The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-16
DID NOT STAND TOGETHER
Four Roads Sign Agreements
With Them.
By Tomorrow It is Believed That
There Will Be But Few Evidences
Left Of the Great
Labor War.


reached between four railroads and their
employees. the great strike of the freight
handlers and Transfers that has para
lyzed the industries of Chicago for a
week is apparently broken. A majority
of the strikers are expected to return to
work tomorrow. By Thursday, according
to the present outlook. there will be few
evidences Of the strike. Some of the
more radical unionists may refuse to ac-
cept the terms accepted by representa-
tive committees but apparently they will
be able to WELD but little influence with
the majority of the strikers 1t is pos
sible however. that the radicals may pre-.
vent the strike from being called off at
a mass meeting of the freight handlers
called for tomorrow.
Upon the action taken at this meeting
will depend the attitude If the striking
teamsters. Their national president, Al
Young, ordered them back to work tomor-
row, but IL the freight handlers refuse
to declare the strike OFF officially some Of
the teamsters may refuse to work. II is
conceded that their officers exercise little
absolute authority.
The four railroads that entered into
agreements with their men tonight were
the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern,
the Southern, the Chicago and North
western, the Nickel Plate and the llli-
nois Central. OF the four the North
western and the Illinois Central accepted
the proposition made upon the advice of
the Transfers board of arbitration. The
Nickel Plate and the Lake Shore sue
ceeded in getting their men to sign the
scale presented by the railroads July l..
Consequently neither teh freight handlers
nor the railroads claim a victory. The
freight handlers return to work without
having obtained recognition of their
union. time and half for over time and
the Establishment of the probation period.
On the other hand the freight handlers
have obtained increases in pay, the
smallest one being Is cents a day pro-
cured by the truckers.
Conferences in Progress.
While affairs were thus apparently
reaching crisis several of the commit
tees appointed by the freight handlers
had accepted invitations issued by some
of the railroad managers to return and
enter into a discussion of the strike situa-
ton. In six of the offices. those of the
Michigan Central. the Wisconsin Central
the Illinois Central and Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern, the Nickle Plate and
the Chicago and Northwestern, the con-
ferences were in progress. The execu-
tive committee of the freight handlers
union was meeting with a committee of
officials of the Transfers Union who were
attempting to compel them to settle the
strike Chairman Job. of the State Board
or Arbitration, was still end"avoring TO
bring the railroad officials and the
strikers together.
Then came the unexpected announce
ment that a committee of the employees
of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern
Railroad had accepted the scale offered
by the railroads on July l. The scale
fellows:
Receiving clerk, $55 monthly, first three
months; $50 monthly thereafter.
Check and transfer clerks $55 monthly.
for first three months; $50 monthly there
after.
Delivery clerk, $50 monthly for first
three months; $50 monthly thereafter.
Showers 1Sc an hour Tor first three
months IS 1-2c hour thereafter.
Callers lie an hour for first three
months 1Sc an hour thereafter.
Truckers 15c an hour for first three
months lie an hour thereafter.
Ten hours to constitute a days work;
straight pay for over time; Sundays and
holidays:
Curren is Disheartened..
For a time the officers of the Freight
Handlers Union refused to believe the
news Of the signing of the agreement
with the Lake Shore. The committee
which signed the agreement failed to re-
port back at union headquarters
Gradually. however. the strikers became
convinced of the authenticity of the re-
port A meeting Of the men in vicinity
of the hall was called and addressed
by President Curran who told them that
the strike was practically lost. He
informed them that the teamsters Of
ficers had ordered their men back to work
and announced that they were responsible
for the failure of the strike. He then
asked the men present to stand by him
and announced that he would try to
maintain the battle
While the meeting was in progress the
committee that had visited the Chicago
and Northwestern Railway officials re-
ported. They declared the Chicago and
Northwestern would pay II 1-2c an hour
to truckers, do away with the pro-
stationary period and pay straight time
for over time. This was what the COM
mittees had asked for and the acquies-
cence of the officials was considered
victory.
Two meetings of the freight handlers
we're to be held tonight and before these
meetings had convened the Nickel Plate
and the Illinois Central had signed. the
former made an agreement similar to
that of the Lake Shore, the latter one
identical with that of the Northwestern.
When the news of the signature of the
agreements was impaired to the'strikers
at the two meetings there was consider
able grumbling. They declared that
there was a conspiracy to break the
strike and refused TO admit themselves
beaten.
Will Meet Today.
An adjournment was then taken until
tomorrow morning, when another meet
ing will be held. At this meeting a final
vote will be taken on the proposition Of
going back to work.
There is a strong chance that the
meeting will decide against peace. This
action on the part of the meeting will
have little effect upon the strike situa-