Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-22
On Verge of involving
100000 Men IN
Building Trades.
DEPEND ON DRIVERS
President Shea Reported Not
Responsible for Drawing
Other Unions in.

Chicago, May 22.-The spreading of
the teamsters' strike began promptly
today. Thirty teamsters employed by
the Edward Hines Lumber company
were the first to be forced into the
struggle following the refusal of the
teamsters joint council to endorse the
settlement Professionally arranged witt.
the employers by President Shea of
the teamsters' union.
Threatens Building.
Through the threatened spread of
the strike every branch of the building
industry in Chicago is today apparent
ly facing paralysis. There are only
500 teamsters employed by lumber
firms. but 50 close are the relations be
tween them and several other unions
Of men engaged in hauling building
material that walkOut of the other lum-
Der teamsters. it is said. would doubt
less lead 10 strikes in nearly every de-
partment OF the building industry.
100000 Dependent.
Indirectly dependent upon the build
ing material teamsters, it was estir9at-
ed today hung the employment of
nearly 100000 men in the yards, mills
and factories Of construction work.
shea In Strange Position.
Paradoxical as il might appear, Pres
ident Shea was reported today as not
anxious to spread the strike. He was
understood, furthermore to take the
ground that the strike would not be eX-
tended unless the team owners insist
ed upon delivering goods to strike
bound houses.
Employers Make First Move.
In the first strikes today the initia-
tive was taken by the employers
Members of the teamsters' union were
discharged for refusing 10 deliver to
bovcotted firms. Orders by the union
for others to quit where discharges
had been made followed quickly AS
an immediate result the yards OF the
two big companies were completely
tied up. Edward Hines, president OF
the I.umbermen's association, declared
every lumber yard in the city would
before long be without drivers.
stays "a Boom.
1T means the complete stagnation of
business at a time when building op-
erations in Chicago are booming 10 a
greater extent than has been known
since 1892" said Hines. THE supply
of lumber on hand will not last the
building contractors more than 4S
hours Factories which depend upon
boxes for shipping will be crippled, be
cause they will be without lumber. If
this occurs. the stock yards packing
industries will be especially disturbed,
for they must have boxes there to do
shipping"
Express Companies Firm.
Express companies. whose attitude
on the question of reinstating their
striking drivers caused the break in
peace plans, stood firm today. refusing
To take back any of their old men.
Az the day advanced. the strike grad
ually spread Twenty-Five teamSters
employed by the T. Wilce Lumber com
pany struck.
Fire IncendInry.
An iucendiary fire AT the yards of
the Ritteuhouse Il Embree company IL
suspected by the firm 10 have connec-
tion with the strike. Last night a fire
was discovered in three different parts
of the yards. and before the flames
were extinguished $4,000 worth of
flooring was destroyed.
Lumber dealers were said To be op-
Grating under an agreement by which