The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-10
RAILROADS WON THE FIe.sT.
Freight Handlers of Chicago Agree
TO Terms They Had Refused-A 20
Per Can't. Increase, hut No Recos-
milton for Union

PFeA&ht- hahoteEs OF Sntc0AO agree
TO Terms They Had Refused-A 20
Per Can't. Increase, but No Recoe-
milton for Union.
Chicago, July 9.-The strike of the
freight handlers is virtually settled.
Meetings of the strikers will be held
tomorrow to ratify the action taken
tonight by President Curran of the
order, but as he stated tonight after
conference with the general man
ayers of the railroads that he had
agreed to their terms because
the majority of his men
were going back" on him, there Is
little doubt that the terms will be ac-
cepted by the mass meeting of the
strikers tomorrow.
By the terms of the settlement the
strikers accept the schedule of wages
offered them by the railroads July /.
This schedule was emphatically re-
fused by the strikers at the time it
was offered. 1t offered an average
increase of 20 per cent. for all classes
of labor connected with the freight
handlers union. The demands of the
union would have made an average
increase OF about 80 per cent.
The railroads at the time of offer
ing the increase on July / said that
under no circumstances would they
recognize the union of the freight ham
dlers to the extent of allowing the
officers of the organization to make
terms for the men with the officers
of the railroads by which they We're
employed. This was one of the chief
reasons for the strike, the men in
sisting that the union should be fully
recognized.
The railroads have won a complete
victory on this point The attitude of
the roads toward the freight handlers
union is the same as that maintained
toward all local organizations of rail-
road men. The freight handlers de-
manded something that no other or
ganization of railroad employees In
Chicago had asked and the managers
announced that under no circumstan-
ces would they agree to this.
President Curran of the freight
handlers union said after the meeting
with the general managers that he
had been practically compelled by his
own men to accept the terms of the
railroads.
.srwo-thirds of them would have
gone to- work in the morning anyhow,
he said.
ut was simply a question of doing
the best possible under the circum-
stances. The railroads agree to take
back all strikers who will apply for
their old places by noon tomorrow.
The settlement of the strike came
unexpectedly. The meetings during
the day of the various committees with
the general managers of the railroads
did not produce much result, neither
side making concessions. When the
committees had reported back to the
executive council of the strikers, a
meeting of that body was held. sew
eral of the officials of the Chicago
Federation of Labor, including Presl-
dent Bowman. were present.
The officers OF the federation
used every means to induce the
strikers to accept the terms offered
| them. but without avail. Twelve MEM
bers of the executive council spoke
| against the acceptance of the terms,
| and three were in favor of 1t. the
meeting was at times acrimonious ana
| there was a sharp exchange OF words
| between President Bowman of the Fed
| Grafton of Labor and President Cur
| ran of the Freight Handlers Union,
| in which the former was accused OF
playing politics at the expense or the
| freight handlers.
The proposition was finally made
| that the matter of an agreement WITH
the railroads should be left with Pres
ident Curran and President Bowman "
the Federation, with full power to act
A meeting was arranged with a COM
mittee of the general man.
ayers of the roads who had
full power of settlement on their
side. The result was that President
Curran agreed to accept the basis OF
increase offered by the roads July l.
The action of the teamsters was
potent factor in settling the strike.
They took strong issue with the freight
handlers, and intimated very plainly
4 that no assistance could be expected
from them, inasmuch as the freight
handlers had struck against the advice
of the Chicago Federation of Labor.
The agreement reached by Presi-
| dent Curran with the managers to-
| night must be ratified by the men to-
| morrow, but there is only very small
| probability that this will not be done.