The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-11
NINE THOUSAND FREIGHT HAND.
LERS In CHICAGO co OUT
SERIOUSLY AFFECT BUSINESS
Every Freight House of the Twenty
Four Roads ~OnccTne is Prac-
ticalIy Tied Up-Teamsters Go Out
In Sympathy-Eyery Effort Will be
Made to Bring About a Peaceful
settiemenf-New Men Being Used
by Some of the Roads.

Chicago, July IA strike of 5000
freight handlers in Chicago was called
today and every freight house of the
twenty-four railroads concerned is
practically tied up. Business men fear
that the strike will be the most serious
which has affected their interests in
years. The principal railroad systems
affected are:
The Chicago, Cincinnati n st.
Louis; Chicago and ~Greatwestern, Bal
timore and Ohio: Erie, Atchison, Tope-
ka and Santa Fee; Chicago Terminal
Transfer Company; Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern; Rock Island; Chi
rcago and Alton; the 'Monon"; Chicago
and Eastern Illinois; Wabash, Grand
Trunk, Chicago, Burlington and Quin-
Cyl Pennsylvania; Chicago and North
western; Chicago, Milwaukee and St.
Paul; Illinois Central; Michigan Central
n the New York, Ell Platte.
These roads ontro over 100 ware
houses in Chicago.
The strike was called by a committee
appointed at a meeting of 1000 freight
handlers held last night. The commit
tee was instructed to call a strike with
in fOrty-eight hours unless the railroads
should meet the demands of the men at
once for an increase in wages, extra
pay for over time and holidays and re-
cognitiOn of the union.
The men in Michigan Central, IIi-
nois Central and Wisconsin Central
houses or the lake were first to act.
with cheers one thousand men walked
out from these warehouses alone. They
congratulated at the foot of Randolph
street Viaduct where several speakers
~cOunselled law abiding methods.
By messenger and by telephone all
other members of the Interior Freight
Handlers and Warehousemens Union,
were called out. Many of the railroads
managed to handlep erishable cOmmodi-
ties by using men hired when the strike
was called.
The sympathy Of the teamsters was
made apparent today. When the men
walked out of the Illinois Central ware
house the transfers who were receiv-
ing or unloading freight Immediately
took their trucks away
= That the railroads are expecting a
strenuous struggle was made evident
today when the chief detective of an
eastern road bought 100 billies, the en-
tire stock of a prominent firm.
Chairman Job of the state board of
arbitration, said today that he would
use every possible effort to bring about
peace between the men and their en-
ployers.
Mayor Harrison had planned to go On
a vacation but said today that if the
strike was not settled he would remain
in the city.
The men on strike include Foremen.
check and receiving and delivery clerks.
sealers, callers, weighmasters, steve
dores, coopers and elevator men,
Two wagon loads of new men were
taken to the Illinois Central warehouse
under police guard during the after
noon. 1t is believed that all of the h
cago and Northwestern men left. Ofh-
Gals of the Pennsylvania claimed that
OF the 500 men employed by them only
twelve walked out and that six of these
returned.
w. c. Brown, general manager of the
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern said
10 the Associated Press:
About so per cent of our men went
out. The remainder, with additional
help which we have hired, are handling
our business as we'll as could be expect
ed. Our business is not tied up and
will lot be-"
J.. II. Ha1ahan, second vice president
OF the Illinois Central said that about
half of his company's $50 men had
struck but that h had men close at
hand to take their places
Mr.. Harahan said he thought the
strike could have been avoided If the
men a been willing to consult Win
roads through their own committees IN
stead of through their union.
1t was reported tonight that the 1ll1-
nois Central will bring four hundred
men from the south to take the places
of the strikers. Other roads were said
to be taking similar measures, bringing
in men from the country districts. or
other cities on their systems.
Chairman Job, of the state board of
arbitration said to the Associated
Press:
ct nave sent letters to the managers
of t~wenty-four roads affected and to
President Curran, Of the Freight Hand
lers, offering the services of the board
in attempting to bring about a settle
mant So far 7 have received no reply
from any of them"