The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-11
SMALL CHANCE TO WIN
THAMsrERs MUST AID THE
FREr0HT HANDLERS.
business Hen Of Chicago Taking
an Active Part In Attempt to
Bring About Settlement
Of the Strike.

city took an active part In attempting to
settle the strike Of the freight handlers
today and at midnight. although nothing
had been definitely settled, some little
progress had been made. An agreement
was secured from the Freight Handlers
Union that the organisation would abide
by the decision of the Chicago Board OF
Arbitration. II that Organization could
arrange meetings with the general mana
gers Of the railroads and secure their con-
sent also to arbitration.
At midnight the request for arbitr alton
had been submitted to the railroads. and
It Ii not likely that such action viii De
taken before tomorrow morning There
is grave doubt that the proposition VIII
be favorabiy received by the raiiroads.
General Manager Hit OF he Rock
Island and General Manager Barrett OF
the Alton said tonight that they rAd NOT
beer, requested to arbitrate. and iad not
see what there was to arbttrate. Inc
general manager Of another large western
road said that, while he did not care 10
be quoted personally. he was Comment
that no proposition for arbitration wtuid
be entertained by his road.
The strikers are basing their hopes OF
success on the sympathetic strikes OF
the teamsters. 1t 10 generally conceded
that the Freight Handlers have small
chance to win unless they have the sup
port of the Transfers Union. II tney
secure this there 10 every probability OF
serious trouble before the matter 10
settled, The officers Of the Transfers
Union profess to be opposed TO any strike,
but they say that the desire to strike
is strong among their men. The omcers
are fearful that they win not be able
20 hold the meu In line.
The determination of the business men
Of Chicago to endeavor to secure q set
element Of the strike by arbitration was
made known today when 1t was certain
that the freight handlers would not agree
to the terms Of the roads suomitted the
night before and when symptoms OF un-
rest appeared asnons the members o. the
Teamsters' Union. Nearly &,WV OF the
latter refused to 60 on with their work
when they heard that the freight handlers
had decided to continue the tight. A re-
fusal of these men to carry out their
contracts made but few weeks ago
at the termination Of their strike would
mean heavy loss to the business interests
of the city and it was determined At once
to enlist the services Of the chicago
BOARD OF Arbitration an organisation
which has among its members some OF
the most prominent business men IN
Chicago.
1t was evident to the business men that
unless come truce couid be made, almost
cc mpiete stagnation Of the business inter
eats Of the city would follow ana the
Board of ARBITRATION at once offered III
services. The railroad claimed they were
In better shape today than yesterday, ano
while they were rot handling more
freight, they were handling what they
had In better shape. The announcement
made yesterday that such strikers a. ap'
piled for their positions by noon today
would be taken back, resulted in mum
Der of men returning to their places.
The Illinois Central and the Wisconsin
Central Roads made agreements will
their men and a schedule Of wages wal
agreed upon. which the freight handieri
said was satisfactory TO them IL wa
| little in advance of the average raise o.
| 20 per cent which the roads offered tn
night before The men are to return t
their places tomorrow morning, but al
oficiaI of the Illinois Central said to
night: 1--WE have reached an agreement
with the men, but II Is not certain tina
any great number Of them will go back
The strike fever 10 strong among then
ana while they are satisfied individually
there may be sufacient pressure brought
upon them from the outside to proven
their return"
At meeting Of teamsters tonight, l,5O
members of the union were present. NJ
action toward sympathetic strike in IA
vor Of the striking freight handlers wal
| taken and matters we're left as they ex
| listed before the meeting was called.
The gathering was stormy ana there
was an overwhelming sentiment annont
the men in favor Of strike An officia
decls ration to this effect was prevented
| by the on1cers Of the union.
While there will be no action by thu
| teamsters as a body. 1t Is likely that thu
men individually will refuse to taxi
| freight to the freight houses when re
duestcd not to DO 80 by the pickets o.
the freight handlers. While the unior
will not aid the freight handlers, thu
members Of the union say, without hest
tation, that they will do as they choose