The evening Republican., 1902-07-15
BUSINESS SUFFERING
Chicago Freight Handlers
Strike Causes Heavy Loss.
QUESTION OF A HALF CENT PER HOUR.
All Effort to Bring About a Scttle-
ment of Differences Proves Fruit
Iess-Mnyor Harrison Pledges
Protection to Business Men.

| Protection to Business Men.
CHICAGO, July 15.-Whilc the whole
sale business Of this city is almost com.
! pletely paralyZed and while its bust
ness men are suffering loss of 81 ).
! OOO,oc0 per day the striking freight
| handlers and the railroads are in Il
/ deadlock and announce their determi,
nation to fight to the finish over the
| question of one-half cent per hour
! per man, OF total of about $500 for
| every twentyfour hours this sum be-
ing divided on one side between fwcn-
ty-four railroads and on the other be-
| tween 10000 men.
The situation is more serious than at
any time since the commencement Of
the trouble, and at no time since the
walkout have the points at issue been
so ohstlnately maintained. Three times
yesterday the freight handlers sent
committees TO meet the general mana
gers, and three times they came back
without result. The first call was made
without giving warning to the mana
gers, and when the committees arrived
they were unable to find any of them
for the reason that the managers were
having 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 COM
mittees were sent out by President
Curran of the freight handlers at the
demand of the teamsters, who wanted
something attempted toward n settle
ment. 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 in their Offices All the COM
mittees reported, as before, that they
had failed of any result. The commit
tee that went to the Milwaukee and
st. Paul road came back bearing the
information that they kad been re-
fused admission and were informed
that their former employers did not
care to receive them. that they had all
the men necessary in their business
and that hereafter no deputations
would be received from employees who
had gone Oh strike. The officials de-
clared later that they would maintain
this position.
After this had been reported at the
headquarters of the strikers President
Curran announced that the fight was
on to finish and that hereafter when
the railroads had any overtures to make
or wished to do any business with their
employees they would be compelled to
transact such business through the Of
ticers of the Freight Handlers union.
Both sides now declare that they have
reached the limit and that absolutely
nothing will he conceded. The men
demand 17la cents. The managers say
that they will not under any circum-
stances pay more than II cents.
The business men of the city, partic-
ularly those who deal in perishable
goods, are growing restivc and declare
they can endure the situation but
short time longer. 1t is costing them
more than either the strikers or the
railroads. and they say that if the
strike shall not be settled within
week many of them will be badly Grip.
pied. TO bring about an end to the
blockade which is maintained by the
strikers and their friends, the team
sters, the commission men of South
Water street met 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 determined to drive
their own wagons to the depots today
and remove from them all the goods
that had been consigned to them, much
Of which is being rapidly ruined A
was sent to Mayor Harrison
asking If police protection would be
given them, and word was received that
ample protection would be afforded.
Just at this time, however word was
received that President Young of the
reamsters' National union had arrived
in the city and that meeting of the
executive officers of that body would
be held to consider the advsability of
ordering the men now on strike to re-
turn or of calling out every teamster
in the city who is affiliated with the
lnion. The merchants then decided to
lwat the result of this meeting.