Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-20
BUFFALO FIGHT CONTINUES.
Grain Shsvsiers. Freight Handlers and Con.
tractors No Nearer a Settlement.


shovcllers. tonight. adopted resolutions
repudiating all agreements with the
Lake Carriers Association and de-
manding the unequivocal abrogation OF
the contract with Mr.. Connors. The
striking freight handlers at their meet
ing voted to ignore the advice of Bis
hop Quigley. in which he urged them
to return to work under terms granted
by the Associated Lake Lines at the
conference. this afternoon. The action
taken at these meetings, tonight. ii is
thought viii end for some time the me-
gotiations which have been in progress
for over two weeks to bring about a
settlement of the dock troubles. The
grain shovellers will refuse to make
any further propositions to either the
Lake carriers or the contractor and as
the Lake carriers. some days ago. de-
cided 10 withdraw from the conflict.
the indications are that the strike will
be permitted to wear itself out.
The final conference between Con-
tractor Connors and the men WAS neld,
this afternoon. The men announced
before they took part in it that if it
did not result in some agreement they
would break of negotiations. At this
conference the strikers proposed that
there be inserted in the agreement al
ready reached with the Lake Carriers
Association, clause governing the APP
pcintment of boss scoopers. This
clause provides that the grain shovell-
ers should submit. the names of 10 men
for each elevator out of which the con-
tractor should select his boss scooper.
Mr.. tCpnnors refused to agree to the
proposition and the men left the. con-
ference, $500 s,5..
At. 3 o'clock tonigHt,. Prtsidesit Mc-
Mahon reported to a Jheetiae:Uf grain
shovellers the. result of:ths rrbnf efenre.
a wild scene ensped t1en poured
out their wrath upon IN rAsiaAA and
the committee for haui1g kc8Hsed TO
make such terms dectafE8 shat. they
would have refused ,ths1fs xHn'if the
contractors had accepss lFAosn. and,
in the midst of denunciatItn Of the cci-
tractor, the committee and even Bis
hop Quigley. a resolution was adopted
to the effect that the executive COM
mittee representing the strikers should
esta blish an office and walt. there for
the Lake Carriers Association TO come
to them and agree to break the con-
tract with Mr.. Connors.
Another resolution was adopted pro-
hibiting the officers of the executive
committee from negotiating further
with Mr.. Connors or making any ad-
vances to the Lake Carriers Associa-
ton.
This afternoon, Bishop Quigley re-
opened st. Bridget's hall for the use
of the men. The grain shovelle-s,
however, refused to occupy it and es-
tablished headquarters elsewhere.
The InternationalS eamen's Union is to
take part in the struggle. 1t is claim
ed that the crews on vessels are as
sisting in the work of unloading grain
here. A committee of members of the
union is to begin work Immediately for
the purpose of inducing the crews of
Lake vessels to leave their ships.
Representatives of the Buffalo lake
lines and elevators met, tonight. and
after a full discussion of the strike
statement addressed to the
public of Buffalo and all lake cities
was adopted. The statement in part
is as follows:
1.-The grain scoopers' demands, which |
lid not include increased pay, were !
settled by the efforts of Bishop Quig- |
ey, who appointed the inspector pro- |
1ided for by such settlement, thus |
fully protecting the interests of the |
men. The freight handlers. who struck |
wholly out of sympathy with the |
,coopers, now make a demand for in |
creased wages, averaging about 40 per !
.ent. for work in freight houses and 20 |
percent. for work on boats. There are |
more men perfectly qualified and will
ing to do the scooping and freight |
in Buffalo than can be en-
)loyed, but we ask the public to accept |
our assurance that the reforms de- |
manded by the men have been fully |
granted and that the men, in fairness,
should go to work.