The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-10
Freight II Going Ont with More Free
dom, Though striker.' Pickets Are
Active ut the Dep0ts.
MITCHELL ADDRESSES MINERS
VOICES OBJECTION TO THE PROSE
CUTION OF INTIMIDATORs.
Expresses His Confidence of Success
TO the Nanticoke District Meeting
Other News Of Labor world.

CHICAGO. july 9-The strike or the
freight handlers Is virtually settled Meet
ings or the strikers will be held tomorrow
10 ratify the action taken tonight by Pres
ident Curran. of the order. but as he stated
tonight after the conference with the gen.
eral managers 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
accepted by the mass meeting of the strik-
ers tomorrow.
BY the terms OF the settlement the strik-
ers accept the schedule Of wages offered
them by the railroads on July 1. This
schedule was emphatically refused by the
strikers at the time IL was made. 1t Of
fered an average increase of % per cent.
for all classes OF labor connected with the
Freight Handlers Union. The demands of
the men would have made an average in
crease OF about 80 per cent. The railroads
a. the time OF offering the increase on July
i said that under no circumstances would
they recognize the union OF the freight
handlers to the extent of allowing the Off
GERS of the organization to make terms for
the men with the officers OF the railroads
by which they were employed. This was
one of the chief reasons for the strike, the
mcn insisting 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 main
tained toward all local organizations of
railroad men. The freight handlers de-
.nsnded something that no other organiza-
tion of railroad employees in Chicago had
eskcd and the managers announced that
under no circumstances would they agree
u this.
President Curran, of the Freight Han
dlers' Union. said after the meeting with
the general managers tonight that he
practically had been compelled by his own
men to accept the terms of the railroads.
''Two-thirds of the men would have gone
20 work in the morning anyhow" he said,
"and Il was simply question OF doing the
best possible under the circumstances.
The railroads agree to take back all the
strikers who will apply for their old posi-
tions by noon tomorrow.
The settlement Of the strike came unex-
pectedly. The meetings during the day of
the various committees with the general
managers of the railroads did not produce
much result, neither side making conces-
sions.
When the committee had reported back
10 the executive council of the strikers
meeting of that bady held. Several
OF the officials of the Chicago Federation
were present. The officials of the Fedora
ton used every means to induce the strik-
ers TO accept the terms offered them, but
without avail. Twelve members of the
executive council spoke against the ac-
ceptance OF the terms. and three were in
favor OF it. The meeting was at times
acrimonious. and there was sharp ex-
change of words between President Bow
man, Of the Federation of Labor, and
President Curran. of the Freight Handlers
Union. in which the former was accused
a
freight handlers.
The proposition finally was made that
the matter OF an agreement with the rail-
roads should be left with President Curran
and President Bowman, of the Federation.
with fun power TO act. A meeting was then
arranged with a committee of the general
power of settlement on their side. The
result was that President Curran agreed
10 accept the basis of increase offered by
the railroads on July l. The action OF the
teamsters was a potent factor in settling
the strike. They took strong issue with the
freight handlers. and intimated very plain-
ly that no assistance could be expected
from them. inasmuch as the freight hand
lers bad struck against the advice of the
Chicago Federation of Labor
The session OF the executive council came
90 sudden termination and Presidents
Curran and Bowman left for the meeting
with the general managers. When he left
this morning. President Curran was sur
rounded by crowds of the strikers who
had been waiting TO hear the result of the
lletlllk. difu AucIt WAS great QlSSdtlStaC-
tion when il was announced that no set
tlement had been reached. but that a
meeting would be held Thursday morning
ct which the results OF the meeting with
the managers would be made known The
displeasure Of the men had a marked ef-
feet i'm bringing about the settlement of the
strike.
The agreement reached by President Cur
ran with the managers tonight must be
ratified by the men Tomorrow. but there
Is only very small probability that this
will not be done