The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-12
SANTAFES STRIKE
THREAT IN SHOPS
NOnuniOn Employees Are Given
Back Their Jobs.
Trouble Follows Because of the
Labor Demands.
aTATr lAHIg TRVF uAN0
STATE WILL TAKE A HAND
Full Authority Would Be Used
to Stop WaIkOut.
Union Heads Deny That They
VIII Leave Positions.

More than 5000 union men in the
Santa Fe shops in Topeka threaten to
go on a strike Thursday. Their threat
is supplemented with a promise that
they will throw non-union work
ers over the fence" Trouble is occa-
stoned by action of a committee named
by the federal railroad administration
which reinstated 25 non-union en-
pIoyes whose dismissal from service
was demanded by union heads Union
men deny strike is planned.
State authority will be invoked to
prevent strike. 1t is known that
Governor Allen today discussed the
pending trouble with Judges OF the
court of industrial relations, Richard
J. Hopkins, attorney general. and
John H Crawford. state labor com
missioner. Steps are to be taken
promptly to prevent both a general
strike in the big Santa Fe shops and to
safeguard against threatened violence.
It is hoped that matters may be pascn-
ed up before a break.
state Will Fight.
Should the union men attempt a tie
up of shop operations, state officials
today foresaw prospects of finish
fight regarding the open shop policy.
The union demand is said to be for a
100 per cent closed shop.
Santa Fe officials today declared
they were not disposed to argue the
question OF open or closed shop. They
merely want the work done. The
question of industrial trouble, TINS
would indicate. would be left almost
entirely with the state for settlement
Work Not Afriliaton.
THE Santa Fe's instructions to shop
foremen have been not to inquire as to
a mans associations or connections
said Judge W. r. Smith, general coun-
sci for the Santa Fe, when asked re
garding the company's policy in the
matter of uniOnism. We do not ask
a man whether he is a member OF a
union nor do We inquire as TO ms
church affiliations or lodge member
Judge Smith declineu to discuss the
prospect of a strike. He admitted re-
ports had reached the general offices
that trouble was being threatened re
garding non-uni9n men restored to
shop service.
Several labor union officials today
denied the report that strike was
threatened. They refused tho, to
sneak officially. A number of in
oi1iries were made by The State Jour
Union officials asserted that the
men were reinstated by the interna-
tional and not by committee named
by the railroad administration. 1t
was also stated that the men were or
dered from the shops by the union
because of evidence OF disloyalty and
refusal to buy war bonds. Immediate
lv, tho, the official giving this state
ment protested that he was not speak
ing for publication or as represen-
tative of any branch Of union labor
Men Are Veterans.
The men 20 be thrown over the
fence" are veteran shop employees and
skilled mechanics. They are not
members of the union and it is re
ported that they have refused to JOIN
any labor organization.
state officials today declined to dis
cuss the case in advance of the ru-
mored walkout- They admitted, tho
that reports had reached them that a
strike was threatened if the men did
not leave shop employment. 1t was
stated that the full authority of the
state would be employed to prevent
either a strike or any move to deny
emDloyment to non-union men. Such
an issue would then be entirely be
tween the unions and the state. And
against rumors of the strike are un-
official denials that a walkout is con-
sidered.
YcIton Denies 1t.
P. L. Yelton. secretary of the Santa
Fe shop federation. stated today he
had not heard of any dispute concern
ing the decision of the international
unfon in reinstating the non-unior
men and that he did not know a loca
waIkout was contemplated.
Il have no information to give he
said. Il think I would hear of it il
a strike was planned, but no such sug'
restion has reached me-"
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