The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1905-04-08
SYMPATHETIC BOYCOTT ON CHI
CAGO FIRM AT GEES WITH
GARMENT ryORKER3.
SERIOUS RICTiNG FOLLOWS AT.
TEMPT TO HANDLE GOODS
OF THE CONCERN.

Chicago, April S.-Strike pickets of
the Transfers union surrounded the
building of Montgomery Ward & Co.
and drivers with consignments of
goods for that firm were stopped and
turned back.
Drivers OF express wagons were or
dered by the labor officials not to un-
load packages at the company's
freight platform. The same order ap-
piled to drivers of other unions, the
chief ones involved being the coal,
truck, baggage and package deliver
ers.
A resolution of the Railroad Ex-
press association to carry out orders
for Montgomery Ward & Co. and to
discharge any driver who refused to
deliver freight to that firm was put
to the test when A. ID. Meyers.
driver for the Wells Fargo company,
was about to turn and drive away at
the command of union men in the
street Superintendent Reed of the
express company hailed the wagon
and ordered Meyers to make the de-
livery. Meyers said he was afraid of
the pickets. He was Immediately dis
charged. Mr.. Reed himself unloaded
the wagon.
Business Agent Barry of the Ex-
press Drivers union has declared that
he will order strike of all express
drivers. 1t is reported that the Asso-
citation of General Agents of Express
Companies entering Chicago are hold
ing nonunion men In readiness for
such an emergency.
Two hundred teamsters employed
by Montgomery Ward e. Co. struck
during the day in sympathy with the
garment workers, who have been in
struggle with their employers for four
months. In the belief of many labor
leaders the teamsters' strike is the
beginning of great contest that may
involve 10000 drivers.
Serious Disorders Occur.
Two big trucks were sent out by
Montgomery Ward & Co. about noon
to move goods from the Ward build
ing in Michigan avenue, near Madison
street, to the railway freight houses
at Kinzie and North State streets.
Two patrol wagons filled with police
accompanied the trucks, one patrol
preceding and the other following.
At South Water and State streets
the progress of the trucks, with their
police guards, was obstructed by a
number of teams, many belonging to
South Water street fruit dealers. Sew
eral policemen left the patrol wagon
and cleared a passage for the trucks.
The crowd meanwhile increased rap
idly and soon over 1000 persons, jeer-
ing and yelling, surrounded the patrol
wagon and trucks, following them to
the Ward building. While the trucks
were being loaded the crowd contin-
ued TO grow and by the time the
drivers were ready to start for the
freighth houses it is estimated that
fully $500 persons had gathered
around the wagon.
A serious blockade in the north end
of State street bridge was broken by
Assistant Chief of Police Schuettler
only after number of teamsters and
other persons had been arrested in a
rush by the police. The wagons un-
per police escort finally reached the
freight houses of the Chicago and
Northwestern railroad. In returning
to Montgomery Ward & Co.'s stables
renewed fficulties were encountered.
At Cass and Indiana streets nearly
5000 persons made a concerted rush
toward the stables to head off the
wagons. The police, after vigorous
fight with the crowd, cleared path
for the trucks.
During the afternoon five express
wagons drove up to the entrance OF
the Ward building Crowds jeered
the drivers and surged about the wag-
ons despite the police. A business
agent OF the Teamsters' union told
the drivers that should they deliver
goods to the strike-bound building
they would be considered as enemies
of the union.
The teamsters turned their horses
about and amid the cheers of the
crowd drove away, many women spec
tators waving handkerchiefs while
men threw hats In the air.