Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-19


THE CONTRACT THE STRIKE
is GRIPPING LAKE COMMERCE
AND is DIvERTING SHIPMENTS
TO OTHER ROUTES VESSEL
OWNERS HAVE ALREADY LOST
100000.
Buffalo, N Y, May 1S.-The posi-
bility of an early settlement of the
dock strike was removed this after
noon and tonight the end of the trou-
BILE is apparently further off than ever
before
The grain shovelers have once more
declared their intention OF refusing to
return to work until the contract oe-
tween the Lake Carriers Association
and Mr.. Corners is abrogated.
The situation is most peculiar. Yes
terday Bishop Quigley advised the
men to accept the terms offered by
Contractor Corners and to hold them
selves in readiness to go to work
when he gave the word. The Bishop
also warned them to hold no more
meetings. To-day st. Bridget's hall,
the headquarters of the strikers, which
is owned by the Catholic church, was
closed and locked by order of the
Bishop. This afternoon, notwithstand-
ing the fact that at least eighty per
rent nf tho ctriLorc orc IF tho Ilsoyo,r
Catholic religion, a large number of
the grain shovelers publicly repudiated
the Bishop, refused to accept his ad-
vice and removed their headquarters
to Fillmore Hall.
Shortly after 3 o'clock this after
noon, over 1000 grain shovelers form
ed in line in front of st. Bridgets Hall
and marched to Fillmore Hall, where
they were jointed by about two thous-
and striking freight handlers and other
sympathizers, and President Mcmahon.
of the Union. was summoned When
Mcmahon appeared the men voted I'M
animously to refuse to work while Mr.
mittee was appointed to reopen direct
negotiations with the Lake Carriers
Association.
Resolutions were ADOPTED discharg-
ing the committee that has been acting
in conjunction with Bishop Quigley,
| expressing confidence in President Nc
Mahon and refusing to pay any atten-
ton whatever to any call for meeting
| issued by the bishop.
Timothy P. Donovan, the inspector
appointed by the bishop to represent
the men on the docks, and who had
brought about the last agreement with
Contractor Corners, was denounced.
Bishop Quigley is out of town to-
night and no statement as to his future
course could be secured. He will re-
turn to the city tomorrow morning.
Information was received to-day from
an authoritative source that the eleva-
tor men and others who have valuable
interests on the docks have determined
upon radical action. They propose 10
exert every effort to secure men from
out of town to take the place of the
strikers. The action of the strikers to-
day, they say, makes it necessary to
adopt some measures other than nego-
tiations in order to bring about a re-
sumption of business here
The public investigation now being
held by the State Board of Mediation
and Arbitration, brought out&the fact
this afternoon that not only the port
of Buffalo, but the entire commerce of
the lakes is in danger of being perma-
nently crippled by the strike. Gibson
c. Douglas, of the Western Transit
Company, testified that vessel owners
already had sustained loss of over
$500 1000, that agents were refusing to
load vessels for this port and that the
commerce was being diverted into 9th
er routes. He said that as a result Of
the strike western grain shippers had
discovered that they could ship grain
by rail from Indiana, Illinois and other
sections cheaper than it could be ship
ped by boat to Buffalo. His opinion
was that if the dock troubles continued
a good portion of the lake commerce
would be permanently destroyed.
The association of lake lines, Bishop
Quigley and the freight handlers union
committee held conference at 11.3O
a. m. to-day and discussed the terms CT
the strike agreement. The line man
ayers declined to discuss the abolition
OF the contract system for this season,
also the wage schedule on account OF
present contracts, but took up a new
matter presented by the strikers, name
ly, the discharge of Objectionable
bosses. This matter caused delay, and
the conference was adjourned until Fri
day at 10 a. m.
All the members of the firemen's
union in. port struck at noon 1t was
stated that as other firemen arrived on
their boats they would join the strike.
Secretary Foley, of the union, advised
the men to keep away from the docks.
As this is purely sympathetic strike,