Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-07-08
HOPE TO SETTLE
THE STRIKE SOON
Chicago Freight Handlers Union
Working for One
Is A LACK OF UNANIMlTY,
Men Called out by Commiuce
which Was Instructed 20 DO No
Unless Demands Were Granted.

Chicago, July 7.-Hopes OF a
speedy settlement Of the strike of the
Freight Handlers union, which
was declared today, are entertained by
officials OF the union and members of
the state board OF arbitration The Of
ilclals Of the union at q conference to-
night told Chairman job OF the board
of arbitration that they were willing TO
permit employees Of the different SOM
panies to meet officials of the same to
discuss The wage scale providing a
joint conference Should De held at
which officials Of the union would be
permitted to act as advisers to the men.
The arbitration board is now working
on the matter in an effort to bring
about a conference between the rail
way managers and committees repre-
senting the men. As the railroad OH
cials have offered this step from the be-
ginning of the controversy there Is lit.
istdctorily TO both sides II the confer
ence Is arranged.
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 OIL
Tended and are Inclined to let the
freight handlers fight out their bat
tie In their own way.
There are 1900 freight handlers In
and about the various freight houses
of the "A railroads centerlng
in Chicago. OF this number more than
5000 are now involved In the strike,
Some OF the men who quit work today
did so under protest.
Notably this was the case In the
freight house Of the Lake Shore &
Michigan Central railroad. The men
there employed were receiving all the
consideration they had asked. They
We're forced to strike, however by the
order Of the executive committee Of
their union. Before going out the men
Informed the railway officials of the
situation and said they would seek an
immediate return order from the au-
thorities that had ordered them out.
The sudden suspension Of customary
operations by the freight handlers TO-
/. day occasoned considerable trouble in
and about the various railroad ware
houses and stations, but the incon-
venience and delay were but a drop in
the bucket to what will happen tomor-
row and later In the week If the strike
shall not be settled sooner
To add to the present difficulties OF
the railroads, the Transfers and Truck
mems union threatens to Join in
sympathetic strike. II this shall occur,
ii will affect all incoming and outgo-
ing freight of every kind. Every rail-
road In Chicago today accepted all
freight offered While 1t was eco fessed
by several railroad officials that freight
was not being moved as eXpeditiOusly
as heretofore, yet II was said the larg-
est part Of il was being handled well.
The various freight houses and yards.
however, disclosed a large accumuia-
tion OF unmoved freight and cars load
ed with freight.
There was no trouble or disorder IN
or about any freight house. Anticlpat-
ing the -slbilities of such strike,
the railrt companies had brought to
Chicago a number of men 10 take the
places Of the strikers. These men were
intercepted by pickets and most Of
them were induced to join the Freight
Handlers union.
The strike was called by a committee
appointed at a meeting Of 1000 freight
handlers held last night, The commit
tee was instructed to call a strike
within as hours unless the
railroads should meet the demands Of
the men at once for an increase in
wages. extra pay for overtime and holt
days and recognition Of the union
Action on these instructions were
taken sooner than had been expected.
The committee went first TO the Mich
igan Central, Illinois Central and Wis
consin freight houses on the lake front,
The men walked out with cheers and
marched across the viaduct on Ran
dolph street with their union cards
tucked In their hats.
BY messenger and telephone, accord
ing 10 the strike leaders, all other MEM
bers of the Internaitnol Freight Han
dlers and Wareh0usemen' union were
called out. At noon President Curran
Of the union reported that his men
were all out and that II was almost
impossible for any freight to enter Chi
cago or leave II.
Many OF the TdllIOduS nuu SHluH
forces Of men previously hired on hand
when the strike was called. and by add
ing TO them men from other depart
ments, managed to handle perishable
commodities. In the hiring Of nom
union men, It Is said, the railroads run
serious risk OF bringing about a
strike of the transfers, who recently
won their fight from the packers. The
teamsters, Il is said. viii refuse abso-
lutely TO have anything to do with
freight in any way handled by nom
union help. The men called out in
clude foremen, check. recheck, receiv-
ing and delivery clerks sealers, callers,
welghmasters. stevedores, coopers and
elevator men.
chief of Police O'Nelll, when notified
that a strike had been called, sent or
ders TO his subordinates to make every
preparation to preserve order. Two
hundred and fifty men were called In
from outlying stations TO form a re-
serve force 10 be stationed at The down
town stations From the stations the
men went In squads to the different
yards.
Wages Voluntarily Advanced.