The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-04
KANSAS ROADS
PREPARING TO
BREAK STRIKE
Officials and Employees at High
Tension Here.
Vote on WaIkOut VIII Be An
nOunced in Four Days.
SANTA FE HUNTING FOR men
Advertisements for Trainmen
Brings in Applications.
Stocking Up With Coal in An
ticipatiOn of the Strike.
Advertisements for TralnmeL
Brings in Applications.
Stocking Up With Coal in An
ticipation of the Strike.

With the DAY when the count OF the
vote on the general strike of the rour
great railroad brotherhoods is expect
ed to be announced only -FOUR Gays
away, tension in Topeka and Kansas
railroad circles is drawn tight as DO"
strings The outcome OF the oaIol'
railroad officials and employees ahke
say, is mere speculation. Meanwhile
Kansas railroads. that are in posltloh
to do so, are preparing TO break the
strike if a satisfactory settlement Is
not reached. -
C. w. Kouns, general manager for
the santa Fe is on his way to New
York with other general managers
who are playing the role of 'WatcnIul
waiting" The role also might be
termed "watchful worrying
When Mr.. Kouns left few days ago
he asserted that no idea of what the
brotherhoods would attempt to do or
what the outcome of the strike vote
would he could be ascertained-
Anything printed or said about the
outcome of the ballot would be purely
speculative" he said.
Affects 5000 Employees.
The controversy affects approx
mateiv 600 railroad employees train
men. in Kansas. 1t was said il the
santa Fe offices today that number
includes one-fifth IF the entire num-
her of railroad employees in Kansas
The principal demands of the rail-
road brotherhoods consist of an eight
hour basic day and time and one-hal IL
for overtime. Figures compiled by
the railroads show those demands, the
actual wage increase, would mean
SIOO.OOO,OO0 to the railroads ot the
United states. To the Santa Fe lone,
according to officials. the increase
would mean $2,752,SS8-
''It would be unfair to the bulk :
railroad employees to giant such an
increase" railroad official said to-
day "The four brotherhoods draw
2s per cent of the total wages PAID
American employees now. me strlhe,
by the way, would affect Is PEE cent
of the total numfer OF railroad EN-
ployes in this country.
''Such an. increase as the employees
demand would mean the railroads
would have to have per cent IN
crease in freight rates.
"By that I mean freight rates not
c11ly in Kansas but all over the coun-
And they are not raising freight
rates very fast. but they will have to-
$50. the people will have to pay"
Would Bankrupt Roads.
A western railroad official recently
stated that the demands of the broth
Crhocds. if obtained. would bankrupt
everv road in the United states.
The count of the strike vote is ex-
pected to be completed and announced
T'uesday However, 1t is pointed out,
the brothernoods are not compelled to
announce TIE result and may not do
so. After the count the general man
ayers of the employees committee will
again go into a conference.
The brotherhoods' committee has
Informed the general managers con-
ference that they are against arbitra-
ton. Newspapers friendly to the en-
ployes have announced that there will
not be arbitration. The railroads
have stated flatly they will not meet
the demands of the brotherhoods but
have offered to meet the employees in
arbitration However. it is known,
there will be no strike or definite ac-
tion until after the next conference in
New York which is expected to begin
Tuesday.
Kansas railroads, however. are pre-
pairing fer an emergency.
The Santa Fe is advertising for
trainmen and it is understood the
road has already a big list of applica-
tions. That is interpreted in railway v
circles here to mean that the road will
attempt to run trains If the employees
strike. Many western railroads are
also stocking up with coal and taking
other steps to be prepared