Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-08
SCENES OF DISORDER IN THE
DOWN TOWN DISTRICTS
MAY INVOLVE MANY WORKERS
Teamsters Quit Work in Sympathy
With Garment Workers, Who
Demand the "Closed
Shop"
BY Associated Press.

IN the tnrOeS Ol struggle petWeeh
capital and the labor unions. AS on
former occasions the unions have re-
sorted to the use of the union teams
ters to bring them victory in the
struggle, which tonight promises to
spread to many branches of the team
ing Industry of Chicago.
The present struggle had it's begin
ming in a strike several months ago Of
a few hundred garment workers en-
ployed in the mail order house of
Montgomery Ward & Co. The closed
shop is the issue and in order to bring
the firm to the terms of the union a
strike of the 200 drivers and teamsters
employed by the concern was called
today.
AS has always been the case in the
past when the teamsters were called
on to assist by sympathetic strike,
the downtown streets of Chicago to-
day were scenes of disorders which
followed fast on each other when an
attempt was made to deliver goods
with non-union drivers. Many teams
ters, garment workers and their friends
filled the streets and many clashes
with the police occurred. In several
instances it was necessary for the po-
lice to arrest number of the belliger-
ents before the blockades could be
lifted.
May Involve Twenty Thousand Drivers
In the belief of many labor leaders,
todays strike is the beginning of
great contest that may involve 10000
drivers.
The move against Montgomery Ward
6, Co. is an opening wedge by which
teamsters hope to bring success to the
garment workers in an effort to es-
tablish a closed shop. There are twen-
ty-eight employing clothing makers in
the city and it is the purpose to ex-
tend the teamsters' strike gradually
until it includes all of the twenty-eight
firms.
The indications are that the strike
will not stop even then, but will in
volve many other branches of the
teaming industry.
A resolution Of the Railroad Express
association to carry out orders for
Montgomery Ward e. Co. and to dis
charge any driver who refused to de-
liver freight to that firm was put to
the test when A. d. Meyers, driver
for Wells-Fargo & Co. was about to
turn and drive away at the command
of union men in the streets. Supern-
tendent Reed of the express associa-
tion hailed the wagon and ordered
Meyers to make the delivery Meyers
said he was afraid of the pickets. He
was Immediately discharged. Mr.. Reed
himself unloaded the wagon.
Express Drivers to Strike
Business Agent j. B. Barry of the
Express Drivers union has declared
that he will order a strike of all ex-
press drivers. 1t is reported that the
Association Of General Agents and Ex-
press companies entering Chicago Is
holding non-union men in readiness for
such an emergency.
Pickets and strike sympathizers gave
H. p. H. Philips, manager for L. Fe-
der, manufacturer of womens wear, a
lively chase through the street, follow
ing delivery to him of goods to the
strike order firm. FEEDERS drivers re-
fused to make the delivery. When the
wagon left the police protected zone
about the building it was pursued by
hundreds of shouting men and boys.
Y lie
tanced his pursuers.
John Olson, licensed expressman,
was less fortunate than FEEDERS man
ager. Olson, after delivering four
boxes of goods, was set upon by the
pickets, who climbed to the seat and
pulled Olson to the ground and handled
him roughly.
Two big trucks were sent out by
Montgomery Ward & Co. about noon
to move goods from the Ward building
in Michigan avenue to the railroad
freight houses at Kinzy and North
State streets. Two patrol wagons
filled with police accompanied the
trucks. one patrol preceding and the
other following them.
Crowds Block Streets
AT South Water street and State
street the progress of the trucks with
their police guards was obstructed by
number of teams. many of them be-
longing to South Water street fruit
Dealers Several policemen left the
patrol wagons and cleared a passage
for the trucks. The crowd meanwhile
increased rapidly and soon over 1000
persons, jeering and yelling, surrounded
the patrol wagon and trucks. following
Them to the Ward building. While the
trucks We're being loaded the crowd
continued to grow and by the time the
drivers were ready to start for the
freight house It is estimated that fully
$500 persons had gathered around the
wagon.