company. There are in all
/ q DOut 00U DldckSIIllttiS III Lie SdAlpaOJ VI
the Santa F'e and probably of this num-
Der so to rs are employed in the shops
at Topeka. The men themselves will
have to call the strike as no officers have
that authority. The blacksn1iths are al
ready out on the Coast lines of the
Santa Fe and have been for some time
and If the union has enough money a
strike will be called on the eastern and
central divisions of the road or wher-
ever the bonus system is used. 1t re-
quires considerable money to maintain
a strike and the blacksmiths are by no
means as rich as the machinists. We
have all kinds of money to keep up the
strike but the biacksmiths are not so
well fixed.
II .lele will be a district meeting of
the rnachinists in Topeka the LIST of
September All. the lodges from Cali
fornia to Chicago will send representa-
tives and we expect a big time. At this
meeting delegates will be chosen to the
grand convention in Boston. ]. w.
Kline, vice president of Blacksniths
union. is out on the road at present in
vestigating conditions and he may be
heard from SoOn.