The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-28

ployers' association. the Commercial
Exchange, and representatives OF out
side industrial organizations met at
the Union League club and declared
that they would fight to a finish for the
'open shop in Chicago.
subscriptions were taken to strength
en- the Employers Teaming company,
the weapon with which the Transfers
union is to be actively fought, and
President Mark Morton of the company
who is a brother of Paul Morton. sec
rotary of the navy, has over 81 900, 600
at his disposal and has ample assur-
anceS from business men that he could
have as many times that amount as
was necessary. The strike was opened
promptly at the Wholesale and retail es-
Establishments of Marshall Field & Co.,
and of Carson, Birie. Scott & Co., when
drivers who refused to deliver goods to
Montgomery Ward & Co., were at once
discharged. All of the union men quit
and both firms were badly crippled and
retail out Of town deliveries We're not
attempted by either. The strike order
calling out the express drivers. went
into effect promptly. The first place
visited by the business agents was the
barn of the American Express company
at Sebor and Clinton streets where 300
men quit IN rapid succession, visits
were made to the barns Of other ex-
press companies and all of their union
men quit at once. officials Of the team
StGAo ull4OI were dEL4hE III SCdltCIlAi6
warnings where they had no ground ac-
cording to their rule for the calling Of
strike. One of the first places where
the call was made was the Office Of the
Parmelee company. The company has
a contract with all railroads entering
Chicago for the transportation of all
baggage between stations and down
town hotels, and employ many drivers.
They were warned that If they made
any deliveries to or from any of the
hOVF0rTP0 stores their VrnfEId 10
called on to strike at once Similar
warnings were given to baggage and
parcel delivery firms and especially to
coal dealers. It is the intention of the
teamsters' union to shut off as far as
possible all supplies of coal from the
establishments where strikes have been
called.
Many Guards Employed
In order to protect their wagons and
drivers from assault while passing
through the streets the EMPLOYERS as
ISOLATION has secured the service Of a
large number of guards and these men
have shown a disposition to retaIiate
vigorously when any attack is made
upon them by strike sympathizers. A
wagon containing twenty-five nonunion
colored teamsters was passing the cor |
ner of Desplaines and Harrison streets |
when 1t was attacked by a crowd of !
strikers who ran out of a saloon. Sew
eraI bricks were thrown and one of the
negroes was struck, Whereupon he drew
revolver and fred into the crowd, hit
ting nobody The mob broke and scat 1
tered. A dozen nonunion men were more
or less severely injured by missiles
thrown by a crowd Another disturb
anee was caused at State and Adams
streets when two wagons, loaded with
coal and bearing the card of the en-
plOyeTs' company were driven past. A
man in the crowd struck one of the
private detectives guarding the wagon
and the detective promptly knocked him
into the gutter.
Strikers Throw Stones.
Guarded by $50 private detectives,
employed by the Employers Teaming
company I'VE coal agons from the
Daniels Coal company passed over the
Randolph street viaduct. Transfers
who were engaged around the freight
houses underneath the viaduct jeered
the nonunion drivers and commenced to
throw stones.
A prompt display by the detectives of
their reVOlVers quelled the distur bance.
The strike was not confined entirely
to the teamsters but spread to the men
employed on the tug Talbot, which is
owned by the Chicago Lighterage COM
pany. This company attempted to re-
ceive goods from the docks of FarWell
& Co. and thirty stevedores refused to
handle the goods They were promptly
discharged and nOnunion men taken on
in their places. The situation is far
from reassuring The labor leaders say
that they viii If necessary call out every
union driver in Chicago and will make
appeals to the freight handlers and to
organizations of railroad men if they
find they are not able to win the strike
by themselves. No action in this direc-
ton has been taken as yet but the
officials of the teamsters' union say
that it will be undertaken just as soon
as circumstances demand.