Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-26
STRIKE CALLED OFF
milwaukee Car Men Return to
to Their Work.
DEMANDS OF MEN NOT GRANTED
Cut Off From Support of Their Organ
ization and Denied Assistance OF
Trades an Labor Assembly, Strikers
Give UP Struggle.
rrrom we,inesdav,s Daily. j


IFrom Wednesdays Daily.l
The strike Of the Milwaukee car men
has been declared off and the men
have returned to work under the same
conditions as before they walked out.
The men were out over two weeks and
although their absence has seriously
Inconvenience the company, tying UP
the yards in measure, yet, they were
not returned until they had agreed to
work for the same money as they were
drawing before the strike 1t was be-
cause they were compelled to work
Sundays without extra pay that the
men struck. They asked for time and
half, and when this was refused
them they walked out. The men were
members of Local No. 81, brotherhood
of Railway Car Men. and as this or
ganization is not affiliated with the
American Federation OF Labor, the
local Trades and Labor assembly
could take no action toward helping
the strikers.
Officials in Overalls.
One of the striking features of the
affair was the appearance of number
of officials in the city the day follow
ing the one on which the men walked
out. picked UP from various points
along the Milwaukee system. The men
donned overal1s and proceeded with
the routine work Of the car men. The
officials worked until temporary men
were secured to do the work and in
s h 70 nj
OF the striking men was not felt seri.
ously by the company. The officials
at the time stated that they would be
glad to have the men return ii they
would withdraw their demands, and as
1t was found by the men that the com
pany was unrelenting in its stand upon
the question, this was seen to be the
3 only practicable thing to do.
Looked Like Victory.
The strikers had every reason to be
lieve that they would win out in their
struggle. The morning they left, the
yards were filled with bad order cars
and it appeared as ii the company
would be forced to comply with the de
mands presented in order to KEEP
the tracks from becoming blocked.Th
ready appearance of the officials, many
of whom held offices in the mechanical
department, soon banished the hopes
q of the men, however, and bridged ov
or the difficulty for the company until
men could be secured.
Received No Help From Union.
1t is stated that the internationa
body Of the organization to which the
men belonged, did not stay by then
in their difficulty. After the men walk
cd ont a telegram was sent to National
secretary Wilson of the Brotherhood
OF Railway Car Men, and it is said,
assurance was given the men that a
general organizer would be sent here
to adjust the matter. This was not
done, and the strikers, cut off from the
support of their own organization and
denied the assistance of the local
Trades and Labor assembly, decided
that they were up against it," and &C
cordingly returned to their work.
May Cause Trouble.
Western railroads are confronted
with situation more seriously threat
ening, perhaps than any which they
\ have had to face since the abolition OF
commissions on passenger business.
They expected to be greatly benefit
ed by the Elhins amendment to the in
terstate commerce law, but present in
dications are that it will have the op
posite effect This is not the fault OF
the law itself, but of its interpretations
by the roads.
As was the case when the interstate
law became effective. the roads have
shown disposition to go to extremes
and at the same time have reached
their conclusions along the most mar
srow lines. 1t is not surprising there
fore, that the roads are not unit.
1t is considered strange that those Of
the big merger lines who talk mosi
loudly about prosecuting before the in
terstate commerce commission any
line found to be granting any conces
sion to shipper or traveller, or doing
anything to prevent the maintenance
of the present high tariffs.are the mosi
persistent violators of those provisions
of the Elllins law that are not calcu
lated to help their interests.
Present indications point to {
speedy resumption of commission pay
ments, as they are not prohibited b.
law. and there will be no alternative