The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1922-07-06
RAILROAD STRIKE TOOK
PLACE HERE SATURDAY
Fifty Men From Mechanical Depart,
ment Quit Saturday Morning. No
Hint of Disorders,

At ten o'clock Saturday morning
fifty men, representing 100 per cent
of the mechanical department of the
Rock Island Railroad Of this place,
laid down their tools and quit work.
There was no demonstration of any
kind and one who was not on the in
side would have known that the strike
was in progress. At the stroke of
ten each man laid down his work, pick
ed up his tools, went and washed
up and left the premises. There was
no disorder of any kind and no hint
Of trouble.
The men have stayed away from
the company property, and are not an
ticipating any drastic action Of any
kind. They say that +h- 'ast wage
cut made it impossible for them to
live and they expect to stay out until
there is an adjustment.
There are no applications for the
places vacated by the strikers at this
place, and it is unlikely that the
places will be filled. However should
the company send other men we are
of the opinion that the railroad men
would not adopt any drastic action.
A great majority of the men who
quit are responsible, homecoming
citizens and fine class of people and
a lot of them went into the harvest
fields to make ends meet while on the
strike.
County attorney E. w. Davis re-
ceived the following message from
Governor Henry j. Allen Saturday,
likewise Sheriff Nelson and Mayor
Griffith;
E. w. Davis, County Attorney Lib
eral Kansas; I am advised that a
shopcraft strike is to occur this morn
ing at ten o'clock. The provisions of
section seventeen, chapter twenty
nine Of the laws of 1920 must be
enforced against picketing of any kind
intimidation, abuse, or threats. The
streets leading to and surrouding
places of work must be free from strik
ers or other persons whose presence
may tend to embarrass or deter men
desiring to work. Cooperation of all
officers is required from the start
Mayors attorneys and police of cities
sherriffs, county attorneys and county
to see that men desiring to work are
given this opportunity without moles-
tation, please reply.
Henry J. Allen
Governor.
Mr. Davis Immediately wired the
governor as follows:
Henry ]. Allen, Governor
Topeka, Kansas
Fifty employees Of the mechanical
, department walked out this a. m. No
applications for the vacant jobs. No
picketing, threats or demonstrations
of any kind expected here.
E. W. DAVIS, County Attorney.
Thains run on regular schedule Sat
urday and Sunday, but they have not
been quite so regular the past few
days. We have been told that cou-
pie of engines died on the road and
had to be pulled into Liberal, but have
not verified the report.
The Maintenance of Way men are
still working, but it is thought they
will eventually be called out. If this
organization join the ranks of the
strikers the result is going to be more
serious, altho it seems impossible to
seems that it will not be possible to
operate trains with the small force of
men on hand to keep the equipment in
repair. At one time we were told that
there were thirteen engines in the
local yards, the roud house being full
and several standing on the tracks.
Local officials of the Rock Island
are keeping brave front and wear
ing smile but the canteloupe move
men now on, it looks like the strike
was going to b felt more keenly than
at first thought.
Railroad men here are not bitter or
radical. They say that the last wage
cut is simply more than they can
stand and one veteran railroader said
that should they lose the strike it
meant that he must do something else
as he could not live on the pay the
roads have offered.