The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-03-13
BOSTON STRIKE SITUATION
ITS RAPID SPREAD BEGINNING TO
 CAUSE SERIOUS ALARM.

C4 USE . EfGtO 4 ALARM
 Twenty Thousand Men Now Idle and
 Their Ranks Likely to be Greatly
 SweIIed To-day--City Commences to
 Suffer from the Congestion of Traffic
 Conference Of Business Interests Arr
 ranged-Consoiidated Road Manifesto
 Boston, March 12.-With 10000 men idle. their ranks likely to be greatly swelled by sympathetic votes of the building trades council and the Boston Central Labor Union which meet to- ginning to suffer from the effects of congested traffic, the only ray Of light visible tonight is the hope that the conference of business interests which has been arranged for tomorrow may lead to settlement of the strike.
 This conference, which is due in a large measure to the influence of Gov ernor Crane, was arranged late this afternoon at @ meeting of representa- tives of the Boston Chamber of Com merce the Boston Associated Board of Trade and the Boston Merchants as- sociation with the State Board of Ar bitration
 Every one present realized the seri- ousness of the situation and after an interchange of opinions it was decided hoe of al a public opinion would be to call con- ference of business men of the city to which among others, the presidents of the product exchange, the coal ex- change and of all the railroads will be invited. It is hoped that Secretary Easley and other representatives of the Civic Federation may also be pres ent
 During the day Governor Crane had a long talk with the committee of the Allied Transportation Council having the strike in charge but at it's conclu- sion he announced that he could see no way at present of solving the prob lem. Later he sent for Mayor Collins and the two executive were in confer ence for some time. A little later Mayor Collins made statement that he had no power to act He said fur ther:
 Until the railroad officials consent to having the differences considered by an arbitration board there is nothing more we can do. They are abdurate there fore our hands are tied. The governor | and myself have done all in our power l to render assistance The answer from | Senator Hanna does not leave fur ! ther opening for workingsfor an imme- | diate settlement. The saloons cannot | be closed until rioting starts. A promi | nent strike leader said to-day when | some one suggested closing the saloons, | thta the best way to close the saloons | was to keep the men out of them i Now I fully agree with that opinion. | There does not appear to be any ne- | cessity for closing the saloons There is no rioting and only when there is can the power be exercised.
 The railroad company against which the strike is chiefly directed, the New York. New Haven and Hartford, shows no inclination to ask for interference by the National Civic Federation, and re- iterates what it has said from the first that it's duties as common carrier are defined by law, and that it is com pelled to handle all freight delivered to if whether by union or non-union teams, and that it has no option in the matter. This position, if adhered to by the company may result in the refusal of the federation to interfere in the quarrel. as it desires a request from both sides before taking up the mat ter.
 ot 1,n Qfin L. roads wharves and docks has been al- most at a standstill to-day, and the moving of accumulated merchandise is becoming a most serious matter to the merchants.
 The strike of coal teamsters was one of the most aggravatng features of the day, and it's effect was quickly felt at hotels, restaurants and places having accommodation for only limited sup nlv of coal and coal dealers were kept busy answering appeals from anxious ( customers for coal which could not be  Many of the teams of the Adams, Ma :, tional and local express companies, l whose drivers are not affiliated with { the Teamsters' union, were at work to- 1 5av. but it is stated that tomorrow all ( will go out with the exception of the l United States Express companys men, { who belong to no union. [ There is also a movement to call out ( the hack and cab men, who, since the strike of the Armstrong Transfer com oany's drivers, have been transferring more or less baggage for passengers across the city.
 The brewery employees will, it is said, \
 a