The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-17
Unions and r. r. Officials Differ
About Number on Strike.
All Firemen and Oilers, Except
Two, Out, Says Rausch.
PLACES FILLED PROMPTLY
Unions Report Seven Engine
Failures ON Santa Fe Line.
''Strike Cannot Continue Much
Longer" Declares Union Head.

Statements from local union off
cials and from the officials of the
Santa Fe disagree as to the number of
stationary engineers, firemen and OIL
ers who responded to the strike order
in Topeka, effective at o'clock this
morning.
OF eight stationary engineers en-
ployed at the Santa Fe shops. one left
the company's service in response to
the strike order, and of eighteen fire
men and oilers, seven went out, ac-
cording to a statement made this
morning by w. d. Deveny, shop su-
perintendent. The places made vacant
by those who quit were promptly
filled, Deveny said.
F. w. RauSch, manager of pub
licity for the striking shop crafts said
today that it was understood by the
executive committee of the strikers
that all the firemen and oilers walked
out with the exception of two, and
that the two did not report for work
this morning.
Much MISUNDERSTANDING.
There has been much nisunder-
to the stationary engineers, and the
firemen and oilers. These workmen
have been confused in the public
mind, it is indicated in inquiries
which have been received at the Of
flee of The State Journal, with the
locomotive engineers and firemen,
members of the Big Four Brother
hood of Trainmen.
AS a matter of fact the strike order
of this morning applied only to sta
tlonary engineers, -firemen and oilers
who are employed in the various
shops and plants of the company, and
DO not operate on railroad trains.
There seems to be some misunder-
standing, however, as to just what
engineers are included in the new
strike, because it is said that some of
them employed in the shops here
come under the classification of cleo
tricians.
Statement by Rausch.
Mr.. Rausch issued the following
statement this afternoon concerning
the two strikes and conditions in gem
eral:
:. Promptly, at s m this morning the
firemen and oilers in the four power houses
at the shops walked off the job and came
up to headquarters and registered and re-
ported that they were out practically 100
per cent They also reported that in the
past two weeks more than five times the
ordinary amount of coal was used in the
two plants furnishing power to the planning
ordinary circumstances these planning mills
furnish enough shavings, sawdust and
scrap material as sufficient fuel for their
own power. They also report that all ef-
forts will be made to keep up steam enough
in the main power plant to blow the big
that their % Waikout a1 Was @ ineffecti1e as far
as their walkout was concerned
1t was reported to the executive COM
mittee this morning that since the United
States railroad labor board had issued
decision to the effect that no one class of
employees would be required to do the work
Of another class of employees who is out
strike. The company officials are avoiding
this decision by intimidating the clerks in
the motive power building by informing
them that there is going to be reduction
in forces in the particular office in which
they are working and suggesting to them
that if they wish to stay in the service of
the company that they can give them en-
ployment at other points or in the local
shops. One clerk, whoNrefused to go into
the shops. was discharged. This happened
before the labor board issued its decision.
However, the discharge of this clerk had
Its effect, it is either take what we have
or get for home.
Our observation men in the freight car
department reported that of a total of one
hundred and seventy-two helpers employed
in that department, one hundred and fifty
five were negroes. Their report also con-
tains the information that Elisha Songs,
who was formerly a material carrier AMI
who has never had any mechanical expert
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