The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-02
DENY REPORT
Railway BrOtherhOods Say Mat
ter Is Beyond "LOcaIs."
Santa Fe Heads Give Out Their
Position in Topeka.

A VIGOROUS denial that representa-
tives of the four railway brotherhoods
on the Western lines of the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe are taking steps to
withdraw from the general demands
for an eight hour day with time and
half for overtime, was made this
morning by w. w. Hutton, chairman
of the Order of Railway Conductors
on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F'e
lines. Mr.. Hutton also denied the
authenticity of report that engineers
on the Union Pacific lines have de-
ctded to withdraw from the confer
ence.
THE matter has passed entirely be-
yond the locals Mr.. Hutton declares.
The movement for an eight hour day
with time and half for all overtime
was endorsed by every local in the
four orders and the story that the men
now wish to withdraw is preposter-
ous'
Mr.. Hutton has kept in close touch,
not only with the affairs of his own
order but the trend of events in the
other three organizations as they af-
feet the eight hour movement, he says.
And nowhere, he insists, is there any
organized attempt to withdraw
Reports have been received that two
engineers on the Eastern lines of the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe have ex-
pressed themselves as being opposed
to the movement, Mr. Hutton admits.
favor of the demands at the time
vote was taken, he says
AS far as we have been able to
learn. the two engineers on the east
ern lines of the Santa Fe are the only
ones in the country that have shown
And the position of these two men is
not pronounced enough to warrant
action by the Brotherhoods.'
Too Late to Withdraw.
Members of the Brotherhoods who
attempt to withdraw from the de-
mands now do so at the risk of for
feiting membership in the organiza-
tions and thereby losing insurance
carried there, according to Hutton
tween $1,000 and $1,000.
''The eight hour proposition was
| checked squarely up to the locals and
the vote left no room for doubt as to
action expected of the officials" Hut
ton stated without any question
there will be no attempt to break away
from the general conference"
Preliminary steps for the general
conference, in which committees rep
resenting railways of the country and
the four brotherhoods will participate,
are now being taken, according to
Hutton.
Rumors of dissension in the ranks
of the brotherhooGs has been current
in railway circles for some time. Rail-
road officials declare that engineers
who have been in the service for a
number of years and are approaching
the age when they will be entitled to
pensions are not looking with favor
on a break that will sweep away all
| the benefits that have accrued to them
by virtue of their term of service
| Reports Unverified.
| Mr.. Kouns this morning was unable
to verify a report from Albuquerque
that members of the brotherhoods on
! the western lines of the road had de-
cided to withdraw from the general
conference F. c. Fox, general man
ager at Amarillo. Tex, is in charge of
that territory.
The report does not come as a
surprise, however" Mr.. Kouns de-
clares. Reports have come to us
that many engineers on our lines are
desirous of withdrawing from the
case. Especially is this true of the
older men,
Mr.. KoGns will leave for New York
| Saturday to attend a preliminary
meeting of the committee that will
represent the railways in the confer
ence and to which Mr.. Kouns has been
appointed. At that meeting the rail
roads probably will agree on the stand
that will ne taken when the confer
ence opens