The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-09
HOPES OF EARLY SETTLEMENT.
officials Of The Union Willing That Employees
and Employers Should Confer
(By the Associated Press.)

Chicago, July 7.-Hopes of a speedy
settlement of the strike of the Freight
Handlers union, which was declared here
today, are entertained tonight by Off
Gals of the union and members of the
State Board of Arbitration. The off,
cials of the union at a conference tonight
told Chairman Job of the Board of Ar
bitration that they were willing to per-
NIT employees OF the different companies
to meet officials of the same to discuss
the wage scale, providing a joint con-
ference should be held at which officials
of the union would be permitted to act
as advisors to the men. The arbitration
board is now working to bring about a
conference between the railroad men and
committees representing the men. There
is little doubt that the strike can be
settled satisfactorily to both sides if the
conference shall be arranged.
Lack of unanimity already permeates
the strike The Chicago Federation of
Labor was ignored when the order was
issued for the men to quit work, and it's
executive officials are somewhat offended
and are inclined to let the freight hand
lers fight out their battle in their own
way. There are 10000 freight handlers
in and about the various freight houses
of the twenty-four railroads centering in
Chicago. OF this number more than 5000
are now Involved in the strike. Some
of the men who Quit work did SO under
protest. Notably this was the case in
the freight houses of the Lake Shore
and Michigan Central road.
The men there employed were receiv-
ing all the consideration they had asked.
They were forced to strike, however. by
the order of the executive committee of
their union. Before going out the men
Informed the railway officials of the
situation and said they would seek an
immediate return under orders from the
authority that ordered them out:
The sudden suspension of customary
operations by the freight handlers to-
day occasioned considerable trouble in
and about the various railroad ware
houses and depots, but the inconvenience
and delay were but drop in the bucket
to what will happen tomorrow and later
In the week, if the strike shall not be
settled sooner.
To add to the present difficulties Of
the railroads the teamsters and truck
Griers union threatens to join in sym
pathetic strike. If this shall occur it
will affect all incoming and outgoing
freight of every kind. Every railroad in
Chicago today accepted all freight offer
cd While it was confessed by several
railroad officials that freight was not
being moved as expeditiously as hereto
fore, yet it was said the largest part
of it was being handled reasonably we'll.
The various freight houses and yards,
however, disclosed a considerable ac-
emulation of unmoved freight and cars
loaded with freight. A portion of it
marked ''perishable" filled the side tracks
of all the railroads.
There was no trouble or disorder in or
about any of the freight houses. Antici-
pating the possibilities of such a strike,
the railroad companies had brought to
Chicago a considerable number of men
to take the places of the strikers. These
men were intercepted by pickets of the
strikers and most of them were induced
to join the Freight Handlers Union.