The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-27
Transfers Strike Appears to Be
TOttering to a Fall.
The Associated Building Trades
WithdraWs Its Support.
MAKES COAL CHEAPER.
One of the Effects of the Labor
Situation in Chicago.
Dealers in Anthracite Are Anx-
iOusIy Seeking Customers.

Chicago, May 27.-Attention of strik
| ers and employers was centered largely
today On the effect of the Associated
bulIdIng Trades, accounted the strong
/ est labor body in Chicago, and repre-
/ sshIlng in its membership upwards of
4S,VU0 union workmen. This body hav-
! 4Ils Withdrawn both moral and finan-
Gal support from the teamsters' cause
/ me nrst effect will be to cut off nearly
sI'UOV a week from the strikers funds
Inc subsequent effect is problematical,
many thinking it means the first break
III the struggle, the beginning of the
END In any event, it seems to check
/ the peril to the whole building indus-
try OF the city-a situation which had
/ become one of the great nroblems of
/ the strike
Further. this Withdrawal of financial
support is particularly trying at a time
When finances are a serious problem.
The response to the request TO. contri-
buttons from the country at large has.
1t IS alleged, not been up to expecta-
tions, and with daily expense of SO. 900
financial stringency may be the rock
on which the strike will be wrecked
Coal Is Cheaper.
AS a result of the teamsters' strike
new low record in the price of coal. as
compared with previous depression. dur
1 past ten years has been established
This applies to the coal situation gen
orally in the western trade, according
to the Black Diamond. The retail trade
in anthracite in Chicago is feeling the
etects OF the teamsters' strike to a
greater extent than was expected. due
TO the duration of the industrial trou-
bleS. Extraordinary efforts are being
made by some of the dealers to secure
/ business. The market is on an irregular
basis. Long time credits are being
given by dealers to induce customers to
take in coal, and in some instances
prices are below those which the retailer
should have obtained for his product in
April. There irregularities will further
complicate the situation unless the
strike is ended shortly, and consumers
begin to take an interest in their future
requirements
New Move Of Express Drivers.
Possible spread of the strike of ex-
( press drivers to other cities is a new
/ element in the situation. The trip of
/ Business Agent James Barry of the eX-
/ press drivers to New York has caused
I the idea to be given credence. Some of
/ the labor leaders say that Barry's trip
/ to New York was for the purpose of OBJ
/ tanning funds for the striking men in
/ Chicago. Fifty picked men from the
/ express drivers have been directed by
! the union TO go TO 9U large cities OF the
country and a demand may be made by
/ every express wagon mems local that
the Chicago local be reinstated or
general strike instituted against all the
4 express companies
Cause OF the Split.
Inconsiderate action of teamsters
| toward carpenters, plumbers and 9TH
| er members of unions affiliated with
! the Associated Building Trades coun-
Gil is said today to have been the di-
ing trades council in Withdrawing
moral and financial support from the
/ teamsters strike. The alleged affront
| of the teamsters resulted in d strike of
I wOrkmen constructing the huge new
/ Office building of the Chicago &
/ Northwestern railroad, Jackson Roule-
ward and Franklin street. AN number
! of vaults and safes had been delivered
at the building by union drivers who
proceeded themselves to set the safes.
The other Workmen struck, claiming
that teamSters were not constructors
and as a result this brought instantly
to focus much agitated question of
4 jurisdiction between unions The
4 trades council, to prevent further ac-
ton of this sort on the part of fell
low unionists voted to withdraw sup
l port from the teamsters' strike.
There had long been a dispute be
tween various factions as to whether
the safe and machinery drivers are
/ teamsters or engaged in a constructive
trade The matter was brought to
head at the Northwestern b11iIdi17p
and has resulted in the teamsters
losing much needed support of other
4 trades when strike affairs are at a
climax. The bridge and structural
iron workers claim it is within their
scope to set steel vaults, yet the work
4 IS now being done by members of the
machinery teamSterS' union who re-
celVe 50 cents an hour, while the iron
workers get Sc y cents. Numerous
Of
making bitter feeling between the
unions involved.
An Army OF 1000.
Rioting was renewed today near the
retail shopping district. Missiles were
thrown, blockade formed at South
Water and State streets. Three
wagons driven by non-union men be-
came wedged in between d number of
heavy trucks at the corner. This
blockade had been cleared when a
ktroIley car blocked the way and mis-
siles began to fly A patrol wagon
/ load of police dispersed the mob.
An armed force of 1000 men, police
and deputy sheriffs, said to be almost
as large as the entire national guard
of Illinois was in command of the
lteamsters' strike situation today. A
call for troops seemed to be increas-
ingly distant.
In the lumber district, according to
| Sacrefarv Hooper of the lumbermen's &
association, $50 men were at work
and 200 experienced lumber teamsters
/ engaged in Duluth and Minneapolis
will be added to the force by Monday.
Chief of Police O'Nein stopped hir-
ing extra policemen today, and num-
bers of colored men who swarmed
into his Office to be sworn in We're
turned away. Formal complaint
iagainst the swearing in of colored men
as police was made by Attorney Sin
eere Of the Employers Teaming com
pany. the ground taken being that the
use of negro policemen as guards for
wagons would tend to incite violence.
! Refusal OF the building trades to give