The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-11
TRANSFERS MAY
HELP STRIKERS
Chicago Business Men Take
Hand in the Trauble
AN EFFORT TO ARBITRATE
Though the officers of the Transfers
Union Oppose Strike, They May
Not Be Able to Keep Their
Men in Line.
AN EFFORT TO ARBITRATE

Chicago. July Robustness men of the
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 organ
ization would abide by the decision of
the Chicago board of arbitration IL the
organization could arrange meetings
with the general managers of the rail-
roads, and secure their consent also to
arbitration
At midnight the request for arbitration
had not been submitted to the railroads,
and it is not likely that such action
will be taken before tomorrow morn
ing. There is grave doubt that the pro-
position will be favorably received by the
railroads. General Manager Hit, of the
Rock Island. and General Manager Bar
rett, of the Alton, said tonight that they
had not been requested to arbitrate, and
did not see what there was to arbltrate.
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 arbitra-
ton would be entertained by his road.
Relying on Transfers.
The strikers are basing their hopes
OF success on the sympathetic strike of
the teamsters. It is generally conceded
that the freight handlers have but a
small chance to win, unless they have the
support of the Teamsters' Union. If they
secure this there is every probability of
serious trouble before the matter is set
tied. The officers of the Transfers Union
profess to be opposed to any strike, but
they say the desire to strike is strong
among their men. The officers are fear
full that they will not be able to hold the
men In line.
The determination of the business men
Of Chicago to endeavor to secure a set
tlemert 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 submitted the
night before, and when symptoms of UNI
rest appeared among the members of the
reamsters' Union. Nearly 1000 of the lat
ter refused to go on with their work
when they heard that the freight ham
dlers had decided to continue the fight
Would Mean Serious Loss.
A refusal of these men to carry out
their contracts made but few weeks ago
at the termination of their strick, would
mean heavy loss to the business inter-
ests of the city, and 1t was Determined
at once to enlist the services of the Chi
cago board of arbitration, an organization
which has among its members some of
the most prominent business men in Chi
that unless some truce could be made
almost complete stagnation of the bus
mess of the city would follow, and the
board of arbitration at once offered it's
services. The railroads claimed they
were in better shape today than yester-
day, and while they were not handling
more freight, they were handling what
they had in better shape. The announce
ment made yesterday that such strikers
as applied for their positions by noon
today, would be taken back, resulted In
a number of men returning to their
places.
Illinois Central Signs Scale.
The Illinois Central and Wisconsin Gen.
trail roads 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 raise of 20 cents which
the roads offered the night before. The
men are to return to their places tomor-
row morning, but an official of the Illi-
nois Central said tonight: I'VE have
reached an agreement with the men, but
1t 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 suf-
ficient pressure brought upon them from
outside to prevent their return
At q meeting of teamsters tonight 1900
members of the union were present, no
action toward a sympathetic strike In
favor of the striking freight handlers
was taken and matters were left as
they existed before the meeting was
called
The gathering was stormy. and there
was an overwhelming sentiment among
the men in favor of a strike. An official
declaration to this effect was prevented
by the officers of the union.
While there will be no action by the
teamsters as a body, II is likely that
the men individually will refuse TO take
freight to the freight houses when re-
quested not to do so by the pickets of
the freight handlers. While the union
will not aid the freight handlers the
members of the union say without hesi-