Rock Island Argus., 1902-03-15
STRIKE SITUATION
Grand Rush of 100 Per Cent. Of
Men to Fill 90 Per Cent.
of Places.
GOOD DEAL OF FRICTION AT BOSTON
Gov. Crane Continues as Mediator
Prospects May Be Judged by
Conditions.

Boston. March 15.-The labor situa-
tion i'm Boston is extremely perplexing.
To give weight to the statements OF
labor men who speak without author
ity is to make the outlook far more
critical than ut any time since the
Allied Freight Transportation council
began its fight against the II. :. Brine
Transportation company. On the other
hand. Governor Crane and the state
board of arbitration believe that the
problem is being solved quite rapidly.
considering the size of the strike. and
only ask for time and patience from
both laboring and business men to re-
move all obstacles for a resumption
OF freight traffic under ordinary con-
ditions.
Strike Completely Broken.
AS matter of fact the strike was
completely broken yesterday, although
troubles cropped out in many quarters.
some of which were arranged without
delay and others dragged along in un-
certain state. so that they came in foI
consideration by the various labor
bodies last night. During these meet
inGs-judging from what was argued
by the men-independent strikes seems
impending; but the leaders in the strike
just ended are sanguine that they still
hold control of the entire organized
labor body. and would not again be
obliged TO order Il strike OF the freight
handlers, or its more serious accom-
paniment. sympathetic strike of af-
Ten Per Cent. Found No Places.
flIiated bodies.
The special side of the strike-break-
ing yesterday presented an army OF
workingmen rushing helter-skelter to
tn fbair old DOSifinnS 'Thara bn6
been more than 10000 places vacated.
but fully 10 per cent of the men found
their places filed. This was the reason
for friction all day-affectinG only the
men themselves. for concerns We're too
busy raising the embargo on goods in
their keeping to give heed to talk OF
unfairnesS. Freight began to move ut
docks, freight sheds. from and To
wholesale houses and factories. and
upon the streets. and by night great in
roads had been made on the four days
accumulation OF goods.
Plenty of Calls for Help.
With the breaking of the strike en-
plOyers of freight handlers. team
drivers. or Jumpers. rushed into print
with calls for more help. Even con-
Germs which heretofore have been
bound to uniOnism seem to have
graSped tho opportunity of hiring whom
they liked. 1t is on this point of all
others that the critical phase of the
situation hangs.
Gov. Crane the Sole MEDIATOR.
The real battle was between the men
who control the strike and the repre-,
sentatives of great interests who had
been prevailed upon TO consider cer-
tain propositions as way to settle
ment of the trouble AS for three days
past. il was Governor Crane mt his
office i'm the state house who stood be-
tween tho parties at issue.
situation Today.
Fall River. Mass. March 1j.-The !
strike of the cotton mill operatives
here will go into effect Monday as
planned. The manufacturers and la
Dor leaders met i'm conference this !
but the. sitting was fruitless |
as far as bringing peace is concern
ed. The manufacturers offered Ia
put per cent advance into effect |
Monday. but the labor representa- |
tives stood out for the full 10 per
cent asked for.
There has been bad break i'm the |
ranks of the manufacturers. Several |
mills have posted notices granting |
the full 10 per cent increase i'm wages |
beginning Monday. The impression |
prevails that the movement will be-
come general and the strike avertcd. |