Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-07-08
cHICAGo's STRIKE.
About 5000 Freight Handlers Out b 1T
Hopes of Settlement.

Chicago, July Hopes of a speedy
settlement of the strike of the freight
Handlers Union, which was declared,
today. are entertained, tonight, hy off,
Gals of the union and members of the
State Board of Arbitration The Off
cials of the union at a conference, to-
night, told Chairman Job of the Board
of Arbitration, that they were willing
TO permit employees of the different
companies to meet officials of the same
to discuss the wage scales, providing a
joint conference should be held at
which officials of the union would be
permitted to act as advisors to the
men. The arbitration board is now
working on the matter in an effort to
bring about a conference between the
railway managers and committees rep
resenting the men. AS the railroad OIL
cials have favored this step from the
beginning, there is little doubt that the
strike can be settled satisfactorily TO
both sides if the conference shall be ar
ranged.
Lack of unanimity already permeates
the strike. The Chicago Federation of
Labor was ignored when the order was
issued for the men to quit work. and
it's executive officials are somewhat
offended and are inclined to let the
freight handlers fight out their own
ba tile in their own way. There are
1900 freight handlers in and about the
various freight houses of the "a rail-
roads centering in Chicago. Of this
number more than 5000 are now in-.l
volved in the strike. Some of the men
who quit work, today, did so under pro-
test. Notably this was the case in the
freight houses of the Lake SAIre &
Michigan Central.
The men there employed were receiv- |
ing all the consideration they had
asked. They were forced to strike, |
however. by the order of the executive
committee of their union. Before going
out the men informed the railway Off
cials Of the situation and said they |
would seek an immediate return, un-
der orders from the authority that or
dered them out.
The sudden suspension of customary
operations by the freight handlers. to-
day, occasioned considerable trouble in
and about the various railroad ware
houses and depots, but the inconven-
ience and delay were but drop in the
bucket to what will happen, tonor-
row and later in the week, if the strike
shall not be settled sooner.
To add to the present difficulties of
the railroads, the Teamsters and Truck
Drivers Union threatens to join in a
strike. If this ehall occur
it will affect all incoming and outgoing
freight of every kind.
Every railroad in Chicago, today, ac-
cepted all freight offered. While it was
by several railroad officials
that freight was not being moved as
as heretofore, yet it was
said the largest part of it was being
handled reasonably well. The various
freight houses and Yards, however, dis
closed a considerable accumulation OF
freight and cars loaded with
freight. A portion of it marked Par
ishable" filled the side tracks of all the
There was no trouble or disorder In
or about any of the freight houses.
Anticipating the possibilities OF such
strike. the railroad companies had
brought to Chicago 4 considerable
of men to take the places OF
the strikers. These men were inter-
ccpted by picked strikers and most OF
them were induced to go into the
Freight Handlers Union.