The Van Buren press., 1902-07-19
CHICAGO STRIKE BROKEN.
The Great waikOut of the Chicago freigh''
Handlers Apparently at An End
Unions Not Recognized.

broken. A majority of the strikers
are expected to return to work TO-
morrow. Some of the more radical
unionists may refuse to accept the
terms accepted by the representative
committees, but apparently they Will
be able to WELD but little influence
with the majority of the strikers. y
mass meeting of the freight handlers
has been called for tomorrow, ana
upon the action taken at this meet
ing will depend the attitude of the
striking transfers. Their national
president, Al Young ordered them
back to work tomorrow, but if the
freight handlers refuse to declare
the strike off officially, some OF the
teamsters may refuse to work. 1t is
| conceded that their officers exercise
little absolute authority.
The four railroads that entered in
to agreements with their men to-
night are the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern, the Chicago g. Northwest
ern, the Nickel Plate and the Hi
nois Central. OF the four the North
western and the Illinois Central ac.
cepted the proposition made upon adj
vice of the teamsters' board of arbi.
tration. The Nickel Plate and Lake
Shore succeeded in getting their
men to sign the scale presented by
the roads July l.
Consequently neither the freight
handlers nor the railroads claim a
victory. As the employees of the Lake
| Shore were the first to sign, how
ever, the railroads are expressing the
greatest satisfaction over the break
In the strike.
| Unions Not Recognized.
The freight handlers return &c
work without having obtained recog'
milton of their union, time and halt
for overtime or the adjustment of
the probation period, On the other
hand, the freight handlers have oh
tanned increases in pay, the smallest
increase being 25 cents per day
gained by truckers.
While the signing Of the agree
ments breaks the strike it does not
end it. 1t Is still in progress so far
as 20 Of the "a railroads in the city
are concerned. President Curran and
few of his supporters are still nm
reconcled and state that they will
not recognize any OF the agreements
The fact remains, however, that q
majority of the freight handlers are
seemingly tired Of the strike and
eager TO return to work. II is prob
able that they will be given an oppor'
tunity to do SO tomorrow, for all
the railroads are ready and even
eager to sign agreements similar TO
that obtained by the employees Of the
Lake Shore g. Michigan Southern rail-
road
Hope Was Almost Abandoned.
This agreement was signed toni ght
after all hope Of a break in the strike
appeared to be at an end. All OF the
roads had refused to accept the de-
mands originally made by the com
mittees Of the strikers which had
waited upon them in the morning
Business men We're meeting and de-
termining to deliver freight under po'
lice protection tomorrow. Mayor
Harrison had called conference OF
railroad officials, strikers and labor
leaders for tom orrow morning, Man
ufacturers and merchants were de-
clarng that unless the police could
afford protection todriyers the militia
should be ordered out, and the strike
situation appeared 10 be more serious
than It ever had been before.
Arbitrat0rs Were at work.
While affairs were thus apparently
reaching q crisis, several OF the com
mittees appointed by the freight han
dlers had accepted invitations issued
by some Of the railroad managers
to return and enter into n discussion
Of the strike situation, In six of the
Offices, those Of the Michigan Central
the Wisconsin Central, the Illinois
Central, the Lake shore a. Michigan
Southern, the Nickel Plate and the
Chicago & Northwestern, the confer
cnces were IN progress, The execu
tive committee OF the Freight Han
dlers' union was meeting with com
mittec OF officials OF the Transfers
union, who were attempting TO com
pei them to settle the strike. Chair
man job OF the state board OF arbi
traton was still 6denyorinR to bring
the railroad officials and the striker
together
Then came the unexpected m
nouncement that committee OF The
employees Of the Lake Shore h Mich
igan Southern railroad had acceptc,
the scale offered by the railroads OF
July /.
For time the officers Of Thu
Freight Handlers union refused t'
believe the news OF the signing oI
the agreement with the Lake Shore
The committee which signed th'
agreement failed TO report bOek n
union headquarters,
Gradually, however, the strikers be
came convinced Of the authority o.
the report OF the agreement.
One Of Quantrelrs Men.
Lexington, No., July iG.--Josepl