Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-15
1T is PERPLExING.
Thousands of Boston Strikers
Return to Work.
But Those Whose Places Were Filled
Are Causing Trouble.
Situation Is Critical, Thouqh Leading
Men Hope to Settle II.

ton in Boston, tonight, is extremely
perplexing. To give weight to state
ments of labor men who spoke without
authority that harmony is not restOr-
ed, is to make the outlook far more
critical than at any time since the AL
lied Freight Transportation Council be-
gan it's fight against the r. S. Brine
Transportation Co.
On the other hand, Gov. Crane and
the State Board of Arbitration believe
that the problem is being solved quite
apidly, and only ask for time and pa
thence from both laboring and business
men to remove all obstacles for a re-
sumption of freight traffic under GUS
tomary conditions.
AS an actual fact, the strike was
| completely broken, today, although in
dividual troubles cropped out in many
quarters, some of which were adjusted
without delay and others dragged along
| in uncertain state Sc that they came in
| for consideration by the various labor
bodies, tonight.
During these meetings, judging from
what was argued by the men, inde-
pendent strikes of bodies seem i'm
| pending, but the leaders in the strike
| just ended were sanguine that they
still held control of the entire organ
| lied labor body and would not again
| order a strike of the freight handlers
or it's more serious accompaniment, a
sympathetic strike of affiliated bodies.
| Tomorrow will show more clearly the
conditions in this respect.
The physical side of the strike break
ing. today, presented an army of work.
ingmen rushing to get their old jobs.
| There had been more than 10000 places
vacated. but fully 10 per cent. of the
union men found their places filled.
This was the reason for friction all day,
affecting only the men themselves, for
employers were too busy raising the
| embargo on their wares to give heed
| to talk of unfairness. Freight began
to move at docks, freight sheds, from
and to wholesale houses and factories,
and upon the streets, and by night
great inroads had been made on the
fOur-days accumulation of goods.
With the break in the strike, employ
ers of freight handlers, team drivers
and Jumpers rushed into print with
| calls for more help. Even concerns
which heretofore have been bound to
unionism seem to have grasped the OPP
portunity of hiring whom they liked.
1t is on this point of all others that the
critical phase of the situation, tonight,
hangs.
The real battle, today, was between
| the men who controlled the strike and
the representatives of great interests
who had been prevailed upon to con-
slider certain propositions as a way to
a settlement of the trouble. AS for
three days past, it was Gov. Crane at
his office in the State House, who stood
between the parties at issue.
The Governor kept receiving dele
cations most of the afternoon and after
hard work on his part succeeded in
getting together the heads of the three
great railroads which enter the city,
President John M. Ham of the New
York. New Haven & Hartford, Presi-
dent Lucius futile Of the Boston &
Maine. and Samuel Hoar, general coun-
sci for the Boston & Albany. These
men arrived at the State House at 43O
O'Clock. w. T. Chamberlain, the gen.
eral manager Of the Eastern division of
the New Haven, was also admitted into
the executive chamber.
These gentlemen were with the Gov
ernor for an hour and a half In the
meantime a number Of the labor lead
ers who had been holding conferences
with the State Board Of Arbitration
and at the labor headquarters arrived
and were taken into the council cham
Der. For an hour the Governor had al
ternate interviews between employees
and employers. During these confer
ences, Secretary Easley Of the Civic
Federation. came into the waiting room
and saw the Governor and he was ac-
companied by Frank P. Sargent of
Cleveland, president of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen; and
George G. Mcneil Of this city
Mr.. Easley said that he had attend
ed a meeting of the Longshoremen dur
ing the afternoon and spoke there with
Mr.. Sargent and Mr.. Mcneil. The
meeting was hot one, but at the close
the men all voted to sustain the officers
and to return to work. The several
conferences ended about O'Clock.
The Governor then granted an inter-
view with the newspaper men and said
that the situation looked very much
more encouraging than last night. The
railroads have all agreed to take back
as many men as possible without dis
elimination. AS far as the steamship
lines are concerned he understood that
the men had returned to practically all
of them.
The railroad companies will not con-
sent to discharge men whom they have
hired in place Of the strikers, but they
are well disposed to the men and are
very anxious to take back as many as
possible. The question of the loading
and unloading teams. while it came up
incidentally. today, was not very much !
discussed. 1t will, however, be taken |
up next week.
The Governor said that both Presi- |
dent futile and the Boston & Albany |
officials had used every effort to get |
the men back. At East Boston, where |
80 of the Boston & Maine men went
out, all had been taken back. At the |
same place. where 12O of the Boston & |
Albany men went out, 1O8 had been
given places by the company
In the case of the New Haven Road.
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