Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-07-15
is GRIPPING BUSINESS
Msohants Of Chicago Make Complaint
Abcat Strike of Freight Handlers,
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BEING LOST
Wholesalers Assert the Trouble II
Affecting Them More Than Either
the Strikers or the RaiI-
rond Company.


ing freight handlers and the railroads are
In deadlock and announce their determina-
tion to fight to the finish over the question
OF one-half a cent per hour, per man, or a
total Of $500 for every twenty-four hours,
this being divided on one side between
"a railroads and on the other between TO-
900 men. The situation tonight is more
serious than at any time since the COM
mencement of the trouble and at no time
since the walkout have the points at issue
been so obstinately maintained. Three times
today the freight handlers sent committees
to meet the general managers and three
times they came back without results. The
first call was made without giving warning
to the managers, and when the committee
arrived they were unable to fnd many Of
them, for the reason that the managers
were having a meeting Of their own and
were not at their Offices. The second call
produced more effect, as several of the
committees saw the managers, but nothing
definite resulted. The last committees were
sent out by President Curran of the freight
handlers at the demand of the teamsters
who wanted something attempted toward a
settlement. This time the committees were
started SO late in the afternoon that It was
foregone conclusion that they would not
find many OF the general managers at their
Offices. All the committees reported as be-
fore that they had failed OF any result.
The committee that went to the Milwaukee
| & st. Paul road came back bearing the in
| formation that they had been refused ad-
mission and were informed that their form
er employers did not care to receive them,
| that they had all the men necessary In
their business, and that hereafter no depu-
tations would be received from employees
who had gone on a strike. The officials of
the road declared later that they would
maintain this position.
Fight to a Finish.
This had been reported at headquarters
Of the strikers. President Curran an
nounced that the fight was on to a finish
and that hereafter when the railroads had
| any overtures to make or wished to dc
| any business with their employees they
| would be compelled to transact such busi-
ness through the officers of the Freight
| Handlers union. Both sides now declare
that they have reached the limit and that
| absolutely nothing will be conceded. The
men demand I'm cents and the managers
say they will not under any circumstances
pay more than IT cents. The business mer
of the city, particularly those who deal in
perishable goods, are growing restive and
| declare they can endure the situation but
short time longer. It is costing them
more .thEn either the strikers or the rail-
roads, and they say that II the strike shall
not be settled within a week many Of then
will be badly crippled To bring about ar
end to the blockade which is maintained BY
the strikers and their friends, the team
sters, the commission men Of South Water
street met this afternoon to take matters
into their own hands. 1t was out OF the
question for the employers to look to the
teamsters to drive to the depots, and they
therefore decided to drive their owr
wagons to the depots tomorrow and re-
move from them all the goods that hat
been consigned to them, much Of which IL
being rapidly ruined.
message was sent to Mayor Harrison
asking II police protection would be giver
them, and the word was received that am
pie protection would be afforded Just a
this time, however, word was received tina
President Young of the Teamsters' Nationa
union had arrived in the city and that
meeting of the executive officers OF tina
body would be held tonight to consider tn
advisability OF ordering the men now oil
strike to return or of calling out ever!
teamster in the city who is afiliated will
: the union. The merchants decided t.
await the result Of this meeting, and the,
decided II the teamsters did not come bacl
they would go for their own goods.
Mass Meeting Today.
mass meeting Of commission men will
be held at a. m. tomorrow to take action
II is not likely that the teamsters will
return to work. even II ordered by thei
) officers. During the day the officers O
9 the Erie road sent a communication t
g Chief of Police O'Neil, saying they ha
A been informed that merchants in the cit
= were preparing to deliver freight tomorrow
. to the freight houses Of the Erie road an
= demanding that the police furnish ther
: protection While 1t was being done.
s The letter was referred TO Corporate
= Counsel Walker, who declared that 1t wa
= the duty of the police to furnish such pre-
= lection and the Erie people were informe
d that protection would be given them. Th
( police say that It is impossible for theI
a to place a man on every wagon that
/ seeking the freight depots, and say the
n will not attempt this. They declare the
will keep the way to the freight house
| open and suppress all disorder aroun
; the depots. The danger TO the men VII
deliver freight is not so much at the depC
Il as 1t will be from the men who will fo
low them when they leave the depot, an
attack them when they are not in the v
cinity Of the police. There were but fe
such cases today, as nobody attempted
! deliver any freight. One driver took tW
y small packages to the depot of the Penr
), sylvania road and at last accounts he ws
& still besieged there.
RiOtinE In Evening.
d The strike reached the rioting stage tn
- evening and II was only after the polit
o had charged on the crowd repeatedly ar
q arrested eleven men that a semblance
Is order was restored. Eight policemen wi
were sent with two teams from the Wes
h ern Electric company to the st, Paul freigl
a house at Carroll avenue and Union avenl
were unable to extricate the drivers fro
the pocket into which they we're forced /
v angry teamsters. riot call sent to II
stations was responded to by several wage
b. loads of patrolmen and after a fierce col
hict with the obstructing crowd the wagoI
were rescued and the drivers, bruised /
missiles. were enabled to reach a place
safety.
IN submits New Proposition.
IN CHICAGO. July 15.-At o'clock III
a morning a conference between the nation
% executive board of the Teamsters' unio
ID | tho Team nunarer tha EraG-