The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-03-26
BIG STRIKE IN BOSTON
Ten Thousand Freight Handlers
Quit Work in aSympathetic Move.
Labor. Dispute Involving Great Intsresta
Grew Out OF Union Tsamsters'
Fight.A Gloomy Outlook.

Boston, Mass.-Ten thousand men
teamsters. freight clerks, freight hand.
lers and lonSshoremen-went out on
strike In sympathy with 100 freight
handlers Of the New Haven Railroad.
who went out rather than handle
"scab" freight The movement Is the
direct outcome Of the strike Of the
teamsters Of the r. s. Brine Transpor.
tation Company.
1t has been only by advice Of theii
officers that the freight handlers have
been kept Mt work. They have been
threatening to strike for some time.
They did not want to handle the goods
Of the n. s. Brine Company. and SAID
so. They took OF the loads Of the
other master teamsters without
trouble. but when 1t came to helping
the non-unlon teamsters there was
trouble.
The New York Central Road has had
in force for some time an order that
the teamsters should see to the unload
ing Of goods themselves. and not have
that part Of the work done by the freight
handlers. In this manner the men
have not been compelled to handle the
goods delivered at the freight houses
By the r. 8. Brine Company. But, In
spite Of this. they voted to strike In
sympathy with the New Haven's men.
The outlook was most gloomy.
Ever since the courts helped the
Brine Company to win its strike a
month ago the feeling on both sides
has been that q move on the part Of
organized labor was inevitable. The
managers of the Brine Company. when
the trouble came to head.
brought pressure to bear on the rail-
road company. demanding that Its
teams be unioaded by tile railroad
men. and threatening to charge stor.
age In case this was not done. General
Manager Chamberlain thereupon hired
Italians, and all day the work Of load.
Ing and unloading cars was In progress.
The switchmen also voted TO 60 out.
and the effort on the part Of the labor
leaders was to unite not only the loco
motive engineers and trainmen In the
movement. but all divisions Of the
unions army.
The organizations which voted to
strike are the principal members OF
the Allied Freight Transportation
Council. the other members Of which.
such as the Longshoremen's Union.
Expressmen's Union, Meat Handlers
and Wool and Leather Handlers. hay-
Ing q much smaller membership.
The Allied Freight Transportation
Council indorsed the action Of various
allied bodies, and instructed those
unions which had not already taken
such action to hold meetings at once
and adopt a vote to that effect.
The council also adopted resolution
denouncing the police for guarding the
men Mt work In the South Boston
freight houses In violation Of the law
prohibiting Sunday labor. and appoint.
ell a committee to wait upon the Gov
ernor and ask for the removal OF the
Police Commissioners for incompe-
tence and neglect Of duty in not enforc.
| inc the Sunday laws.
It was stated in labor circles that
the strike might probably extend to
Providence. Fall River. Stoningson.
Hartford. New London. Worcester.
Springfield and other points reached
hy the New York. New Haven and
Hartford and Boston and Albany rail.
roads.