The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-11
To Form Organization
Is Called for Tonight.
Morse Gets Job Back but Men
Are Not Satisfied.
A. F. OF |. UNION is PLANNED
Labor Leader Denies All Men
Stayed on job Today.
TOnight's Meeting Expected To
Overflow Labor Hall.

Employees If the Santa Fe railways
headquarters shops in Topeka will be
organized tonight at a meeting at La
Dor hall and affiliated with the Amer
ice n Federation of LABOR, lin view OF
obtaining a living wage and better
working conditions it was announced
today b. Frank Brown. local organizer
for the American Federation of Labor
Browns announcement followed an
assertion this morning by Santa Fe Of
ficials that the threatened walk cut
by employees in the shops had been
avorted by an agreement between the
officials and the men whereby Fred
H. Morse, assistant car inspector. al
legged to Fave been discharged because
of activities in trying to promote af-
file tion with union labor. is to return
to his job.
The meeting wherein Santa Fe men
are TO be organized will be held at
O'Clock. Brown today asserted that he
is in possession of signed applications
of 400 Or more shop employees who ask
to become affiliated with union labor
Expect Big Meeting Tonight
I'VE expect that between 1000 and
1900 Santa Fe employees will attend
the meeting tonight" the labor or
Sanizer said Labor hall may not he
large enough to hold them. and. il
not, we will parade to some place that
is large enough"
Brown declares that the meeting to-
night Will result eventually in the or
ganization of practically all shop en-
ployes here. Employees Including
boilermakers, blacksmiths, painters.
electricians, machinists, sheet metal
workers, air brake men, truck drivers.
air hammer men. car carpenters.
storehouse men, common laborers and
other trades Will be signed up tonight.
he said.
Browns announcement apparently
hy-ira raIa IL c.
railway and its shop employees here to
crisis. For years the road has sue
cessfully discouraged labor union af-
filiation by its men.
Drury Issues Statement
spark" of labor organization en-
thuSiaSm, union men declare, has been
smouldering in the shops for months
The Morse incident" it is declared.
served to fan that spark into a flame
1t is claimed by employees that Morse
was discharged Saturday because he
talked to fellow employees about par
ticipation in the Labor and Loyalty
parade, an event fostered by union
labor tomorrow afternoon. In a
statement given out for publication to-
day, M j. Drury. superintendent of
the shops. stated that Morse was not
discharged, but quit of his own accord.
At n meeting Sunday at Labor hall,
which Brown says, was attended by
500 Santa Fe employees, the employees
adopted resolutions demanding rein-
statement Of the employe. A commit
tee representing the employees this
morning waited upon Drury, John
Purcell, assistant to the vice president,
and Charles N. Swanson, superinten-
dent of the car shops and after the
conference Swa nson and Drury gave
out statements saying the trouble had
been settled Contradictory stories as
to just what took place in the confer
ence were thick in the shops today.
IS M he ~ of
fair was the result of a "msunder-
standing"
Contend Morse Was "Fired"
Employees were emphatic in the as
sertion that Morse had been fired
outright. Employees also said that the
committee representing the men had
tried to sound out the officials as to
their attitude toward collective bar
gaining" This. they said, was ignored
and the officials, instead. tried to
smooth things over and avoid pub
licity.
The reinstatement labor men re-
garded as a victory that led toward Q
head" for the organization of the
employees.
The spark of union orga nization in
the shops was born last spring, il 10
pointed out, when a railway mems CO.
operative buying association was
formed. The employees of different
roads mostly from the Santa Fe
shops formed and affiliation to obtain
cheaper foodstuffs-
Road Made Men Withdraw?
Labor men claim that the Santa Fe
opposed this organization, and some
officials went SO far as to call men
in and let them know it was a ques-
ton of their jobs or the grocery store
idea Brown, the labor organizer and
editor, said he was forced to remit
several Santa Fe mems dues because
they had to withdraw from the organ
ization. The poll tax controversy
also served to bring the shop em-
! pIoyes and union men closer togeth-
er" it was asserted.
Growing out of the present con-
Continued on Page Twol