The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-07-17
THE STRIKE SPREADS |
Nine Thousand Drivers Throw Down
Their Reins in Chicago.

Chicago, July 14.-What promises
to be the greatest sympathetic strike
in the history of Chicago was begun
Saturday when 1900 teamsters quit
work and joined the ranks of the
5000 striking freight handlers.
The seriousness of the situation in
duced Gov. Yates to issue orders to
the state militia to prepare for i'm
mediate action. The colonies of five
Chicago regiments received the or
ders and are making haste to obey
them, while the union leaders are
preparing to wage bitter war against
the railroads.
Already the freight handlers are
supported by the transfers, the long
shoremen and some of the switch
men. With their assistance they have
succeeded in tying up the business
of the city. Wholesale grocery
houses have practically suspended
business, while restaurateurs, COM
mission merchants and packers are
seriously affected.
All Trades May Give Aid.
Before the end of the week the
10000 men now on strike will be
Joined by others. The executive COM
mittee of the Chicago Federation of
Labor issued call for a special
meeting of the organization for Tues
day night. The officers of the fed
Grafton will recommend that in case
the railroads maintain their present
attitude all trades whose assistance
can benefit the freight handlers will
join in a sympathetic strike. Before
taking radical action, however, the
federation will make another effort
to settle the strike.
Shipments in Peril.
All Chicago will feel the effects of
the strike within three days. Prices
of provisions are so high that poor
scanty fare. Orders have been issued
by the railroads and wholesale
houses against the shipment of goods
to the city and it's residents may be
obliged to live upon the supplies of
food already on hand.
Joined by Longshoremen.
Late in the afternoon longshore-
men employed by the lake transpor-
tation companies joined the strikers.
One hundred switchmen employed by
the Chicago & Northwestern railroad
and affiliated with the Brotherhood
of Railroad Trainmen also joined the
strikers.
Freight arriving on boats remained
upon them or is lying in the sheds
along the river. Transfers refused
TO visit the docks and the lake
freight transportation is etfectually
tied up.
Managers Are Obdurate.
The conditions were brought about
by the refusal of the railroad COM
panies to treat with their employees
The managers met in conference and
decided to make no concessions to
their men. When the committees ap.
pointed in compliance with the terms
of the agreement entered into by the
| freight handlers with the Chicago
| board of arbitration called upon the
managers they found them obdurate
| The managers agreed to meet the
committees of the men, but would
not consider the wage scales that
| they presented. They insisted that
the scale posted by them July
should be accepted by the unions and
refused to consider any proposition
for its amendment.
| Transfers Give Aid.
| While the committees of the freight
handlers were experiencing these re
bluffs the teamsters were coming tC
their aid. Their officers had promised
to hold them at work until six O'Clock
in the evening, but were unable tC
keep their agreement.
| Without taking any formal actor
the men quit work and refused tC
take their teams through the streets
By noon 1000 of the 5000 truck driv
against the railroads. Every one o
the commission wagon drivers wen
out. The packing house transfers
the ice wagon drivers and the Goa
men added their quota to the total.
| Tie-Up Now Complete.
The situation in the various rail
road warehouses and transportation
depots Saturday afternoon was on,
of utter cessation of business. The
tie-up of both incoming and outgoing
freight of all descriptions was com
! plete.
The strike not only paralyzed rail
road freight business, but reached
the lake traffic centers and tied then
up as they never were before. Every
freight boat on the great lakes j!
now out of business as far as Chicago
freight is concerned.
Fruit Growers Alarmed.
Carbondale, ILL.,, July 14.-Fruit ant
vegetable growers of southern ILL
nois are much alarmed over thu
strike of the freight handlers in Chi
cago. Thousands of dollars wortl
of tomatoes are rotting in the fields
Much fruit, including peaches and ap
pies, is ripening and will be in mar
ketable condition during the present
| week.
Salute the Olympia.
Y