Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-12
Strike Spreading ard Transportation Lines
Will Soon Take a Hand.

Buffalo, y. Y, May 1.-THE strike
among the members of the Freight
Handlers Union is gradually assuming
a serious aspect. There are about 2000
Of these men pledged not work for any
contractor and many Of these are now
on strike. Originally a few of them
went out in sympathy with the grain
shovellers and now it is believed that
in case the scoopers gain their point
they will still remain out until their
own difficulties have been satisfactor-
lily settled.
Several managers of transportation
lines said. today, that if the contrac-
tors did not quickly demonstrate their
ability to do the work Of loading and
unloading freight boats they would be
compelled to devise other means of re-
lieving the congestion of traffic at this
port. At the Lehigh Valley docks the
company called in a lot of yard men
and other employees to take the places
of the strikers. At the Central, Erie
and other big docks the work was
practically at a standstill, the few
freight handlers who were at work be
ing non-union men.
The freight handlers demand an in
crease of wages from % cents an hour.
| the present rate, to 80 cents an hour
| for work outside Of the freight houses,
and 20 cents and hour for inside work.
| They also ask for the abolition of the
contract system.
The meeting of the advisory COM
mittee of 10. of whom Bishop Quigley
is the chairman. which was to have
taken place, today, was postponed I'M
til tomorrow morning, owing to the
illness of two members of the commit
tee, eX-COngressman Mahany and
President Mcmahon of the Grain SHOW
ellers' Union. 1t was gfienerally ex-
peCted that a plan would have been
formulated, tonight, by which a recon-
Citation between the scoopers and the
Lake Carriers Association could be eff
fected and the delay proved big dis
appointment to those working for a
settlement of the trouble.
The strikers have steadfastly assert
ed that they would not agree to any
terms or concessions made by the en-
ployers except they We're accompanied
by an absolute wiping out of the con-
tract system. On good authority it
was stated. tonight. that the scoopers
only possible, but very probable that
they will agree to accept the terms
offered by the Lake Carriers. The ac-
ton of the Lake Carriers. Association
at their meeting in Cleveland, today.
in endorsing the proposition made by
the associations representatives to the
grain shovellers in this city and in vot-
ing to make no further concessions.
opened a way for a settlement of the
trouble on the basis of the last propo-
sition made by the carriers. which will
mean that while technically Mr. Con-
nors will retain possession of the con-
tract he will have no control over. the
men or the management of the grain
shovelling business here. All the de-
mands of the men will be granted with
the exception Of the complete abroga-
ton of the contract.
During the last "a hours a number Of
shrewd conservative men who WELD
great influence among the leaders of
the grain shovellers have been at work
They have told these leaders plainly
that their stand for the complete abo-
lition of the contract endangered the
victory won by the men and that If
they maintain their radical stand much
longer all will be lost
One of these influential men said to-
night: The situation is just this:
During the first few weeks of the sea-
son the grain pOurs into this port by
the millions Of bushels. For about 10
weeks after that the shipment of grain
is comparatively light. If the grain
shovellers hold off much longer the
rush viii be over, the contractor will
be able to catch up on the work and
the necessity for treating with the
grain shovellers will have ceased to ex-
list. l have pointed this danger out to
the leaders and / have reason to be-
lieve that they are beginning to realize
the true situation