The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-15
Plan ON to Bring Rock Island
Division Offices to Topeka.
Superintendent Pratt Says Her.
ington Business Men Unfair.
IS RESULT OF SHOP STRIKE
Authority to Make Change
Given by General Manager.
Matter Has Been Freely Dis.
cHssed by Topeka Officials.

On account of the strike, troubles
which have developed at Herington
the Rock Island is considering seri-
ously a plan to move its division Of
fices from that place to Topeka. For
nearly week national guard troops
have been protecting the company
property at that place.
At a meeting held in Herington this
week. c. B. Pratt, division superinten-
dent, told a representative gathering
of Herington business men, that the
railroad company was being treated
unfairly in connection with the strike,
and that the division offices would be
moved to Topeka unless conditions
were changed.
Authority to Make Change.
Authority to make such a change
has been authorized by General Man
ager Beacon, Superintendent Pratt
said, and he read kilograms from that
official stating that in whatever action
he might see fit to take for the main m
tenance of effective service on his di-
vision he would have the approval of
his superiors.
superintendent Pratt said that en-
ployes of the company had been
beaten up and kidnapped on the streets
of Herington, that landlords had or
dered railway employees in at least one
case to vacate, and that his attempt
to buy supplies for employees had met
with refusal, and that he had been
forced to obtain supplies from Hope:
a small town several miles west of
Herington. He was positive, he said,
that the company would win the strike
and that troops were needed to pre-
vent trouble.
No Cooperation Says Pratt.
Superintendent Pratt referred to the
opportunity he had to move his offices
e,fa to-, Of
ton was burned several years ago,
which was not accepted In view OF
that consideration, he told the Her
ington business men that he felt there
should be some degree of sympathy
and cooperation with the city's first
the Rock Island, in its efforts
to serve the city and surrounding
None of this had yet
been extended, he said.
The superintendent also made the
statement that the division offices
could be in Topeka as well as in
and by the simple process
of doubling the runs at Herington the
men could live here and shops could
handle repairs readily from this point.
Since the meeting it is reported that
employees of the superintendent Of
flee have been asked to express them
selves on the proposed move and 70
state if they were willing to remain
with the company if the change is
made.
Move Is Discussed Here.
Officials at Topeka are silent on
the matter except to admit the move
was being freely discussed since the
at Herington. They point out
that the division offices could be con-
veniently located here and that the
business could be handled just as ex-
peditiously. The third floor of the
Rock Island building here is prac-
tically vacant and there is some un-
occupied space on the second floor.
The offices of the Kansas division.
were once located in Topeka. as well
as the office of the general superin-
southwestern district. the Of
flee of the general manager, second
district, and other offices at different
times.
News of the proposed move of the
division offices from Herington, fol- /
lows closely the report emanating
from industrial court circles to the
effect that the Rock Island may pre-
pare to do shop work here on account
IF the labor trouble encountered at
Horton.