Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-07-11
BLAME THE STRIKERS.
Railway Officials Say They Had No
Chance to Avert Trouble.
ARE IMPORTING OUTSIDE HELPERS.
Men Brought from the Country to Fiji
Vncancies-If Transfers Go Out
There VIII BE IL Gigantic
I Labor Struggle.

Chicago, July .. Railroad officials
do not feel that the strikers have CIV
en- them u fair chance to avoid the
troubles. Many of those In authority
declare that the walkout was called
without any of the men involved COM
ing to them with their complaints, SO
it wac practically impossible for them
to either make concessions If such Il
thing were necessary or make any
some cases nothing can be done until
the strikers come forward plainly
with their grievances.
Strikers Being Replaced.
Unless the teamsters come to the
rescue of the striking freight handlers
the Indications are that the strike is
lost The railroads have already
shown that they can replace the strik-
ers. In a number of the freighthouses
every vacant place has been filled.
Emissaries are securing the country
for men able to handle freight. Coun-
try sta ton agents, section hands and
all available clerks from outside Of
fees are being rushed to Chicago to
work in the freighthouses.
Express No Alarm,
The strikers expressed no alarm
when they learned Of the success of
the railroads in getting men. Presi-
dent Curran said:
agents and stockholders. clerks and
freight handlers from country towns cam
not remain in Chicago all the time. In,fill-
ing the places In Chicago the companies
are weakening the outside stations and
other departments. 1t is not weakening
the strike, for the men know that the
force now in the freighthouses is only a
temporary one"
In spite of Mr.. Curran's statement,
however, the railroads seem to be get
ting the upper hand. 1t is true that
much freight has accumulated, but
with the forces at work it looks as if
1t would be cleared up.
Tcamsters Are Wnvering.
Pickets surround the freighthouses
they have deserted. Squads of police
and swarms of private detectives mix
with the strikers and are prompt to
suppress any demonstration. The
teamsters are torn with conflicting
emotions. They are asked in the name
of unionism to refuse to deliver or
accept freight from the nonunion
workmen. Their business agents are
on hand, however, and order them to
disregard the strike, reminding them
of the agreements entered into short
1y after the famous stockyards team
sters' strike.
ArbitrntOrs Are Busy.
Chairman Frederick w. Job and W.
"A. Mathis, of the state board of arbi-
tration, spent Tuesday forenoon visit
ing the freighthouses, They secured
carriage and drove to the scenes of
trouble. They made no effort to see
the railroad officials ana the trip was
made, it is understood, to secure facts
that may be of value should they be-
gin an investigation of the difficulty
with the view of placing the RESPONSE
bility for the strike.
Business Affected.
All kinds of business has been af-
4ected more or less by the strike.
Some of the stations, are not receiving
or delivering any freight whatever,
and in others where nonunion men
, are working the freight is not handled
with the customary facility. The re-
fusal of the Transfers union thus far
to join the strikers has saved the bust
ness interests. Shippers are taking
and delivering freight, the work usual
1y done by the freight handlers being
done by- the transfers