The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-07-18
STRIKE ENDED
Substantial Victory of Railroads Over
Freight Handlers.
MEN GO BACK AT FORMER PAY
Ia an Angry Speech President Cur
ran Charges Treachery-Shippe
and Wholesale Dealers said to
Have Lost $10,OO0,OOO.

Chicago, July 16.-The Association of
Railway General Managers, embracing
every road which enters Chicago, has
issued the following signed statement:
''All of our old men not before on
hand for work have reported at the
freighthouses and were put to work.
No conference was held with any com
mittee or otherwise since Tuesday, and
no agreement was made with the union
or with any committee. The men sim
ply reported for work, and they doubt
less expect and will receive the pay
offered July 1 and which the railroad
companies have been willing all along
to pay"
After ten days of strife the Chicago
sudden end in an unqualified victory
for the railroads. A meeting of the
strikers, presided over by President
Curran, resulted in an almost unani-
nous vote to return to work, leaving
the wage scale and other questions for
settlement between the men and their
respective roads.
Strikers Return to Work.
AT the conclusion of the meeting the
strikers went by hundreds to the ware
houses to apply for their old positions,
and the teamsters who have remained
out in sympathy again took up their
reins. Within a few hours immense
quantities of freight which had been
held back for days were being rushed
to the railroads or taken from ware
houses and cars. Where stagnation
had ruled commercial activity again
reigned. Chicago merchants expressed
unbounded pelief at the termination of
hostilities, but they were scarcely less
happy than the men themselves, al
though the strike is estimated to have
cost them $10,000,000 to say nothing
of the trade that has been permanently
lost to them.
The little hall where the meeting of
the strikers took place was jammed
to suffocation, and thousands We're un-
able to obtain entrance. 1t was a brief
meeting only long enough for an angry
speech by President Curran and the
vote which followed
en-" said Curran, 1--WE came out
Ike men, we have acted like men and
we should not go back like sheep But
there has been treachery in our camp.
Tuesday when | was about to use the
telephone the wire got crossed, and |
heard one of the members of our eX-
ecutiye committee talking with a rail
road manager. He was encouraging
the managers to hold out, for he told
them that the strike was almost bro
ken. That is a sample of the faith
that has been kept with me. The of
ficials of the truck drivers union have
not kept faith either, and it seems use
less to continue the fight any longer
Shall we go back and ask for our old
jobs?'
Vote Almost Unanimous to Return.
In this simple form the matter was
put to vote, and almost Immediately
a great chorus of yeas had brought to
a peaceful end one of Chicagos most
serious and threatening labor situa-
tons. 1t is believed the roads general
ly will allow the truckers II cents an
hour and minor concessions granted by
the proposition of July l.
The proposition accepted by the men
was in effect the one given to Presi-
dent Curran by the state board of ar
although the proposition in
it's proper form was not placed before
the men.
TIL