The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-18
Soldiers Who Worked for Santa
Fe Not Re-EmplOyed.
That Is Complaint j. Will ke1-
ley Is Investigating.
FACED On WAITING LIST
j. ID. Griswold Says He Has
Been Refused Old Place.
Other Complaints Are Made to
Federal Director.

Reports that certain departments
of the Santa Fe general offices are re-
fusing immediate unemployment to
men returning from military service
are being investigated by ]. Will
Kelley, state director of the United
States federal employment bureau.
The cases under investigation are as
serted to be the first instances where
employees returning from the army or
navy were not Immediately given their
old positions back by Topeka firms
and corporations.
Kelley today stated that he would
carry the case of E. D. Griswold, SIS
West Fifth street. before F. c. Fox,
general manager for the road. Girls
wold was an employe in the office of
J. F. Mitchell, ticket auditor, for about
five years and about six months ago
Joined the navy. He was given dis
charge from active duty last week
and upon applying for his old position,
he says, Mitchell told him that there
was no immediate opening, and that
he would have to wait until there was
an opening. Griswoid is married.
Other Complaints.
Reports that men returning from
the army and who formerly worked in
the office of w. w. Strickland, gen.
eraI freight auditor, have been also
placed on the waiting list" have also
been heard. Today Assistant Auditor
Alden denied that any employees of the
freight department had been turned
down." and refused to discuss the re-
ports that some employees had been
told they would have to wait. Strick-
land was out of the city, and Alden
said he had no authority to talk.
Mitchell denied that Griswold had
been refused unemployment. He ad-
mitted that he told the returned sail
ry- ho mi ,iv,t
for him. The ticket auditor declared
that he had not the authority to dis
charge the employees who have been
hired since the war started to fill
places left vacant by army and navy
volunteers in order to provide liv-
ing for the men who whipped the
Huns.
Orders on File Here.
This is in the face of a recent order
from the railroad administration say
ing that men who had seniority rights
at the time of enlistment must be
given the same senior rights upon re-
turn. The order also states that where
seniority rights are not at question
the employees should be given positions
as nearly as possible to those former
Iy held. This order has been received
in Topeka and is on file in the Santa
Fe offices.
Griswold today declared that he
could not afford to wait for an open
ing and remain unemployed when
I Joined the navy" he said, ''Mr
Mitchell gave me verbal assurance
that 1 would be re-employed when
returned" Griswo1d is a skilled man
| in his line of work.
Kelley and others who heard of the
cases today were somewhat puzzled.
Ask General Policy.
"I don't think this is the attitude
| that the Santa Fe as whole is
| taking said the state labor director
'I am going to take the matter before
General Manager F. c. Fox, and if the
| Santa Fe is going to pursue this policy
we want to know it,
! At the time the army and navy was
| draining the general offices of young
| men. the Santa Fe announced tha
they would be employed upon their re-
F, turn, and stated that the girls wht
were being hired in all cases possible
t to fill mems places in order to let the
| soldiers and sailors come back. Th'
| girls, it was intimated, were hired will
| the understanding that their positions
would be temporary till the boys come
home. A large number of girls ant
! women were hired in the ticket ant
! freight auditors offices.