The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-17
As Usual the Reports Are
Conflicting.
ALL ARE OUTAT ST. LOUIS
This is The Claim Of the Expressmsn's President
While the Other Side Says That Busi-
ness is Running Almost as
Usual.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By- the Associated Press.)
st. Louis, Oct. 16.-The strike inaugu-
rated here last night by the Pacific Ex-
press Company messengers has not inter
fered with the transaction of business to
any considerable extent, according to
statement made by General Superinten-
dent F. C. Gentsch tonight. Superinten-
dent Gentsch said that business was run
ming along almost as usual and that there
is an overplus of men applying for the
vacancies which are now practically all
filed. Mr.. Gentsch further states that
he had received word today that on strike
have been called among the employees In
the Rocky Mountain division, and that
the strikes which were called last night
in the Southwest are of small Importance.
F. E. Mode, of Chicago, president OF
the National Brotherhood OF EXpressmen,
who is here supervising this strike, stated
that all members of the brotherhood em-
ployed by the Pacific Express Company,
had responded to the order to strike. He
said that the brotherhood's local strength
is about six hundred men and he thought
they were all out.
Chicago, Oct. 16.-The express service
on the Wabash Railway entering and leav-
ing Chicago is tied up by a general strike
of employees of the Pacific Express Com
pany. The trains from st. Louis today
arrived with no express messenger on
board and no express parcels, but there IS
no interference with the baggage busl-
ness.
Secretary Hill of the union, who is in
Chicago, said that the Brotherhood OF
Railway Trainmen had pledged the strik-
ers assistance and that switchmen, freight
hands and some conductors would refuse
to handle goods of the Pacific Express
Company. About dozen men are out
in Chicago, the only road affected being
the Wabash.
New Orleans, La, Oct. 16.-In the abb
sence of orders from the head officials OF
the Brotherhood, local employees of the
Southern Express continue to handle Pa
cific Express here today. In this city
the men are handling jointly the Pacific
and the Southern Express matter under
contract with the Southern. The en-
ployes are on the SC-thern pay roll and
are in every way considered in the en-
ploy of that corporation. 1t was said
today that the express messengers here
today would refuse to handle Pacific Ex-
press matter.
Dallas, Texas. Get. 16.-Regarding the
strike of the lne 9sengers of the Pacific
Express Company in this State, SuperiD-
tendent Rus today said that large
number OF non-union men are being em-
ployed and he believes normal conditions
will prevail in d few days. A non-unloD
messenger was frightened from his car at
Marshall this morning. Dispatches from
Palestine, Fort Worth and other termi-
nal points say non-union men are taking
the places of strikers but that the SER
vice is crippled.
Omaha, Neb., Oct 16-Fifty-two mes
sengers of the Pacific Express Company
whose headquarters are in Omaha, re-
ported for duty as usual today. One car
came in from St. Louis without mes
senger but a. man was supplied by the
local manager.
Manager Patterson stated that he an
ticipated no trouble and that all of his
men had expressed themselves as against
a strike.
A number of the express messengers
reporting to the Omaha office were sent
South to take the strikers places, and
the company requested porters to take
care of those leaders. The porters re-
fused to do so on the ground that they
were bonded as porters and not as mes
sengers. The porters were at once dis
charged.
All money. jewelry and other valuables,
live stock and perishable property is be-
ing refused for shipment until the strike
Is settled.
Atchison, Kan, Oct 16.-All the Pa
cific Express messengers, clerks, and
drivers here who struck yesterday. went
back to work today in the belief that
the company's employees at Kansas City
intended taking similar action.
Kansas iCty, Mo-, Oct. 16.-The strlk-
ing Pacific Express messengers here ale
still out