The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-31
Will Give Needed Service il
Trains Are Protected.
Every Trunk Line in Country
Puts Ban on Freight.
MARSHALING STRIKEBREAKERS
Warn Travellers to End Jour-
neyS Before z A. NJ. Monday.
Railroad Companies to Work in
Harmony During Tieup.

Chicago, Aug. 31.-Practically every
factory in Illinois will be obliged to
close down, throwing out of employ
ment about 100000 wage earners. in
the event of a national railroad strike,
samuel NJ. Hastings, president of the
Illinois Manufacturers association,
said today. For every day that fac
tories of Illinois are idle it means the
stopping of manufacture of products
valued at S10,000,000, President
Hastings said with a loss to wage
earners of S2.400,O00.
4 strike of $4,000 shop men en-
ploved on nineteen railroads of the
middle west will be averted, said w.
J. Tollerton. chief of the mechanical
department of the Chicago, Rock Is
land & Pacific railroad, Oday follow
ing a conference with representatives
of the Rock Island shop men, who de-
manded an eight hour day and IN
crease of cents an hour in wages.
I'VE have made a compromise offer
TO our shop men, which practcally
amounts 10 granting half of their de-
mands. and believe that after several
more weeks of negotiations the con-
troversy will be settled" Tollerton
said.
VIII Maintain Service.
As the central west railroad presi-
dents gathered today for their confer
ence to arrange for the operation of
their lines in case of a strike, President
Hale Holden, of the Burlington, issued
a statement announcing that the rail-
ways of the middle west would be able
to maintain service if given protection.
As Holden has been acting as
Spokesman for the railroad presidents,
both here and in Washington, his
statement was regarded as the express
sion of the entire body of Chicago rail-
road presidents Holden's statement
follows:
The situation is undoubtedly very
critical, but the railroads unitedly feel
they have done everything possible to
find 4 solution and that the country
supports them in the position taken.
The issue now appears to be between
congress and the leaders of the broth
erhoods with public universal that
transportation must not be interrupt
ed without an opportunity by congress
TO consider the presidents program of
legislation and time enough for that
purpose
Feeble Legislation to Blame
IF under the circumstances the
strike occurs on Monday, the respon-
sfbilty for the consequences will be
placed by the public where it belongs
The situation is the logical result of
past. and the apparent helpless posi-
tion of congress is not surprising as
one Of the results.
IF the strike occurs. the railroads
OF TINS territory, at least IN my Opln-
ion, will be able to maintain sufficient
service to relieve the public wants,
altho there will be undoubtedly much
public inconvenience. The extent to
which service can be rendered will
largely depend upon the enforcement
of law for keeping the peace. There
are men who are willing to work and
man the trains if the public permits
them to do so thru the enforcement OF
the law. 1 do not believe there will
be a complete tie-up of services"
H. r. Byron. vice president and su-
pcrintendent of the Burlington. de-
clared. contrary to reports. no strike
breakers have been hired by the Bur-
lington.
Companies in Alliance.
Chicago, Aug 31.-Presidents and
operating officials of the railroads of
the country are in conference today
for the purpose cf formulating plans
TO operate trains in the event that the
strike of the four brotherhoods of
rainmen set for next Monday morning
takes effect. Practically none of the
railroad heads shared in the optimism
expressed in some quarters, that the
passage of the eight hour bill by con-
eress would prevent strike and ac-
cording to f. P. Ripley, president OF
the Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe,