The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-03-24
Santa Fe Officials Discuss the
Trainmen's Wages With
Topeka Employees.
OPPOSE PROPOSED INCREASE
Shopmen and Clerks Were Told an
s-Hour Day Would Be Too
Heavy Drain.

offices and invited all of the Topeka
employees to mass meeting to discuss
the proposed increase In the pay OF
the trainmen.
The company rented the Topeka Au-
ditorium and engaged the Santa Fe
Apprentice Band from the shops. All
employees here, numbering more than
four thousand, were invited to the
meeting.
M. j. Drury, superintendent Of the
Topeka shops, was chairman of the
meeting. C. w. Kounz, general man.
ager Of the Eastern lines, and q. L.
Copeland, secretary and treasurer OF
the company, spoke for the company.
They explained that the 8-hour day
with the same pay as at present would
cost the company about million dol
lars year in wages, and that 1t would
compel the erection of new terminals
to avoid the payment Of overtime
wages. They also explained the finan-
cial condition of the company, declar-
ing that 1t could not stand such a
heavy drain without increased rates.
]. Mullin, foreman of the car shops,
and James Gibbons, assistant foreman
Of the blacksmith shops, discussed the
proposed increase from the viewpoint
of the employees. 1t was pointed out
that the increased pay, through short
or hours, to the trainmen, would pre-
vent increases in the pay of the clerks
and shopmen for considerable period.
X \ X
Women Building Town Hall-Gene-
va, one-store town, is en- the list of
live ones, for its citizens are starting
the work of building rock road to
lola, at their own expense, and have
subscribed the money to build town
hall. The women were largely re.
sponsible for the hall movement and
one fifteen lumber wagons lined up
to go to Neosho Falls for lumber, and
every driver was woman-not a man
in sight. The women have decided
that the men need some place to meet
that will be more uplifting than q
box car or hay loft assembly.
X X X
Augusta Oil to EIdorado-The Prai-
rie Oil Pipe Line Company, which is
constructing a pipe line from the Au-
gusta wells to Neodesha, has por-
ton of it finished and recently turned
the oil into the pipes between Angus
ia and Eldorado The Prairie Oil and
Gas Company has begun erecting a
derrick south of Florence. This is the
furthest north the oil prospecting has
been taken.
An $4,000 Land SaIe-The best spot
cash land sale in months in Russell
county has just been made by Henry
Strecker, who sold half section to
Carl A. Anschutz for $4,000. Mr..
Strecker will retire from the farm.
X X X
Former Kansas Editor Dead-Henry
c. Ashbaugh, II years old, pioneer
Kansas newspaper man, is dead at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. S. l.. Kern
of Lawrence. He was for many years
editor of the Newton Kansan.
X X X
His Tractor Exploded-Carey Gum,
farmer of Milan was killed there
the other day when his tractor engine
exploded.
Rain Stopped Prairie Fire-A pra.
rie fire that started recently in Ellis
worth county burned over eight Sec
tions of land extending into Saline
county and was only extinguished by
rain. Considerable hay and some small
buildings were burned. A sudden
shifting of the wind saved several
farmhouses that were in the path of
the flames. A couple of hundred men
fought the fire more than twelve
hours.
Died in Motor Wreck-Mrs. Henry
Beleke was killed and three others
were injured when motor car struck
a gate and turned over on ranch
fifteen miles north of Hays, recently.
X X X
Killed by Train-Sam Reisen, SO
years old, was killed by train in the
railroad yards at Marysville recently.
X X X
Helped Build Santa Fe-Charles
Bowman, IS years old, who had lived
in Atchison since 1866, died there re.
Gently. He helped build the first San.
ia Fe track from Atchison to Topeka
and served the road until 1894, when
he retired.
X X X
Two Corning Buildings Burn-Fire
which started from an unknown cause
destroyed the Corning Gazette build.
ing and the c. e. McCabe building, oc.
cupied as cream station. Besides
the Gazette plant, L. F. Yocum's jew.
elry store occupied the Gazette build.
ing, but most of that store was saved.
Boy Best Wheat Tester-Carl Con.
gleton Of Wichita won the silver Low.
ing cup for making the most accurate
test of wheat samples at the meeting