The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-12
Believe Men VIII Walk Out
Soon or Make Threat.
I'VE WILL NOT ARBITRATE'
President of b. of r.. T. Gives
Out Broad Interview.
Santa Fe Plans to Have Good
Service Despite Strike.

Out of the muddle of negotiations
and counter demands of the railroads
and employees, and vitriolic refusa1s of
the train service brotherhoods to- arbi-
trate has grown a situation which, it is
believed in Topeka railway circles, is
more serious than any since the wage
controversy began. That was admitted
when official information was re-
ceived from the trainmen saying the
brotherhoods positively would not ar
bitrate, as recommended by the fed
eral board of mediation. The ultima
tum of the trainmen is interpreted
here to mean but two things; either
the brotherhoods will call a strike i'm
mediately, that is within a few days,
Or they are making an attempt to
bluff the railroads into accepting
their demands. Opinion is divided.
Many officials put credence in the
threat of the trainmen to go the limit.
Others believe the threats are bluffs.
Some railroad men even go SO far
as to question the statement of the
union heads that strike was really
voted, and those men point out that
the votes have not been inspected by
others than the unions.
conflicting with that opinion is the
nee OF Henry B. Lautz, assistant to
the general manager of the Santa Fe:
Will Not Arbitrate.
In the New York Times today w.
G. Lee, president of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen, said:
There isn't going to be any arbi-
tratlon or our demands, and you can
not make that too strong. 1 am for
settling this affair peaceabiy if we
can, but there isn't going to be any
arbitration
If a strike be called railway Off
Gals believe it will be called imnedi-
ately. There isn't a time in the year
more suitable than right now for such
a move, it is pointed out
Such an action of the train service
brotherhood would tie up, for a short
Tune at least, every wheel on railroads
IN this state as well as the rest of the
country Farmers would lose millions
OF dollars because of delays in grain
shipments. Merchants and business
men are just receiving their fall stocks
OF goods. Those would be delayed.
The troops on the border would be
menaced, 1t is asserted, owing to a
food shortage.
The soldiers are dependent entirely
upon the railroads for rations. How
ever, IN event of a strike, it is said the
government could readily press trains
INTO service and having troops already
mobilized would be far better prenar red
TO take drastic steps against violence
than if the men were not in the fed
eral service Should the strike be
called, it is expected the government
Will need every man in service.
"A number of local officials are in
chned to place the blame for the crisis
On me neaes OF the union and not the
men personally. 1t is the "walkine
delegate and not the employees, that
are causing the trouble, they say.
Many Oppose Strike.
Secret ballots taken by many west
ern raliroaos among the train-service
employees show that the percentage of
employees on western roads in favor
of a strike is, by far, smaller than the
per cent quoted by the union heads
The Santa Fe was one of the roads
taking ballot of that kind and the
percentage favoring a walkout was
small
While railway circles are awaiting
with considerable anxiety the out
come of the controversy, the Santa Fe
perhaps more than other western
roads, is preparing to keep trains NOV
ing. Employees in the offices here and
in other departments not connected
with the train-service brotherhoods
are hotly against the attitude of the
trainmen. Clerks are volunteering
their services if needed. Besides that
the Santa Fe has long list of appli-
cants to fill positions of conductors
engineers, brakemen and firemen
1t was said today that the Santa Fe
hopes to have train service adequate
to the needs of all traffic in q few
days after such a walkout shall be de-
clared. Furthermore, it is believed
a strike of such gigantic proportions
would not last more than a few days
Probability that the government
would take hand is another thing
considered here.
Objections of employees not connect
ed with the brotherhoods to the strike
are not confined to the west, according
to official reports R. T. Frazier OF
Nashville, Tenn, representing en-
ployes in five southern states who
have signed a petition asking congress
sional action to prevent a nation wide
strike, has attempted to make ar
engagements in Washington to lay the
position of the non brotherhood en-
ployes before the president.
CHE DIDN'T NOW