The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-08
OUTLOOK VERY BRIGHT
FOR EARLY SETTLEMENT
Arbitration Board Now Working On
t51e Matter With Hope of Bringing
About a Conference Between
Strikers and Employers.

Chicago. July 7-Hopes of a speedy
settlement of the strike of the freight
handlers union, which was declared to-
day, are entertained tonight by the Of
ficials of the union and members of the
state board of arbitration The officials
of the union at a conference tonight
told Chairman Job of the board of arbi-
tration that they were willing to permit
employees of the different companies to
meet officials of the same to discuss the
wage scale providing joint conference
should be held at which officials of the
union would be permitted to act as ad-
visers to the men.
The arbitration board is now working
on the matter in an effort to bring about
a conference between the railroad Tuan-
ayers and the committee representing the
men, AS the railroad officials have IA
vored this step from the beginning of the
controversy, there is little doubt that
the strike can be settled satisfactory to
both sides of the conference shall be ar
ranged.
Lack of Unanmity.
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 its
executive officials are somewhat offended
and are inclined to let the freight handlers
fight out the battle in their own way.
There are 1900 freight handlers in and
about the various freight houses of the
twenty-four railroads centering in Chi
cago OF this number more than 5000 are
now involved in the strike Some of the
men who quit work today did so under
protest. Notably was this the case in the
freight houses of the Lake Shore and
Michigan Central.
The sudden suspension of customary
operations by the freight handlers today
occasioned considerable trouble In and
about the various railroa warehouses
and depots, but the inconvenience and
delay were but a drop in the bucket to
what will happen tomorrow and later in
the week If the strike should not be set
tied sooner.
More Trouble Threatened.
To add to the present difficulties Of the
road the Teamsters and Truck Drivers
Union threaten to join in a sympathetic
strike. If this shall occur 1t will affect all
incoming and outgoing freight of every
kind. Every railroad in Chicago today
cepted all freight offered. While 1t is ad-
mitted by the officials that freight is not
being moved as expeditiously as hereto
fore, yet ii said the largest part of
1t was handle reasonably well.
The various freight houses and yards,
however, disclosed a considerable accum-
ulstion of unmoved freight, and cars
loaded with freight a portion of it
marked ''perishable," filled the side tracks
of all the railroads.
Anticipating the possibilities of such
strike the railroad company had brought
to Chicago a considerable number of men
to take the place of the strikers. These
men were intercepted by pickets of the
strikers and most Of them were induced
to join the Freight Handlers Union.
Men Cheered on Walking Out.
The strike was called by a committee
appointed at meeting of 1000 freight
handlers held last night The committee
went first to the men in the Michigan
Central, Illinois Central and Wisconsin
Central houses on the lake front. The
men walked out with cheers and
marched across the viaduct in Randolph
street with their union cards tucked in
their hats. By messengers and by tele-
phone according to the strike leaders,
al other members of the Interior Freight
Handlers and Warehousemens Union
were called out.
At noon President Curran of the
union reported that all his men were out
and that it is all but impossible for any
freight to enter or leave Chicago.
Many of the roads had small forces of
men on hand when the strike was called
and by adding to it the men from other
departments managed to handle perish
able commodities.
In the hiring of non-union men 1t is
said the railroads run a serious risk of
bringing about strike of the teamsters
who recently won their strike with the
packers.
The men called out are checkmen, re-
checkmen, foremen, delivery clerks. call
ers receiving clerks, weighmasters, steve
dores, coopers and elevator men.
OppoSE lN.JtJNCTIONS.