Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-07
FREIGHT HANDLERS TO QUIT
Nine Thousand in Chicago Resolve Ia
Desert Places at Warehouses,
STRIKE MAY INVOLVE TRANSFERS
Fakes EJECT within Forty-EIRht
Hours as Result of Railways Re-
fusaI to Recognize Union
strikes in Maryland.

CHICAGO, July 6.-The freight handlers,
numbering nearly 1900 men, employed in
the different railway warehouses and depots
in Chicago, at a special meeting tonight
decided to go on 4 strike within forty-eight
hours to enforce ti.eir demand for higher
wages.
Several days ago the freight handlers
union submitted a proposition 70 the gen.
eral managers Of the railways asking for
an increase In the scale OF wages. The re-
quest was refused. The railroad o%ficials,
however. offered to confer with committees
from their own men in an effort to effect a
compromise, but they refused to recognize
the officers OF the union. This was unsatls-
factory to the men, as recognition OF the
union was one OF the principal demands
made in the proposition submitted to the
railroads.
Chairman F. W. Job Of the State Board
Of Arbitration has been using his best ef-
forts to prevent a strike, but the men
claimed they were tired waiting for the
railroads to take some action and the de-
cislon at tonight's meeting was the result.
The strike in all probability will involve
the teamsters. as the latter have declared
that they will not deliver freight to the
railroads If it rs to be handled by nom
union men.
1t is extremely probable that an ulti-
matum will be put to the roads tomorrow.
The decision reached at tonight's meeting
provides for the calling OF a strike any
time within forty-eight hours and this may
mean some limo tomorrow or any hour be-
fore Tuesday evening. The decision is that
there shall be 10 delay after that time.
Twenty-si< railroads centering in Chicago
are Involved ia the trouble.
According to President Curran Of the
freight handlers union, who issued 4
statement after the meeting adjourned, the
roads will not be compelled to treat d.
rectly with the union. All that lie asked
Is that they shall comply with the demand
for the precise advance specified in the
unions scale OF wages, submitted June
20, and there will be no complaint II
united agreement on the part Of the rail
way managers shall be presented to their
- individual working forces in the various
freight houses in Chicago.
Carpenters ana Pants Makers strike.
BALTIMORE, July 6.-Pursuant to the
ultimatum given the contractors and build
ers three weeks ago, about 900 carpenters
will lay down their tools tomorrow.
Six hundred others employed by twenty.
three firms will remain at work, their
employers having signed a modified agree
ment The original demand of the labor
unions was that the men be paid SO fol-
an eight-hour day. as modified the pay
will be So for nine hours. as at present
and eight hours on Saturday. Those who
strike tomorrow will demand that the
modified scale be agreed to by their EN-.
ployers.
Five hundred pants makers and p~ressers
will strike tomorrow. This was the de.
cision Of the executive committee OF the
pants makers union today. The strike will
tie up 200 shops. many of them so-called
sweatshops. The strike IS over the fur
niEhing OF machines and tools by the men
The sewing machines cost the men SIS
which they pay In installments, and they
are compelled 20 pay for the hauling o.
the machin IS FROM shop to shop. The mer
claim they ara compelled to work eighteen
hours a day AMI earn but IS a week. The
p~ressers are compelled to furnish theil
tools
The union men want the contractors L
furnish the machines and all tools here.
after