The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-05
Threat Made if Companies En-
ploy NOnuniOn Labor.
Firm Heads Say Business VIII
Go On Just the Same.
MAYOR HOUSE IN A WARNING
''This Is Not kansas City
Wen Have No Trouble"
Declares He'll Maintain Peace
if 1t Take 1000 Cops.

Violence and intimidation in con-
nection with the teamsters' strike was
warned against in a statement issued
by ]. E. House, mayor. This is not
Kansas City" said the mayor. There
is going to be no disorder. no intimi-
dation, and violence in this town. The
police have instructions to grab the
first man who starts trouble. We are
going to have order here if we have to
hire a thousand extra policemen to
preserve it,
The mayors statement, in full. fol-
lows:
"Rumors, some of them vague and
uncertain, some of them apparently
well authenticated, have come to ma
that, in the event of q walkout by the
teamsters. there might be violence and
intimidation. 1 am not disposed to
credit these rumors. 1 have always
regarded the teamsters as law abiding
citizens. 1 believe they have too much
sense to discredit their cause by any
such action. But in view of these ru-
mors and of rather unsettled condi-
tions between employers and employees
generally, 1 have thought it worth
while to indicate the attitude and the
probable action of the city administra-
ton in such matters.
with differences of opinion between
employers and employees concerning
! wage schedules and other matters, the
city has nothing officially to do But
this is not Kansas City. There is go
ing to be no disorder, no intimidation
and no violence in this town. The po-
lice have Instructions to grab the first
man who start trouble, or attempts
intimidation, and to keep on grabbing
a &
going to have order here if we have
to hire a thousand extra policemen to
preserve it.
Every firm or concern conducting
legitimate business in Topeka will
be protected in the operation of that
| business, regardless of its status with
| its employees or those who have been
! its employees. That's flat and its final"
Sixty Men Out.
Sky teamsters employed by three
| local transfer and storage companies
went out ON strike this morning. The
companies affected by the strike are
the Atherton Transfer company, the
| Topeka Transfer company and the
| Merchants Transfer company. Off
GERS of all three companies said this
morning that they were still doing
| business in spite of the strike and
| expected to continue to do SO.
John T. Atherton, of the Atherton
| Transfer company, intimated this
| morning that he may close his place
\ for about sixty days. He said that
| committee from the striking teamsters
| had waited on him this morning with
| tentative contract which he refused
| to sign. Atherton said that the dele
| gate in charge of the contract asked
Atherton's opinion of the terms and
when Atherton demurred TO some of
| them made notationS and went his
way.
]. H Gayhart of the Merchants
| Transfer company was sending out his
( trucks this morning. He said that the
committee had waited on him with
| their demands, but asserted that he
refused to treat with them. Gayhart
| reiterated his statement of Thursday v
| in which he announced his willingness
| to meet with my own employees in
| dividually and talk the matter over
1 with them"
Won't Consider Walking Delegate.
Gayhart said he would have nothing
to do with the walking delegate named
simmons and would not consult with
him in any way.
/ The Topeka Transfer company
teamsters were all on the job early this
morning but refused to take their
| teams out of the barns. o. H. White,
one of the officials of the company,
has repeatedly said that "the Topeka
Transfer company does not now and
will not recognize the teamsters
union"
The first action towards strike was
taken at the Merchants company.
According to Gayhart. the men had
been sent out with two wagons TO de-
| liver goods. One of the helpers was
4 a negro. The men unloaded one wag-
on and then called in to say that the
Niger will have to be discharged or
we quit" Gayhart was told that one
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