Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-05-30
COST OF THE CHICAGO STRIKE.
Teamsters' Struggle Involves Heavy
Loss Both to Men and EN- pIoyers.


weeks has kept the city in state of
violence and disorder, resulting in nine
deaths and injury TO nearly 500 persons.
1t is sympathetic strike, growing out
of labor issue which had been practi-
cally dead for months, but was inexph-
cably revived. This was the trouble of
the garment workers, which dates back
to the middle of last November. At
that time the Wholesale Tailors' Asso-
citation, following negotiations for the
renewal of contracts, which the employ
ers claimed had been broken by the
union, declared for the open shop, and be-
tween walkouts and lockouts over 5000
garment workers soon were idle.
Montgomery Ward & Co. kept their
union garment workers employed until
Dec. IA, when the union protested
against the firm sending out piecework to
two non-union tailors, and Business
Agent Olivey called out the union work
ers. Their places, as had been the case
with other concerns, were filled with
non-union men.
Early this year the garment workers
appealed to the teamsters for assistance.
but nothing came of it until the latter
assume a threatening attitude, so far as
Montgomery Ward & Co. were concern
ed. Then an ultimatum was submitted
to the firm by the teamsters demanding
that the garment workers trouble be
submitted to arbitration. This was dis
regarded, and April the seventy-one
teamSters employed by the firm walked
out.
The firm demanded police protection
and began sending protected caravans
through the streets. At the same time
the managers of the express companies
met and decided that teamsters who re-
fused TO deliver to Montgomery Ward
d Co. would be discharged. In the mean
time G. 7. Shea, international president
of the teamsters, had been called to the
city and took active charge of the strike.
Matters quickly assumed a more seri-
Gus aspect, and April Is the employers
met and organized the Employers Team
ing Company. Steps for aggressive ac-
ton were taken. Stock to the amount
of 100000 was subscribed within a few
minutes, and the purchase of horses and
trucks began, and already there was talk
of applying for federal injunctions
against interference with the operations
of the company, which was incorporated
under the laws of West Virginia.
The teamsters also at this point as
sumed a holder attitude and began to
extend the strike. The union proposed
arbitration, but the employers maintain
ed that as they were not involved in the
garment workers strike and as the team
sters had broken contracts there was
nothing to arbitrate.
President Shea demanded that the
striking teamsters of Montgomery Ward
& Co. be reinstated, but that firm put
the proposition up to the Employers AS
ISOLATION, and the latter organization de-
cided against the reinstatement of strik-
| ing teamsters by any of the companies
| involved.
April 81 the strike was resumed with
renewed vigof and extended to scores OF
| wholesale and retail establishments which
| had dealings with Montgomery Ward &
| Co. Within twenty-four hours 2,S0C
| teamsters were out, and the following
day the number was increased to $500.
| The first aid sought in the fedora
courts was April %, when an injunction
was secured against interference with
employees, wagons or barns of the EN-
ployers' leaning Company. AS the
strike progressed other injunctions were
asked, and altogether nine of these writ'
have been issued. At the same time thu
matter was taken before the Cook county
grand jury, and April % indictment:
were voted against President Shea anC
eleven other union officials for conspiracy
| to ruin the business of Montgomery
Ward & Co.
With the beginning of May, riotiRg
! smuggling and general disturbances by
mobs in the streets developed to such an
extent that the entire police force was
| kept on constant reserve duty. Under
these conditions the exertions of the pc.
! lice were taxed to their utmost, and As.
sitsant Chief Schuettler, who had direct
charge of the strike, was given 800 add.
! tional policemen.
A committee of business men called
on Gov. Deneen and urged him to call
| out the State militia, but he refused on
| the ground that the resources of the
| county had not been exhausted. At this
| point Sheriff Barrett became a factor in
the strike and began swearing in deputy
| sheriffs, the number finally reaching
| 5000.
The extra cost to the city to date for
| added police service. including allowances
| for meals to the 5000 policemen kept
on constant duty, will foot up nearly
| $4,000, and the expense to the county
| for special deputy sheriffs will aggregate
! $50, 900. The losses in business to the
7 wholesale and retail firms involved in the
strike is roughly estimated at $1,000
| 600, while railroad freight business is
said to have suffered to the extent of
more than $1,OO0,000. The amount lost
il wages by the striking teamsters is
estimated at $25000O, and the amount
paid as assessments into the strike fund
by working members of the union
aches close to 100000.
Efforts toward peace were numerous
various commissions and committees be-
ing appointed by the Mayor from time
to time, but all to no purpose. When
President Roosevelt visited the city the
labor leaders presented a protest to him,
but his neutral stand and his firm declar-
alton that order must be maintained and
that to assure it the State stood behind
the city and the nation behind the State.
afforded no satisfaction to the strikers.
Labor Notes.
Tho tpo chino of tynnuritiDo ,r;II 10