Waterbury Democrat., 1902-03-12
10000 MIN NOW IN LINZ.
Freight Handlers Strike Assum-
 ing Large Proportions.
The Strike Will Greatly Interfere With Business All Over the Country Meeting of Leaders Will Be Held To- day to Try and Make a Settlement.


 Meeting of Leaders Will Be Held To
 day to Try and Make a Settlement.
 Boston, March 12.-From body of GOO freight handlers of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad, who, on Saturday, refused to work be- cause they were required to take care of goods brought to the depots in non- union teams, the strike forces in this city had grown to an army of 10000 by this morning. One branch of traffic was affected first, but by the spread of the sympathetic strike to-day hardly q branch of industry was free from trou- ble or inconvenience of some sort and from 5000 to 5000 persons are idle be, cause the concerns for whom they work have been compelled to shut down.
 The refusal of the team drivers who were the first to join interests with the freight handlers to work, has forced those industries dependent upon daily supplies of material to suspend until the strike is over. The various lines of industry directly reached by strike this morning included freight handlers, team drivers, wool handlers, longshore- men and railway sWitchmen. If the threats of the strike leaders are well founded, this day will see the move ment extended to the Building Trades union and to unions connected with the foreign steamship traffic.
 The business men of the city found themselves staggered by the strike and thus far unable to determine what to do. Many conferences have been held, the influence of the civic federation has been invoked and the state board of arbitration has tried to find q ground for agreement between the parties at war, but apparently there is little confidence that the desired result Will be reached by these means.
 There is greater hope that q meeting arranged by Governor Crane between the labor leaders, railroad officials and merchants, to be held at the State house to-day, will show some way out
 Alter two days it was seen that nearly every branch of business is suf- fering from the strike more than the railroads, against which the strike is directed. The New York. New Haven and Hartford railroad and the Boston and Albany system of the New York central have forces adequate to handle all traffic. There is no trouble over the movement of outgoing freight. but the inward merchandise has accumu- lated i'll formidable quantity. The Boston and Maine road has moi vol lost its regular force of freight handlers and clerks. but with teaming tied un thelr freight houses and yards are be- coming cOngested like thosa of ofher lines. Arrangements have been made for the transfer of through freight without delay at this point.
 At the docks of the steamship lines doing a coastwise business great quan- tltles of merchandise are piled up and the WharveS are choked but the long, shoremen are out and the material can not be moved. The express companies are tied up and there is a threat that the hack drivers will join the strike if an issue is made because the carry passengers with trunks, large parcels or matter which should go by express. The strike of the coal team drivers presents one of the most alarming fea- lures of the trouble, as it menaces not only many industries, but also the wei fare of the hOuseholders, and especial OuarCGIS the city.
 The orderly conditions which thus Tar have marked then progress of the strike still prevailed to-day, though the early crowds about the headquarters nneu the streets in the vicinity of the halls. More noticeable than before, owing to the large additions to the strikers ranks, was the absence of tra1flc from thoroughfares usually crowded with teams. Practically the only firm doing any business is the R. ;. Brlne Transportation Go, the non union concern over whose teams the trouble originated. They have aug mented their number of teams to tha greatest limit and yet cannot meet the demands of business men. The other teamsters whose men have joined tho strike declare that the trouble could be settled and the strike ended in an bour 1T the merchants would agree not to deal with the Brine Go.
 During the forenoon some of the steamship companies secured small gangs of Italians in place of the strill Ing longshoremen, who were put at work behind closed doors, while the premises were guarded by police.
 The conference with the governor was held at the State house at 1O:30 o clock. but as far as could be learned 1t resulted in nothing definite. Mayor collins this morning received the fol towing reply to his telegram asking the Hon M. A. Hanna to aid him in putting an end to the strike:
 ., washington, D. O., March II, '92. Hon F. A. Collins, Boston:
 Ielegram received. If you will point out a way I will be glad to he or service. We should have indica- tions from both sides that our good omces would be acceptable.
 M. A. HANNA"
 APPOINTMENT To pACTon.r