Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-23
Being Made at Chicago to
End the Big Strike.
Renewed Hopes Of Settlement
Within Next % Hours.
Alarming Spread Of Strike During Day 10
the Allied Trades.

Chicago, May 22-Negotiations look
ing toward the closing of the team
STEERS strike We're again in progress
early tonight. committee of seven
representatives of the union. who were
10 call OH the strike, went into confer
ence with the attorneys of the Employ
ers Association. The meeting lasted
several hours.
Strong pressure was brought to bear
late In the day on the managers Of the
express companies to induce them to
modify their declaration that none Of
their striking drivers would be permit
ed to return to work. The greatest con-
ressiCn that could be obtained from
them was that no blacklist would be
enforced against the men and that
while none of them would ever be re-
instated in his old position, there
would be no objection to any driver
obtaining a situation with another eX-
press company when 4 vacancy exist
ed.
1t was this declaration by the ex-
press companies that led to the meet
ing. tonight. and it was expected be-
fore the conference was held that i'm
rortant results would be forthcoming.
Despite this move for peace. the
Lumbermen's Association is preparing
for an extension of the strike. At a
meeting of this organization. tonight.
it was decided that tomorrow morn
ing. all teamsters employed by the c.
firms composing the association would
compel their drivers to make deliveries
to strike bound houses. Twelve of these
firms enforced the order. today, and
80 drivers quit work. Union officers
say that the same thing will happen,
tomorrow. if drivers are ordered to
make deliveries to the boycOtted firms.
After 4 conference Of several hours
representatives of the Transfers
Union and of the Employers declared,
at midnight. that the prospects for the
settlement of the strike are excellent,
and that the end of the trouble may
be looked for at any time within the
next IS hours.
The stumbling block in the negotia-
tons is the declaration by the express
companies that none of their striking
drivers will be taken back under any
conditions. All other terms submitted
by the employers to the strikers have
been accepted. The managers of the
express companies declared. late this
afternoon. that while they would re-em-
ploy none 81 their drivers, they had no
intention Of keeping "black list"
This phase of the strike was the only
matter discussed at the conference. to-
night. and in the opinion of all pres
ent. the absence of It black list opened
Il way for settlement. The negotia-
tions will be continued. tomorrow.
President Shea of the Transfers,
said. tonight. after leaving the confer
ence, that he regarded the chances of
settlement as good
Chicago. ILL.,. May .22.-Spreading Of
the Transfers strike began promptly,
today. Thirty-six transfers employed
by the RittenhOuse & Embree Co..
lumber dealers. and four by the Ed
ward Hines Lumber Co.. were the first
to he forced into the struggle following
the refusal Of the Transfers Joint
Council to endorse the settlement pro-
visiOnally arranged with the employers
by President c. p. Shea of the Team
sters' Union. Through the threatened
spread of the strike to all lumber deal
ers every branch of the building indus
try in Chicago was. today, apparent
ly facing paralysis.
There are only 500 teamsters en-
ployed by lumber firms, but so close
are the relations between them and
several other unions Of men engaged
in hauling building material that the
walk-out of the lumber transfers. it
was said. would doubtless lead to
strikes in nearly every department of
the building industry. Indirectly de-
pendent upon the building material
teamsters, it was estimated, today,
hung the employment of nearly 100000
men in yards. mills. factories and on
work. 1t was not believed
the drivers strike would affect the
wood industries or building construc-
ton work generally at first.
If. however. the walk-out should go
CONTINUED on Page Two.)