The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-08
Freight Handlers Trouble at
Chicago Likely to Be
Adjusted Soon
SENTIMENT is DIVIDED
Federation Of Labor Said to Be Wroth
Over the Action of the Men
5000 Employees Lut of 12,-
600 Are Now Out.

OAAAO<AGOp July t.-I1OpSS VI q
speedy settlement of the strike of the
Freight Handlers union, which was
declared today, are entertained tonight
by officials of the union and members
of the state board of arbitration.
The officials of the union at con-
ference tonight told Chairman Job, of
the board of arbitration, that they
were willing to permit employees of the
different companies to meet officials
of the same to discuss the wage scale
providing joint conference should be
held at which officials of the union
would be permitted to act as advisers
to the men. The arbitration board is
now working on the matter in an eff
fort to bring about a conference be-
tween the railway managers and COM
m1ttees representing the men.
AS the railroad officials have favored
this step from the beginning of the
controversy there is little doubt that
the strike can be settled satisfactorily
to both sides if the conference shall
be arranged.
Lack of Unaninity.
Lack of unanimity already perme-
ates the strike. The Chicago Fedora
SASAA VI A-clOOI was l6IIOIGO WIlGA Tie
order was issued for the men to quit
work, and its executive officials are
somewhat offended and are inclined to
let the freight handlers fight out their
battle in their own way. There are
$4,000 freight handlers in and about
the various freight houses of the twen-
ty-four railroads centering in Chicago
OF this number more than 5000 are
now involved in the strike. Some OF
the men who quit work today did SO
under protest. Notably was this the
case in the freight houses of the
Lake Shore and Michigan Central
roads.
Were Forced to Strike.
The men there employed were re-
ceiving all the consideration they had
asked. They were forced to- strike,
however, by order of the executive
committee of their union Before 60
ing out the men informed the railway
officials of the situation and said that
/ they would seek an immediate return
under orders from the authority that
ordered them cut.
The sudden suspension of customary
operations by the freight handlers to-
day occasioned considerable trouble in
and about the various railroad ware
houses and depots, but the inconveni-
ence and delay were but a drop in the
bucket to what will happen tomorrow
and later in the week if the strike
shall not be settled sooner.
Teamsters May Come In.
To add to the present difficulties OF
the railroads the Teamsters and Truck
Drivers union threaten to join in a
--I,a
1t will affect all incoming and outgoing
freight of every kind. Every railroad
in Chicago today accepted all freight
offered. While it was confessed by
several railroad officials that freight
was not being moved as expeditiously
as heretofore, yet it was said the larg-
est part Of it was being handled rea-
sonably well.
There was no trouble or disorder in
or about any freight house.
Anticipating the possibilities of such
a strike the railroad companies had
brought to Chicago a considerable
number of men to take the places of
the strikers. These men were inter-
cepted by pickets of the strikers and
most of them were induced to joi-- the
Freight Handlers union.
Bringing in Men.
1t was reported tonight that the 1lli-
nois Central was bringing 400 men
from the South to take the place of
strikers. Other roads were said to be
taking similI.r measures, bringing in
men from the country districts or 9TH
er cities on their systems.
Chairman Job, of the state board of
arbitration, said:
Il have sent letters to the managers
of the twenty-four roads affected and
to President Curran, of the Freight
Handlers, offering the services of the
board in attempting to bring about a
settlement. So far I have received no
reply from any of them