The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-07
Santa Fe Shop District Shows
Increased Activity Today.
Labor Observers Are Less Con-
spicuous at the Gates.
1,407 men At WORK TODAY
Men Who Have Not Worked
This Week Are Back, Is Claim.
No Disturbances Reported When
Work Started This Morning.

The high lights OF the strike today.
according to statements made by of
ficers of the Santa Fe railroad, are:
Number of men working at the
Topeka shops, 1,4S7 as against 1.40l
Thursday. 1,34s Wednesday and 1,167
Monday. All shops on the system arc
in operation, with forces of workmen
steadily increasing. These are John
PurceI's figures. announced at a. m.
2-Strikers who return TO the serv-
ice of the Santa Fe will come as new
employees. and new men who have
been employed since the strike started
will be retained in the service. This
is in a statement by General Manager
Etter.
Some tampering and picKeting are
reported, but no serious damage has
been done.
Train movement is normal.
Purcell Is Satisfied.
ct am satisfied with the situation
Purcell said. I'VE are proceeding in
an ord derly and lawful manner to Oper-
ate our property, and soon will be
back to where we were when the
strike occurred. Already we are talk
ing care of the pressing work, and
conditions will continue to improve
steadily until normally is reached"
Mr.. Etter expressed himself as es-
pecially pleased because the volume OF
freight handled the first six days of
preceding six days.
THAT speaks well for the boys who
remained in the service" no said. I'VE
are receiving applications from new
men at every terminal, and new n;trn
are being put to work every day, Wo
will not have any difficulty maintain
ing the service"
The East side is rapidly forgetting
the strike. apparently. Today the
shop district showed an increased ae-
tivity and continued tendency of the
men to return to their Jobs. Even
the observers stationed to check the
men who went thru shop gates were
less conspicuous. Men who checked
for the gate opposite the motive
power offices did their work from the
interior of a lunch room. Monday
they were on a prominent corner with
an army of volunteer assistants.
Fewer Idle Men.
Shortly before o'clock this morn
ing the shop residence district was
fairly well deserted so far as man
power was concerned. There were
apparently fewer idle men in the dis
trict than at any time since ehe strike
call came. Even last Saturday morn
ing before the men walked out the
idleness of certain crafts seemed to
leave more men in the chop residence
portion than were 10 be seen this
morning.
Many men who have been idle dur
ing the last week were back at their
work today. Claims of motive pow er
official5 wereEt to the effect that nor
NAL conditions are being restored in
the car repair shops. 1t was in this
shop that the greatest walkout came.
Most of the other Departments have
been rapidly gaining, according to in
dications at shop gates.
Back a. New Employees.
1t is probable that the warning Of
w Esffar general
Santa Fe system, has sent many men
back to their jobs Etter has declared
that the Santa Fe has fixed no return
iTnit He asserts that men who quit
their jobs are simply out with all
pension and death benefit rights re-
They must come back as new
employees, he states. This warning
was believed to have occasioned a
10 their work. Many of these MA.
had returned early in the week. Large
numbers of them had refused to quit
work under the strike call.
No Disturbances Reported.
The shop district was seemingly
well patrolIed this morning; No dis
.urbances were reported. A few OBJ
servers we're on the streets. but they
made no effort to interrupt or inter-
lere with men on their way % work.
Three observers did their morning
ask in a lunch room opposite the
motive power offices. Monday morn
ng large numbers of men had as
iembled in this section to give the
workers a final chilly reception az
hey went to the shops.
At O'Clock this morning more
han thirty new men were lined up
'or enrolment. Most OF them were
assigned to service in the shops. 1t
vas declared that among the men
ieeking employment were a number
II trained mechanics
General Manager Etter's Statements
In a statement issued Thursday
hight. General Manager Etter said:
On June 10Th. two days before the strike,
he santa Fe posted a notice to employees
II the six shop crafts TO the effect that all
ever relations with the company. and for
cit all rights under the pension and death
benefits
That was an announcement Of the COM
1anys policy, and employees were urged u
cunt the cost before complying with the
Itrike order There has been no change
n this policy. Strikers who return to the
ervice Of the Santa Fe Will come as new
employees. and new men who have bee9
Employed since the strike will be retained
n the service.
1t is very much to be regretted tha9
-ection of their union Officers as a protest
lgainst n wage decision OF the United
States labor board. The Santa Fe and
is employees have tried out their differ
noes before the labor board. and the corns
lnny has steadfastly followed the boards
decisions. whether favorable 10 its interests
,r against them. When the board granted
back pay, the company promptly put the
ieciEiOn into effect. aud the emDlOyeH nn-