The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-19
OTTAWA Men QUIT
Strikers Get AccessiOns on
Southern Kansas Division.
Seventeen BOilermakers and
Helpers Join the Strike.
KYLER'S STATEMENT.
Reviews Causes That Led Up to
the Trouble.
Observation-Disclosures Superin-
tendent Violated Contract.
Rupture in Topeka Precipitated
by Sending Work Here.


A dispatch from Ottawa. Kas., to-
day announces that all the union
boiIermakers, apprentices, helpers and
handymen employed by the Santa Fe
railway company at that place, z in
all Joined in the strike movement to-
day.
Except for this move on the part of
the boHermakers, the situation seems
to remain the same. No violence has
been reported from any point, and
matters are apparently quiet in To-
peka.
1t is said IA some quarters that
there is friction between the leaders
of the boilermaKers and the leaders of
2. B. Kyler, deputy grand organizer,
today stated that so far as he knew
there was no friction between the
bOilermakers and the machinists He
reiterated the statement made by
President GilthOrpe of the boiler
makers union at Kansas City, that
the boilermakers were not called out
in sympathy with the machln1Sts but
rather in sympathy with the boiler
makers who have been out on the
Santa Fe coast lines.
J. D. Buckalew. third vice president
of the machinists5 union, gave out an
interview in which he claimed the
credit for having Influenced the action
of the boilermslkers last week
BoflernhaI1ers' Statement.
Mr.. Kyler to-day gave OUT a state
ment of the union boilermakers' side
of the history of the boilermakers
troubles and the cause which led to
the open 7 rupture on the Santa Fe
coast IiJpes and the events which fol-
lowed fand which led to the climax
of coIYing out the men on the east end
lassJ week. He says:
Deputy Grand Organizers Statement.
AS the Santa Fe Railroad company
has endeavored IN every possible way
10 show that the bOilerma keTs and
helpers are out on strike in sympathy
with the machinists, and have no real
grievance of their 0gEns viii endeav-
or to give the facts just as they are,
in order to prove that we are not out
on a sympathetic strike.
THE trouble between the boiler
makers and the company started at
Albuquerque on April 27, 1904" says
Mr.. Kyler. ION that date Mr. Bean,
mechanical superintendent of the
coast lines, called the bOilermakers'
committee into his Office and asked
them what their intentions were re
garding the new men who were COM
ing to take the places of the striking
machinists. The committee. not be-
ing under obligations to tell him their
business at that time. told him that
they did not know. although they held
a special meeting the night before and
voted not to take any action in the
machinists' trouble. Then Mr. Bean
told them that if they would promise
not to interfere with the new men he
would guarantee that the boilermak-
ers would not have to work on en-
gines at the same time with the new
men, but would arrange it so that the
bOilermakers could do tn cir work on
the engines before and after the new
men Although this was a proposition
the boilermakers had not considered,
1t was satisfactory to them. and they
promised Mr.. Bean that they would
not interfere in any way. But the
proposition made by Mr.. Bean was an
one he had no right to make, as it is
impossible to operate any railroad
shop under such conditions; so he had
to go back on his word and put the
men together on the engines.
The Agreement of 1903.
The bOilermakers had an agreement
with the company, dating from Septem-
ber /, 1903, and one of the most import
ant articles in that agreement was that
the boilermakers would be granted an
audience with an official having direct
charge over them to adjust any differ
ence that might come up. Therefore.
when Mr.. Bean put the new men on
the engines with the boilermakers they
asked for an audience with him to find
out why he had not kept his promise.
-lhls was refused by Mr. Bean who said
he would not have anything to do with
the boilermakers. This caused the boil
strike
After careful investigation by the
rest OF the lodges on the coast lines 1t
was decided to ask for conference
with MI Wells, the general manager of
the coast lines, to see if they could not
come to some amicable agreement with
MN. DeIegates representing every shop
on the coast lines We're brought tOpeth-
er at Los Angeles, and on Nav 14th
met Mr. Wells i'm conference. We re-
quested that the boilermakers at Aim
querque be put back to work. under the
same condition that then existed at an
other points on the coast lines and
that the men hired to take their places
be discharged Mr. Wells stated il, re-
ply that it was impossible to do anv-
thing for them and that it was onlv a
waste OF time talking about it. The
company at that time showed no de-
sire to settle the trouble which we are
sure might have been adjusted satis-
factorny to all concerned
This strike was not only sanctioned
by the executive council but Ieyalized
by the convention of the Boilern1sIS-
1904 %
"On July Is, 1904, Mr.. Wells was
asked again to grant the Boilermakers
conference with the idea in view OF
coming to settlement but this also
was turned down by the company.
our grand secretary-tre went
TO Los Angeles and on Dec ,. 1904
requested a conference of the com
pany for the Boilermakers. which was
also denied. And on March . 1905.
our grand president wrote to Mr..
kendrick requesting a conference
which was not granted.
Exhausted Every Effort.
After eXhausting every effort To oh