Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-10
Outcome Said to Depend on
Action of the Teamsters
Union.
GET NO ENCOURAGEMENT
Clerks Union Give No Sympathy to
strikers-Jobbine Interests Of the
City Are Badly Hampered-Burling'
ton Official Favors Conference.


lers' strike, which called out 5000 men
Yesterday, appeared to be no nearer
settlement this morning than yesterday.
Chairman F. w. Job, of the state board
of arbitration, today said that neither
the railroads nor strikers had made
any reply to his offer of arbitration. AT
all the freight houses pickets endeaV-
ored to persuade the newcomers from
taking jobs and sought to lure men
away who were already at work. Inc
jobbing interests of the city are SER
iously tied up in the shipping depart
ment, although the railroads have not
had an opportunity to handle much
freight outside of perishable property.
The outcome of the strike largely de-
ponds on the action of the teamsters
union. If the transfers come out prob
ably the freight handlers will win, but
as officials of the teamsters have said
the freight handlers struck without the
sanction of the Federation of Labor,
and they would have to fight out their
own salvation The result OF the
strike is problematical.
Clerks Union Unsympathetic.
After protracted meetings of the rail
way clerks union today it was decided
not to aid the striking freight handlers
in any way Even vote of sympathy
was refused.
Desire Speedy Settlement.
Hopes of speedy settlement OF the
strike are entertained tonight by the
officials of the union and members OF
the state board of arbitration. The
union officials are willing that com.
mittees of the men discuss the situa-
ton with their own roads, provided
the officials are permitted to act as
advisers to the men. AS the railroads
favored this plan from the beginning
the state board of arbitration hopes
speedily to arrange conference.
1t is said that large number OF
the men quit work under protest. Sus-
pension of work has already caused
considerable inconvenience. Should
the teamsters carry out their threat
to join in sympathetic strike it will
affect freight of all kinds.
Much unmoved freight is already in
the yards, some of it of the perishable
class. Many of the men brought in
by the railroads have been induced to
Join the union and refuse to work.
One Clash Reported.
Over on the West Side occurred the
only clash of the day SO far as was
reported. An expressman drove up
to the Pennsylvania out freighthouse
and delivered load of boxes. When
he tried to leave the place he was sur
rounded by a mob ol men and boys,
and their aspect was so threatening
that he turned back. Word was sent
to Desplaines street station, but by
the time the police arrived two union
pickets were on the ground and had
quelled the outbreak. They said they
wanted to avoid trouble, and the ex.
pressman added the explanation that
he was ignorant of the strike having
been ordered
F. A. Delano, general manager Chi.
cago, Burlington and Quincy, in speak
ing for that road, said: I'VE have re-
FUSED no demand OF our men because
none has been received An unsign'
ed schedule of rules and pay was
handed around in the freight house
June rs. We replied by a letter June
%, addressed to all our men, that we
would meet them on any proposition
they wanted to discuss. Up to the
time Of the strike the officers of the
Freight Handlers Union have present.
ed no demand, and in an interview
held July 8 intimated that no strike
would be called until the railroad
managers had had an opportunity to
talk with the committees of their own
men, but this proposed meeting, SO
far as the Burlington men are con.
cerned, never took place. We shall be
ready to handle all freight Wednesday
morning