Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-08
200 TRANSFERS
|nausurate a Sympathy
Strike in Chicago, III.
They Hope to Help Out the
Garment Makers.
Express Drivers Will Soon Follow
The Situation.

Chicago, April 1.-Two hundred team
sters employed by the mail order firm OF
Montgomery, Ward & Co. here. struck.
| today. in sympathy with garment work
ers who have been out for four months.
Many labor leaders believe today's strike
is the beginning Of a great contest that
may involve 10000 drivers. The team
sters thus hope to bring success to the
garment workers in an effort 70 estab-
lish a closed shop. There are q employ
ing clothing makers in the city and it Is
planned to extend the transfers strike
gradually until it includes all of the %
firms.
Strike pickets of the Transfers Union
surrounded the building of Montgomery,
Ward & Co.. drivers with goods for that
firm being turned back by the strikers.
A resolution of the Railroad Express
Association to carry out orders for Mont
gomery, Ward & Co. and to discharge
any driver who refused to deliver freight
to that firm. was put to test when a
Wells Fargo Co. driver was about to turn
and drive away at the command of the
union men. Supt Reed of the express
company, ordered Meyers to make the
delivery. Meyers said he was afraid of
the pickets. He was Immediately dis
charged. Mr.. Reed himself unloaded the
wagon.
Business Agent J. b. Barry Of the Ex-
press Drivers Union, has declared that
he will order a strike of all express driv-
ers. 1t is reported that the Association of
General Agents of Express Companies
entering Chicago are holding non union
men in readiness for such an emergency.
Two big trucks were sent out by Mont
gomery, Ward & Co., this afternoon, to
move goods from the Ward building in
Michigan avenue to railway freight
houses at Kinsei and North State streets.
Two patrol wagons filled with police ac-
companied the trucks, one patrol pre-
ceding and the other following the trucks
At South Water and State streets the
progress of the tracks was INSTRUCTED by
number of teams. Several policemen
cleared a passage for the trucks. The
crowd meanwhile increased rapidly and
soon a thousand persons jeering and yell
ing surrounded partrOl wagons and
trucks.
A serious blockade at the State street
bridge was broken by Assistant Chief of
Police Schuettler only after a number of
teamsters and other persons had been
arrested in a rush by the police.
The wagons under police escort finally
reached the freight house of the Chicago
& Northwestern Railroad. In returning
to Montgomery. Ward & Co.'S stables
renewed difficulties were encountered. At
Cass and Indiana streets nearly 5000 per-
sons made a rich fOuord tho stables RI
head off the wagons. The police after a
vigorous fight with the crowd cleared
patch for the trucks The stable was
closed Immediately following the en-
trance of the trucks and was kept tight
ly locked.
During the afternoon five express wag-
ons drove up to the entrace of the Ward
building. Crowds jeered the drivers and
snrged about the wagons despite the po
lice. A business agent of the TEAM
sters' Union told the drivers that should
they deliver goods to the strilie-bound
building they would be considered as en-
emies of the union.
The teamsters, amid the jeers of the
crowd. drove away.
Later in the afternoon, three wagons
loaded with merchandise and covered
with canvas securely fastened with ropes.
managed to make their way from the
Ward building in Michigan avenue to 4
freight depot. The wagons were guarded
by police and it was only after repeated
delays, occasioned by vehicles blocking
the way. that the destination was reach
ed a number of arrests were made dur
irg the afternoon.