The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-04
One thousand Men Out of Employ
ment in East st. Louis and
Trouble May Spread.
SETTLEMENT MAY BE REACHED.
Drivers of Transfer Wagons Join
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Brought
From South and CHARTERED in
Cars Goods Rebilled.

| One thousand men are out of employment
on the East Side as the result Of the strike
of the freight handlers employed in the
East Side freghthouses.
Practically no work was done in the yards
yesterday because the Transfers employed
; by the st. Louis Transfer Company, the
Columbia Transfer Company and the Dray-
| age Company objected to handling freight
which had been handled by nonunion men.
The drivers are discussing the situation,
and many Of the men have expressed q de-
termination to refrain from work to-mor-
row unless their grievances are adjusted.
Officials Of the companies handling freight
in the East st. Louis yards said last night
that no effort will be made to-day to do
any work. expressing the hope that the
trouble may be ended before tomorrow.
Agitators are Cow among the ranks of the
swtchmen and the other railroad men. It
1t said. and 1t Is possible that the strike
may grow to still more serious proportions
and may spread to st. Louis.
Fearing this, Mayor NJ NJ. Stephens of
East st. Louis has taken up the matter
and he worked all day yesterday In a vain
endeavor to effect a settlement. Mayor
Stephens held conferences with the agents
OF the railroad companies and also with the
leaders OF the men. Last night he told a
Republic reporter that he hoped that the
strike would be settled soon
A new feature of the strike was added
yesterday afternoon, when the clerks in
the railroad offices were notified to rebiII all
freight received in East st. Louis to Union
Station. and that the freight would be re-
billed again from there to its destination.
1t is expected that by this means the
freight can be delivered to ST. Louisans I'M
til the strike is settled. There is much con-
gestion Of freight and freight cars on the
East Side. All Of the railroad companies
are handling only such freight as is abso-
lutely necessary.
With few exceptions. all Of the secret
service men employed by the railroads
about Illinois are in service in East st.
Louis. Chief of Police Hauss has a large
force Of reserve policemen constantly at
the police station. but it is not expected
that he will be called on. The railroad en-
ployes say that they will not, under any
circumstances. resort to force. and will
rely. wholly on moral suasion and the effect
of the sympathy they can rouse.
Several gangs Of negroes have been re-
ceived from the South and have been put
to work in the freighthouses, but the
strike OF the transfer drivers renders their
assistance practically useless. One large
gang Is at work at the Southern freight
house at the viaduct. Old freight cars have
been converted into sleeping and dining
cars for the negroes.
1t. was said last night by prominent
railroad man that all oerishabie freight
had been rebilled and that the railroad
companies would have no losses.
Mayor NJ NJ. Stephens yesterday issued a
proclamation declaring against the dis
charge of cannons. guns. pistols and fire.
arms and also against the discharge Of
cannon crackers.