New-York tribune., 1902-07-08
FREIGHT TIED Up IN CHICAGO
PLOYED BY TWENTY-FOUR
RAILROADS.

concerned is practically tied up. Business fear
that the strike will be the most serious which has
affected their interests in years.
The strike called by committee appointed
at meeting of thousand freight handlers held
last night. The committee instructed to call a
strike within forty-eght hours, unless the rail-
roads should meet the demands of the men at once
for an increase in wages extra pay for overtime
and holidays. and recognition of the union.
Action these instructions taken sooner
than had been expected The committee went first
to the men in the Michigan Central. the Illinois
Central and Wisconsin Central houses on the lake
front. The walked ont with cheers. and
marched across the viaduct, in Randolph-st., with
tLeir union cards tucked in their hats.
One thousand men walked out from these ware
houses alone. They congregated at the foot of the
viaduct, and calls for speeches were made. D. r
Ryan Michigan Central man. who had left his
post delivery clerk, mounted wagon, and,
waving his union card by way of gesture, said:
"Be sober, men. Be lawabiding. Be good Amer
ican citizens and the battle IS ours" The crowd
cheered him vociferousy, and ne continued for
time TO talk in a similar strain. Other
speakers all counselling peace followed
BY messenger and by telephone. according to the
strike leaders. all other members of the Interior
Freight Handlers and Warehousemen's Union were
called out. At noon President Curran of the union
reported that his all out and that II
was all but impossible for any freight to enter
Chicago to leave It, Many of the railroads had
small forces Of men, previously hired, on hand
when the strike called and by adding men
from other departments managed handle perish
able commodities.
the hiring OF non-union men it is said the
railroads a serious risk of bringing about a
strike of the teamsters. who recently won their
fight from the packers. The teamsters it is said,
will refuse absolutely to have anything to do with
freight in any way handled by non-union help
The men called include foremen check, re-
check. receiving and delivery clerks. sealers call
ers. weighmasters, stevedores coopers and ele-
vator men.
Chief of Police O'Neill, when informed that
strike had been called. sent orders TO his subor-
dinates TO make every preparation TO preserve
peace. Two hundred and fifty men were called In
from outlying stations form a reserve force
to he stationed at the downtown stations From
the stations the went in squads to the diff
ferent yards. There marked demonstra-
tions they entered although they had to remain
quiet under running fire of sarcasm and rough
wit
w C Brown vice-president of the Lake Shore
and Michigan Southern, said of the situation on
his road About 50 per cent of our men went out
The remainder with additional help which We
have hired. are handling business well as
could be expected. Our business is not tied up and
will not be"
J. T Harahan second vice-president of the Illi-
Central. said that about half of his companys
40 men had struck hut 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 with the ROADS
through their committees. instead OF through
their union.
We have no trouble in adjusting differences with
our engineers fremen and other employees" said
Mr. 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 a question Mr.. Harahan sald thaI
the railroads were unit in refusing to deal with
the strikers through their union, but all of them
We're ready at any time to discuss, anG ADJUST
He did not think there would be much difncuity
in supplying men to take the strikers 1pio have
declared that instructions have been given the
the sympathy of the teamsters made apPar-
to-day When the men walked out OF the ILL In
nos Central warehouse the teamsters VINO were were
receiving or unloading freight Immediately TOOK
That the railroads are expecting strenuous
struggle made evident to-day, when the chleI
''bies" the entire stock of prominent firm
Chairman Job Of the STATE Board o. OF nnsse
effort to bring about peace between the men ana
their employers.
Two wagonioads OF men were taken to the
Illinois Central warehoqse under police r guard dur nd
Northwestern Railroad refused to state what the
situation in their m sr n ot work 0ciais Of
the Pennsylvania claimed that of the three hun,
out and that six Of these returned Mayor Harri-
said that he had planned to go on vacation
but that if the strike not settled he would re-
The principal railroad systems affected by the
Chicago and Great Western. Baltimore and Ohio
Erie Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe. Chicago
Terminal Transfer Company, Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern. Chicago ROCK island ana Iiia "a
and Eastern Illinois, Wabash Grand Trunk. Chi
GhSagd S1So and @ Chicago Mwaukee
and St Paul Illinois Central Michigan central
one hundred warehouses in Chicago ,,-.-
will bring four hundred men from the South to
take the places of strikers Other roads were said
to he taking similar measures bringing In men men
from country districts or other cities on their
Chairman Job of the State Board of Arbitration
said: Il have sent letters 10 the managers OF the
Of the Freight Handlers, offering the services of
the board IN attempting to bring about settle
ment So far l have received no reply from any
u Hopes of a speedy settlement of the strike are
memberss of the State Board of Arbitration. The
chairman Job of the Board of Arbitration, that
they willing to permit employees Of the differ,
discuss the wage scale, providing a joint confer
would be permitted to advisers to the
The arbitration board is now working on the mat
tween the railway managers and committees repre-
eR5RS sRorad hf this om the % of the
troversy there is little doubt that the strike can
be settled satisfactorily to both sides if the con-
The sudden suspension Of customary operations
able trouble in and about the varIous Tailroad
delay were only drop in the bucket to what will
happen tomorrow and later in the week If the
To add TO the present difficulties of the railroads
the Teamsters and Truck Drivers Union threatens
TO ioin i'm sympa thetic strike If this shall occur
il will AFFECT all incoming and outgoing freight Of
every kind. Every railroad in Chicago to-day
cepted ali freight offered While il was confessed
by several railroad officials that freight not
being moved as expeditiously heretofore yet IL
said the largest part of it was being handled
reasonably well.
There was trouble or disorder IN or about any
OF the freight houses.
Anticipating the possibilities Of such a strike, the
railroad companies had brought TO Chicago a con
siderable number of men to take the places Of the
strikers. These men intercepted by pfckets
OF the strikers. and most of them were induced to
join the freight handlers union.