The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-07-11
EVERY ROAD cENTERlhe IN CHI.
cAeo AFFECTED.
MAY FOLLOW
Increase in Wages, Extra Pay for
Overtime and Recognition of the
Union Are Demanded.

Chicago, July IA strike of 5000
freight handlers in Chicago was call
ed today and every freight house Of
the "a railroads concerned is prac-
tically tied up Business men fear
that the strike will be the most seri-
u which has affected their interests
in years.
The strikers called by a committee
appointed at q meeting of 1000 freight
handlers held a meeting last night.
The committee was instructed to call
a, strike within 48 hours unless the
railroads should meet the demands of
the men at once for an increase in
wages, extra pay for overtime and
holidays, and recognition of the Aun-
ion.
Action On these instructions was
taken sooner than had been expected.
The committee went first to the Mich
igan Central and Wisconsin Central
freight houses on the Lake front. The
men walked out with cheers and
marched across the viaduct on Ran
dolph with their union cards tucked
in their hats.
: By messenger and telephone, acting
to the strike. leaders, all members of
the International Freight Handlers
and Warehouse Mems union were
called out. At noon President Cur
rant of the union reported that his
men were all out and that it is almost
impossible for any freight to enter
Chicago or to leave it.
No Freight Entering.
Many of the railroads mad small
forces of men previously hired on
hand when the strike was called, and
by adding to them men from other de-
partments, managed to handle perish
able commodities. In the hiring of
%non-union men it is said the rail
roads run a serious risk of bringing
about a strike of the teamsters, who
recently won their fight from the pack
ers. The Transfers, it is said, will
refuse absolutely to have anything to
do with freight in anyway handled by
non-union help. The men called out
include the foremen, check, re-check,
receiving and delivery clerks, s%ealers,
callers, weigh-masters, coopers and
elevator men.
Chief of Police O'Neill when notified
- .4n.Jxo L~5 boom, oo1Ja1 cnnf nr-
ders to his subordinates to make ~
cry preparation to preserve order
Two hundred and fifty men were
called In from the outlying stations
To- Storm a reserve force to be stationed
at the downtown stations. From the
stations the men went in squads to
the different yards.
There was no marked demonstration
as they entered, although they had to
remain quite under a running fire of
sarcasm.
W. c. Brown, vice president of the
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern
railroad, said concerning the situa-
ton Of his road:
About so per cent of our men went
out. The remainder with additional
help which we have hired are handling
our business as well as could be ex-
pected. Our business is not tied up
and will not be-"
Plenty Of Men.
j. T. Harahan, second vice presi-
dent of the Illinois, said about his
company that $50 men had struck but
that he had men close at hand to take
their places.
Mr.. Harahan said he thought the
strike could have been avoided If the
men had been willing to consult the
roads through their W committee
instead of their union.
"We have no trouble in adjusting
differences with u engineers, fire
men and other employees" said MI.
Harahan, "but the freight handlers
presented a document through the
officers of their union and we of
course could not deal with them
through third parties"
In reply to a question Mr.. Haranhan
said that the railroads were a unit
in refusing to deal with the strikers
through their union, but all OF them
were ready at any time to discuss any
just grievances IL presented by their
employees. He did not think there
would be much difficulty in supplying
men to take the strikers places.