The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-08-01
BUSlNESSIS.PA RALYZED.
LABOR TROUBLES IN SAN FRANZ
CISCO HAVE REACHED a
CRISIS.
WATER FRONT JOINS STRIKE

WATER FRONT JOINS STRIKE
Twelve Thousand Men Employed by
Big Shipping Companies Quit Work.
Claim 1t Is Fight for the Existence
of Unionism-ProspectT That All the
Industries Of the City Will Be Com
pletely Tied Up.
San Francisco, July 31.-The labor
troubles in this city have reached a
crisis and as a result maritime traffic
and labor along shore are almost at
standstill and industries almost to-
tally paralyzed. ...,.
The order for a general walkout of
the City Front Federation was made
effective during the morning. The
City Front Federation comprises IA
unions and organizations, with a full
membership of about 10000.
Three thousand of these men are
employed at sea or in other cities and
the strike order does not apply to
them until they return to San Fran
cisco. Twelve thousand men have
obeyed the order.
When the order to walk out went
dnto effect all the big shipping COM
panies, with one exception, were left
without union man. BY special
agreement some time ago between the
Pacific Coast Steamship company and
the Firemen's union, firemen remained
on the vessels of that company.
It is claimed by the officers of all
Of the organizations involved, it is
said, that the strike is not purely an
expression of sympathy with the union
OF teamsters, or any other body of
workers who are in dispute with their
emploers, but is a taking up of the
gauntlet thrown down by the EN-
ployers' association. In other words,
the City Front Federation is deter
mined to defend the principle of
unionism, which the associated en-
ployers have announced their inten-
ton to crush.
Both sides seem determined to carry
the fight on, and all efforts on the part
OF the mayor and others to
Bring About a Settlement
" have thus far proved unavailing. It is
reported, unauthoritatively, that sew
eral of the larger wholesale houses
will close down until the strike is
settled
There is every prospect that many
other unions will be drawn into the
fight, in which case the business of
the city will be completely tied up.
The coal handlers may refuse to
handle the fuel supply of the city, or
IL drivers of oil wagons to deliver
oil to manufacturers who use that
product for fuel. The coal supply of
the city will last but two weeks with
ordinary consumption, but with econ
omy it may be made to last few
weeks longer Should the coal and
Oil supply be cut off the lighting COM
panies will be compelled to close
down and the city will be left in
darkness after nightfall.
Several disturbances have occurred,
and the first really serious fight since
the trouble commenced took place be-
tween a party of strikers and two col
ored drivers imported from the in
terror. The colored men state that
they were attacked and fired into the
strikers in self Defense One man
was slightly injured. He was
striker who happened to be crossing
the street near the scene of the
trouble. The strikers claim that the
shooting was unprovoked. The nom
union men were arrested but were re-
leased on bail. Several fights occurred
on the water front and the police were
compelled to use their clubs freely.
but no one was seriously injured.
Causes Heavy Loss in Seattle.
Seattle, July 31.-As a result of the
1ongshoremen's strike in San Fran
cisco all freight traffic between this
city and the California metropolis is
stopped entirely. The loss to this
city and to numerous steamship COM
panies will mean thousands of dollars
a month. The merchants here are
already heavy losers on account of the
teamsters' strike there, and the local
strike.