The labor world., 1899-05-20


Settlement Now Probable.
BUFFALO, May l9.-Tha grain shovel
ers tonight adopted resolutions r'p'ldIal-
ing all agreements made with the Lax"
Carriers association, and demanding tn"
uneuuivocal abrOgatlon Of the contract
with Mr.. ConnerS. The striking freight
handlers, at their meeting, voted t" 1S-
more the advice of Bishop Quislcy, in
which he urged them to return to work
under the terms granted by the asso-
ciated lake lines at the conference this
afternoon.
The action taken at these two meetings
today, 1t is thought, will end for some
time to come the negotiations that have
been in progress for over two weeks /"
bring about a settlement of the dock
trourles.
The grain shovelers will refuse to make
any further proposition to either the
Lake Carriers association or to the con-
tractor, and as the Lake Carriers ass"-
citation some days ago decided to with
draw from the conflict. the indications
are that the strike will be permitted to
wear itself out.
The final conference between Contrac-
tor Corners and the men was he'd this
afternoon. The men announced before
they took part in it that if il did not
result in some agreement they would
break off negotiations. At this confer
ence the strikers proposed that there be
tod in, Il
with the Lake Carriers association q
clause governing the appointment of boss
scoopers This clause provided that tho
grain shovelers should submit the names
of 10 men for each elevator, out of which
list the contractor should select his boss
scoopers. Mr.. Conners refused to agree
to the proposition, and the men left The
conference.
At 9 o'clock tonight President McAIahon
reported to a meeting Of grain shovelers
the result u the conference. A wild scene
ensuetI Fhe men poured out their wrath
npon tn, president and the committee for
having attempted TO make such terms;
declared that they would nave refused
them even if the contractor had accepted
them; and in the midst Of denunciations
of the contractor, the committee, and
even 3ishop Qugley, a resolution was
adopted to the effect that the executive
committee representing the strikers
should esta blish an office and wait there
fer the Lake Carriers association to
come to them and agree 10 break the
contract with Mr.. Corners.
Another resolution was adopted prohib-
iting the officers Of the executive COM
mittee from negotiating further with Mr.
Conners or making any advances to the
Lake Carriers association.
This afternoon Bishop Quigley reopened
st. Bridget's hall for the use of the men.
The grain shovelers have refused to oc
cupy it, and have established headquar-
ters elsewhere.
The International Seamen's union is to
take part In the struggle. 1t is claimed
that the crews on the vessels are assist
ing in the work Of unloading grain here.
a committee of members Of the union is
to begin work Immediately for the pur-
pose of inducing the crews Of lake vessels
to leave their ships.
Representatives of the Buffalo lake
lines and elevators met at the lroquois
hotel late tonight, and after a full dis
cusslon of the situation, a statement ad-
dressed to the public of Buffalo and all
the lake cities was adopted. The state
ment, IN part, Is as follows:
"rhe grain scoopers demands, which
did not include increased pay, We're set
He'd by the efforts of Bishop Quigley,
who appointed the inspector provided for
by such settlement, thus fully protecting
the interests of the men.
''The freight handlers. who struck
wholly out of sympathy with the scoop
ers, now make a demand for increased
wages, averaging about 40 per cent for
work in freight houses and 20 per cen:
for work on boats.
"rhere are more men, perfectly quail
fled and willing to do the scooping and
freight handling, in Buffalo than can be
employed
1--WE ask the public 10 accept our as
surances that the reforms demanded by
men in fairness should so to work. and
we request the public outside of Buffalo |
to refrain from public expressions COM
mentng on the labor situation 1T Buff !;
falo, assuring them that we, who are
deeply interested in the solution Of the !
commerce and men all that can be rea
sonably asked.