Pueblo chieftain. (Pueblo, Colo.) 1889-current, 1921-10-24

The following letter has been sent to
the employees of the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe railroad from President
Storey concerning the threatened rail
road strike:
Chicago, Ill, October 81. 1921.
Fellow Employees of the Santa Fe:-
The Santa Fee is once more facing a
crisis. The leaders of the various
brotherhoods have told us thru the
newspapers that a strike is to begin
on our road on November ! next. We
are as yet unadvised as to the classes
of employees that will be involved ex-
cept that the word is definite as to
the train and engine brotherhoods. In
order that you may know the attitude
OF your company in this important
matter the following announcement is
made.
The Santa Fe has for many years
had agreements with the four train
and cnginemcns Erotherhoods. II
has in times past had agreements with
other employees and 1t has at all times
endcavored to carry out the provisions
of these agreements to the letter.
Minor differences of opinion have
arisen from time to time but we have
always been glad to meet and talk
them over and have succeeded to liN-
Ing together in peace and harmony.
While the road was in the posses
sion OF the government. agreements
were made by the administration with
practically all the organiza tons OF
railroad employees, and these agree
ments being nation wide in extent.
were applied to the Santa Fc. When
tho railroad came back. the labor
board. which has been formed to pre-
vent differences from threatening the
transportation OF the country. desired
that the agreements as made by tho
government i, administration should
continue until changed by order OF
the board.
Tho Santa Tc followed the orders
and has dealt with all it's employees
under these agreements. and in addi-
ton has increased wages under tho
boards orders. In July. 1890, the board
made increases in wages agcrcgatinI
about 30 per cent effective Nav /. 1920
on tho ground that the cost of living
had increased to n figure that war
rantcd such increase.
Later when marked decline in
prices lowered the cost of living tho
railroads of the country asked that the
wages In effect before July. 1920. bc
restored. and the board. after hear
inEs and Investigations, granted a Dor
I ton of the request effective as OF july
| /. 1921.
The Santa Fc put these now wages
| into effect. Our train and engine men
thru their representatives, asked the
railroads and the Santa Fe amonS
them for a conference to consider a
restoration OF the rates established in
July. 1890, and a promise that further
reductions would not be asked.
| In view of the general lowering OF
wages thruout the country and tho
changes that are taking place. we did
not feel that this could he done. cs-
pccially in view of the insistent de-
mand that is sweeping the country for
lower freight rates.
A strike vote was ordered and we
/ la 40 h,r nt.r
but by the heads of the brotherhoods
that the strike vote is almost unani-
nous. We do not know what 1t was
on the Santa Fc. bus We feel certain
that Il was far from unanimous and
We do know that on certain roads not
more than 10 per cent voted In favor
and on some of these roads VIC know
that most of tho mon will not go out
The Santa Fc. therefore. finds itself
confronted with a threatened strike
thru the decision of the Labor board
n body of nine mon constituted as the
States. on the board are three rep
rcscntativcs OF labor and three repre-
sentativcs OF the public.
Tho management OF the Santa Fr
has duty to the public TO give 4,
proper service at as law rates as pos
| siblc. II has n duty to its employees
to pay them living wages. and 10 make
their working conditions as comfort
able as possible. and It has n duty
to its stock holders 10 give them .
proper return on tho money invested
| in tho property.
In it's effort to accomplish the FIRST
| 1t must at tho present time attempt
, to reduce its expenses. but in doing
| this II Is willing to leave to the labor
board the question of what is fair
living wage.
If this brings on n strike the road
will have TO meet II to the best Of
! it's ability. In doing this an appeal
| is made to every employc to look tho