The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-27
No Strike Order on Rock Island
rs a Blessing.
Would Have Been a Hard Win
ter for Strikers.
ROAD DIDN'T WANT II
Settling of Differences Satisfac
tory for a Time.
Other Items of General Interest
in Traffic World.

The decision Of the shopmen of the
Rock Island not to strike was no sur
prise. Although the officials in rail-
road circles declared that they feared
a strike and were prepared to meet it.,
still they felt that considering the
circumstances, the traffic for the year
and the outlook. no strike would be
called.
strike this year would have been
fatal to the union shopmen- In the
first place business IS dull-Very rev
shopmen are on duty in regular hours
In the second place the Rock Island
was tuned up to meet the strike and
the large numbers of shopmen out OF
work would have filed the ranks of
the strikebreakers.
The Hartman lines practically have
won their controversy with the union
shopmen. At least from the present
outlook they have the strike we'll in
equipment through the winter in good
shape. The Rock Island was in shape
TO do IikeWise-and the union shopmen
would have found it unwise to carry out
their demands at this time.
From what can be figured on the &C
ton Of the shopmen at this time. it
appears to the average citizen that the
unions picked out q bad time to de-
mand higher wages and better hours.
It is an open book that the railroads
are fighting down the operating ex-
penses this year. Their decrease in
traffic and earnings make 1t necessary.
Economy is the watchword and the APP
peal has gone so far that general man
ayers have asked their clerks to be
careful with their pencils and rubber
bands
Even though it may be right that the
Shopmen should be given better condI-
tions, this year Is not the psychology
cal moment for this request. The first
demands were made about six months
ago when railroad presidents were pre-
dieting that the rail lines would be in
the hands of the government in ten
years.
There have been many rumors in
railway circles that the Rock Island
wouldn't care if the shopmen did walk
out. To anyone who is acquainted with
the operating heads, this is known to
be untrue. AS General Manager Sweet
said he other day-"We are hoping
that there will be no strike. We want
the men to work under their present
agreement. But their requests are IN
reasonable at this time and we cannot
afford to grant them"
The news of the anti-strike decision
will be met with Joy in the west. Near
" all the railroads have either sliced
down their working hours or laid off
a big part of their working forces
Right down in their hearts the western
voted for the demands OF trades heads,
it is true, but when they were con-
fronted with walkout and a cold win
ter with only enough allowance to buy
meager groceries, they shook their
heads and awaited anxiously the decis-
ion of their officers.
The shopmen of the Rock Island I'M
doubtedly will renew their efforts to
enforce better conditions in their ranks
in the uture. Vice President Melcher
said every demand called for an in
crease in wa ges and the Rock Island
could not afford it. The railroads will
always gage their wages bv the earn
ings-that is, as long as they are capa-
BILE of holding out. In the future when
better times swells the Golfers of the
Rock island, the shopmen probably IS IL
try it again
To the every day man who watches
such conditions through the columns of
his newspaper at his evening fireside,
the decision Of the committees not to
strike was blessing. Everyone is
knuckling down to business depres-
sions and scanty payments this year
1t is felt that the shOpmen should take
their medicine with the rest for a few
more months at least