The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-20
WANT 1T SETTLED
Members of Shop Crafts Disap-
pointed Over Strike Action.
Rausch Says WaIkOut Was to
Protect Rights of Workers.

Tho announcement this morning
that all efforts to bring about a peace
full settlement of the strike had failed,
was a disappointment to the men af-
fected, according to F. w. Rausch,
publicity agent for the Topeka shop
crafts, who says that they at no time
have cherished the action of striking
and that they did SO only as a last re-
sort to protect their rights.
However, the significance of Mr..
Hooper's statement that the railway
executives had actually agreed on the
were directly responsible for the
strike, proves beyond a question of
doubt that the men were justified
in their action" declared Rausch.
THE fact that the railway heads
agree to rectify these four points at
issue proves concluSively that they
were not justified in putting them
into effect and that the shop crafts,
in refusing TO accept them, were JUS
titled in doing so.
May Settle Seniority Rights.
Being indicated thru the indirect
admission of the railway executives
offsets by far any disappointment that
may have been felt on the part of the
shop crafts. The question of seniority
rights, if left to the public opinion.
will unquestionably be settled salts
factorily to US. The public is now 60
ing to demand that the shop crafts
were justified in taking the stand they
did and therefore it will be up to the
railroads to make restitution to both
the shop crafts and the public, by re-
storing the men to their former posi-
lions with full seniority rights"
Rausch charged today that the rail-
roads were permitting trains to leave
terminals with faulty equipment after
the same has been condemned by fed
eral inspectors.
IF the railway executives really
wish to convey the impression to the
public that they are interested in its
welfare, 1t would be we'll for them to
Immediately cease violating federal
laws by prohibiting trains from leav-
ing terminals with defective safety
appliances, thereby eliminating the
the travelling public" he said. I'm
many instances this violation has hap
pened after federal inspectors have
condemned equipment"
Rausch also calls the attention of
Governor Allen to another state law
which he insists the Santa Fe is vio-
lating at Topeka. In regard to this
matter Rausch said:
1.-THE federated shop crafts wish to ask
Governor Allen that being he is particular
ly concerned at this time with seeing that
the laws Of Kansas are obeyed and the
object and purpose thereof obtained. why
general statutes which reads:
1t shall be unlawful for any railway
who own, control or operate any line of
railroad in the state Of Kansas to build or
repair railway equipment at division points
where shops are located without providing
sheds so constructed so that they may be
entirely enclosed, over the tracks exclusive
ly used for such repair work, SO that all
men permanently employed for such re-
pairs may be protected during storms or
heat: provided nothing in this act shall
relate to temporary repairs made at places
other than regular shops
Section S546-'Every corporation, person
or, persons, manager, superintendent or
foreman of any company, corporation, per-
sons or person, who shall fail or refuse to
comply with the provisions of section S545
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor
and upon conviction shall be punished by
fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than
$4,000 for each offense"
1.-THE Santa Fe at Topeka alone is vio-
lating this law daily. We are asking the
governor, why he does not adhere as strict
ly to this law as he does to section of the
industrial court law of prohibiting picket
ing?"