The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-20
NOW ROCK ISLAND
Railroad Strike May Include
This Line.
ShOpmen Are Now Voting on the
Question.
ARE READY FOR 1T.
Topeka Officials Say They Have
Nuch Equipment.
A Number of Shops in Kansas
Would Be Affected.

II reports received al the general Of
fices of the Rock Island in Topeka are
true, a general strike among the shop
men of this road will be called soon. 1t
is known in Topeka among the officials
and others that strike vote has been
contemplated for some time One Of
ficer said he understood it was to have
been taken yesterday. Another had
heard that the vote would be taken
October %
The shOpmen have been comforting
with the Rock Island heads in Chicago
for several weeks. When the Hartman
strike was called it brought the de-
ciston to a climax and vote was or
dered Immediately. It is known now
that the strike vote is being taken
over the system.
From the way the Rock Island men
understand the situation. the shopmen
are asking recognition from the rail-
roads. It has been rumored that the
strike was in sympathy with the Har-
riman lines. This is known to be I'M
true because tn II first interviews with
the officers in Chicago occurred be-
fore the Hartman strike was called
It is estimated that there are nearly
10000 ShOpmen on the Rock Island
Lines. Their big shops are at Silvis
and there are numerous other smaller
shops along the lines. In Kansas.
Horton would he the hard hit town.
Horton is Il Rock Island shop town
and the principal shops of this dis
trict are located there. Smaller shops
at Herington, Caldwell Pratt and
other Kansas towns would be affected
Among railroad men a strike at this
time of the year ana at a year when
prosperity is not smiling on the rail-
roads. is not considered advisa BILE The
railroads have laid off a large number
of their shopmen to begin with. In
the second place there are so many
men out OF work now that it is thought
4
Some railroad mon take the strike
threat as bluff. They say that a vote
means nothing except an assistance to
the union officers in forcing their de-
mands.
The Rock Island is said to be in
good shape for a strike. They have
plenty of equipment and motive power
on hand to place on the rails in case
also that the road would have little
trouble in finding men to fill the
places of the strikers.
Five Crafts Concerned.
Kansas City. Oct. 20.-Labor leaders
here announced today that the five al
lied crafts of shopmen now on strike
along the Hartman railroad are pre-
pairing 10 strike on the Rock Island
system A strike vote is being ia
ken by the members of the various
crafts in the federation according TO
the announcement. The proposed strike
would add between five and ten thou
SAND men TO the mum Der already out.
It is said in labor circles that other
roads are likely to be involved. in the
strike before It is settled.
1.-The trouble on the Rock Island sys-
tenn is not the same as the Hartman
trouble" ]. A. Franklin. president
Boilermakers' union said today. There
is a question of wage increase involv-
ed in the Rock Island trouble, the fed
Grafton is interested the same as n
the present strike but incorrect to say
the Rock Island men are striking from
sympathy"
Mr.. Franklin said the wage question
involved a sliding scale and was so COM
plicated that it would be hard to say
just how much increase is being asked
a this time
Nudge Doesn't Know.
Chicago, Oct. 20-At the Office of
President H. L. Nudge of the Rock
Island SYSTEM. it was stated today
that the officials of the railway COM
pany had no intimation of an impend-
ing strike of sfopmen.