Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-07-12
THE CHICAGO TIE-UP OFF
Strikers Accept Terms They Had
Once Rejected.
The RANKS WERE REDUCED
Freight Handlers President Feared a Collapse
and Acted Promptly Railroads Success
fm 10 the Stand Taken on Refusing
Recognition OF the Union.

bN>oS biNOt w AN 1H'N''
CHICAGO, July io.-The strike OF
the freight handlers is virtually set
tied. Meetings Of the strikers Will
be held todav to ratify the action tn
ken last night bv President Curran,
of the order but as he stated after q
conference with the general managers
Of the railroads, that he had agreed
to their terms because the majority ssof
his men were ssgcing back on him,
there is little doubt thai the terms
will be accepted by the mass meetin q
of the s.rikers
BY the terms OF the settlement the
strikers ACCEPT the schedule OF wages
offered them by the railroads July 1.
This schedule was emphaticallv refus-
ed by the strikers at the time 1t was
made. 1t offered an average Increase
OF 20 per cent. tor all Chassis of labor
connected with the freight handlers
union, The demands of the men
would have made an average increase
OF ABOUT OU Uef CENT.
The railroads at the time Of offering
the incease on july / said that under
no circumstances would they recog-
nlze the union of the feight handles,
to the extent of allowing the officers
Of the oganization to make terms for
the men with the officers OF the rail
roads by which they were employed.
This was one of the chief reasons for
the strike, the men inslsting that the
union should be fully recognized.
The railroads have won u complete
victory on this noint. The attitude
of the roads toward the freight hand
lars' union is the same as that main.
tanned toward all local organizations
of railroad men. The ffeioh. hnnd-
lers demand something that no other
organization OF railroad employees in
Chicago had asked. and the managers
announced that under no circumstan-
ces would they agree 10 this. The
railroad to take back all strike RS who
will apply for their old pl' ces bv
noon tomorrow.
The settlement of the strike came
unexpectedly. The meetings during
the day of the various committees
with the general managers o. the rail
roads did not produce much result.
neither side making CONCESSIONS
When the committees had reported
back to the executive council OF the
strikers, a meeting or that body was
held. Several of til g officials OF the
Chicago Federation of Labor. includ-
ing President Bowman. were present.
The officers of the federation used
every means to induce the strikers TO
accept the terms offered them with
out avail. Twelve members of The ex-
ecutive council spoke against the ac-
! ceptanceof the terms. and three were
in favor of IL
The meeting was at times acrimOn-
ious and there was a sharp exchange
of words between President Bowman,
of tho Federation of Labor. and Pres
ident Curran, of the Freight Hand
lers' Union. In which the former was
accused of ''plavi 20 politics, :" at the
expense OF the freight handlers
The proposition finally was made
that the matter of an agreement with
the railroads should be left with a
committee OF the general of
the railroads VINO had full of
settlement. :.th' side. The result
was that presideht Duran agreed to
accept the basis Of increase offered by
the railroads July !.
The action OF the teamsters was q
potent factor in settling the strike.
They took strong Issue with the
freight handlers, and intlmated verv
nlainlv that no assistance could be ex-
pected from them, inasmuch as the
freight handlers. had struck against
the advice OF the Chicago Federatio
Of Labor.
r'he session came to a sudden termi-
nation AMI Presidents Curran and
Bowman left for the meeting with
the general managers. When he left
this meeting President Curran was
surrounded b. crowds Of the strikers
' M rad heen waiting to hear the re-
sui ct the meeting. and there was
great dissatisfaction when it was an
nounced that no settlement had been
reached, hrt thai meetings woIiu be
held THURSDAY morning at which the
results of the Meeting with the man
ayars uanId no uaada known.