The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-11
SITUATION IN FREIGHT HAND
LERS' STRIKE AT CHICAGO
LITTLE CHANGED
MEN ARE WILLING TO
ACCEPT ARBITRATION
General Managers Of the Railroads,
However, Say They See No Neces-
sity for Such CONSCIOUSNESS
Men Interest Themselves in the
TroubIe-Teamsters May Go Out.

| OF the city look an dctlVe part III DIT!
| tempting to settle the strike of the
freight handlers today, and at mid
night, although nothing had been def
nitely settled, some progress had been
made.
An agreement was secured from the
Freight Handlers unionth at the or
ganization would abide by the decision
of the Chicago board of arbitration, if
that organization could arrange meet
ings with the general managers of the
railroads and secure their consent also
to arbitration.
At midnight the request for arbitra-
ton had not been submitted to the
railroads, and it is not likely that such
action will be taken before tomorrow
morning. There is grave doubt that
the proposition will be favorably re-
ceived by the railroads when it comes.
General Manager Hit, of the Rock ISL
and, and General Manager Barrett, of
the Alton, said tonight that they had
not beenr equested to arbitrate and did
not Sc what there was to arbitrate. The
general manager of another large
Western road said that while he did
not care to be quoted personally he
was confident that no proposition for
arbitration would be entertained by his
road.
Look for Help From Transfers.
The strikers are basing their hopes
of success on a sympathetic strike of
the teamsters. 1t is generally conced-
ed that the freight handlers have but
a small chance to win, unless they
have the support of the Transfers
union. If they secure this, and the
members of that organization walk
out, there is every probability Of Sc
riouS trouble before the matter is set
tied. The officers of the Transfers
union profess to be opposed to any
strike, but they say that the desire to
strike is among the teamsters. The
officers are fearful that they will not
be able to hold the men in line.
1t was thought last night that the
worst danger of the strike was over,
but the meetings of the freight ham
dlers today developed an almost unan-
imous desire to continue the fight,
with or without the aid of the other
organizations. The meetings were held
in various parts of the city. and while
they were in progress large crowds of
the strikers gathered around their
headquarters.
President Curran and all the mem
berS of the executive council of the
freight handlers met at the office of
the Team Owners association. He
found awaiting him there seven mem
bers of the Team Owners association
and an equal number of the Chicago
board of arbitration.
Willing to Sign Agreement.
President Curran announced the
| willingness of the freight handlers to
sign an agreement to accept whatever
recommendation the arbitration COM
mittee might submit to them. The
document was submitted and signed.
The meeting then adjourned, to allow
the members of the board of arbitra-
ton to consult with the general man
ayers of the railroads and ascertain
whether or not they will arbitrate.
To Avert Stagnation. sa
1t was evident to the business men
almost complete stagnation of the bust
ness interests of the city would follow,
and the board of arbitration at once Of
fered its services to the freight handlers,
with the result given above
The railroads claimed that they were
in better. shape today than yesterday, and
while they were not handling more
freight, they were handling what they
had in better shape. The announcement
made yesterday that such strikers as ap
piled for their positions by noon to-day
would be taken back resulted in a num-
Der of men returning to their places. 1t
it is said that the number of men who
went back is as follows:
Chicago & North Western, 25 Chica-
Strikers; Pan Handle, q out of $50;
Wisconsin Central, nearly all.
The Illinois Central and the Wisconsin
Central made agreements with their
men and a schedule of wages was
agreed upon which the freight handlers
said was satisfactory to them. 1t was
little in advance of the average raise
of 20 per cent which the roads offered
the night before. The men are to re-
turn to their places tomorrow morning,
but an official of the Illinois Central said
tonight:
Not Many Expected Back.
"We have reached an agreement with
the men, but it is not certain that any
great number of them will be back. The
strike fever is strong among them, and
while they are satisfied individually there
may be sufficient pressure brought upon
them from outside to prevent their re-
turn"
The situation on the Wisconsin Central
was the same as that on the Illinois Cen
At meeting of teamsters tonight 500
members of the union were present No
action toward sympathetic strike in ia
vor OF the striking freight handlers was
taken.
There was an overwhelming sentiment
among the men in favor of a strike. An
official declaration to this effect was pre-
vented by three officers of thet union.
Chance for Adjustment.
chance for a settlement tomorrow
appeared tonight, when it was said by a
member of the Chicago board of arbitra-
ton that he had assurance that the rail-
roads tomorrow morning would submit
az proposition n, that will be satisfactory to
the men. The roads will not arbitrate,
but will post in their freight houses a
statement Of what they are willing to
grant, and the prediction is made that
the men Will ind 1t satisfactory.