New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-05
NAY STOP LAKE COMMERCE.
AN IyIrIMATUM FROM GRAIN-HANDLERs
TO LAKE CARRIERS.

buffalo MAY THE grain-shovellers ana the
-handlers have issued their ultlmatum 10 ,"e
Lake Carriers Association. At a mass-meeuns 'i's
afternoon IL was announced amid great applause
that unless the Lake Carriers Association aeceusu
TO the demands Of the men by tomorrow NOON ,"e
.nt,rA commerce of the lakes from Buraio 10 Du-
lutb would be tied UP. Between two thousa"u "''
three thousand men were present ~
The meeting was addressed by John NJ heh-
nessey. p j. Mcmahon president Of the New SNOW
No.. rrr,on. NJ 7. Foley, representing the men
.mnloved II, the elevators. and others. MT NC
lMshon announced that the time had come when
the whole plan of the movement couio Do ni"us
known =. s.u
1--WE have everything in our power ne saio-
s.Tynless the Lake Carriers Association coh'eS ~
A,,r t.rms nv Tomorrow at noon the commerce Oh
the port OF Buffalo and all along the lakes WIN oe
,,ea I'M We have been working on this matter ioi
weeks and know what we are do'hs' !, We
financial help we can get tan We heeu' 49,.
Ne thanked the men for the good judgment 'hey
- .houn IN keeping quiet and orderly and eau
toned them about getting into any trouble III ."e
front Of the hall were about seven huhureu ~,
members Of the new Freight Handlers Ch,oh' anu
speeches translated into Ponsh lor ."e"
NJ J. Foley representing the men at WORK IN the
elevators principally the weighnen and talymen'
next spoke He announced amid the loudest cheers
that tomorrow at noon every man now worhhs
in an elevator would quiz
"AIl we want is what is fair" he said. but we
will stand by you TO the end. The coa-hanolers
who have been serving the lake carriers vessels
have already quit work. the engineers Will go out
tomorrow and the contractors will do no more
work the docks In Buffalo"
DEMANDS OF THE sHovELLERs.
Earlier in the day the following statement was
given out:
The eraln-shovellers OF New Local No 81 have
formulated the following as a statement OF the"
First-The abolition Of the saloon boss system
A
Tiers Association or with the various eleVaaoIs. -
the elevators or at business Office like those main
tained by employers in other reputable industries
f JAMES, + wA MSAHsS ssle Gnsir~AH
According to Mr. Mcmahon, the present trouble
between the grain hovelers and the grain-shov-
cling contractors is the climax OF the discomfort
that has been growing ever since the transfer OF
grain began TO be made under the contract system
Aside from the fact that the wages Of grain
shovcllers were reduced after the contract system
went into effect, all the other alleged evils which
have crept into the business. the men say, are the
. result Of this system Gran-shovelng was let out
by contract for the first time in 1894 Previous 10
this the rate & % thousand bushels for steam
vessels and g for sailing vessels. When there
were deckoads the men received 81 50 a thousand
bushels Grain shovelers made from $3.50 TO 500 Tor
a seasons work. In 1894 James Kennedy received
the first grain shovelng contract from the Lake
Carriers Association agreeing TO handle all grain
y
oilers were to receive 81. less 10 cents which Ken
nedy retained his share. and the steam shovel
owners got 81 81 thousand bushels. So under the
nrst contract the wages OF the shoveIlers were
materially reduced. For four years Kennedy re-
tained the contract and during that time there was
no change in wages. Last year ". J. Corners out
bid Kennedy, agreeing to handle the grain for
US a thousand bushels and 10 give the
shoveers 81 IS. Immediately discomfort arose
among the shoveers and the owners Of the steam
nAffarO fhan1
The vessei-owners then agreed to pay IS 10 TO Mr.
Corners, who in turn agreed to pay 81 Is for the
use Of the steam shoves. The rate offered to the
men, 81 IS, remained the same. Mr.. Corners Sc
cured the contract again this year at IS TO- and
took in James Kennedy partner. They
abolished the old system OF paying the shovelers.
and offered them rs cents an hour. The shovellers
refused TO accept this asserting that for various
reasons they would not be able to put In a fuli
ten ,S IN eay the hoss them de-
termined that they would refuse hereafter 10 work
offered.
SUPPORT OF ORGANIZED LABOR.
Martin H. Murphy, first vice-president Of the
State Federation OF Labor gave out signed state
ment to-day. in which he declared that New Local
No 81 is now entitled to the support OF all labor
unions affliated with the State and National Fed
eratons
The State Board Of Mediation and Arbitration
held conference this morning with representatives
of the rival grain shovellers unions.
The freight handlers effected organization
last night. Resolutions were adopted indorsing the
position taken by the grain-shovelers Another
resolution 70 the effect that the freight handlers
would stand by the shoveilers and refuse to
work for the grain shovellng contractors was
adopted. The freght-handlers this morning re-
fused to unload the steamer Ttoga the first OF the
'freighters to arrive the Erie docks. Later the
contractor succeeded in securing limited number
of men, and the work of unloading was begun.
Michael McNamara. grain shoveller. who was
found unconscious on the docks on Tuesday night,
ded this morning. The Coroner is OF the opinion
that he was sandbagged. William II. Kennedy.
who was shot on Tuesday. Is recovering.