Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-04-26
The Great Lakes Trade Threat
ened With Suspension by
Labor Strike
LAKE PILOTS MAKE DEMANDS
Backed by the Powerful L%onsshore-
mems Union, They Will be Able to
Make Complete Suspension of Lake
Shipping Possible = Situation at
Present is Serious.


great lakes is facing a general tie-up
May 1 thru a strike of 10000 long
shoremen and transport workers. h
probability of a complete blockade at
the opening of navigation vas reported
yesterday in Chicago to be growing
hourly.
Practically every transport interest
on the lakes will suffer seriously I'M
less efforts being made by various car
riers' associations and lake unions to
bring peace are successful. Chicago,
especially, will feel the loss in lumber
and grain shipments. Cleveland and
the Lake Superior ports will expert
ence a stoppage in the ore and coal
trade. Every port on the lakes will
share In a tieup of general lake freight
and passenger traffic.
Lake Pilots Make Demands.
Holding the key to the threatening
situation is the Lake Pilots Union,
which is standing firmly for recogni-
ton from the transportation compan-
les. The pilots are backed by the pow
erful longshoremen's union, which
comprises nearly all the leaders and
boat hands from Duluth to Buffalo.
The latter organization proposes to
%precipitate a general strike if neces-
sary to obtain the pilots demands
This means that practically every mar
working on lake is awaiting
orders to quit work May l. Not a boat
will leave port on that day IT the strike
edict is issued from national headquar-
tiers at Detroit. Shipping will come to
an abrupt standstill, leaving millions
of tons of freight on boats, docks, or IN
warehouses.
1900 Ready to Quit Here.
In the lumber slips along the Ch1ca-
go and Calumet rivers alone 1900
leaders stand ready to strike. AS
many more grain shovelers at the ele-
vators are prepared to join them. TIT
| ore and steel handlers number nearly
10000. In addition to these men tug
hands, firemen, oilers, water tenders
and other employees are counted upon
to quit.
The transportation companies thus
far have refused to deal with their pr
lOCS as u uulOU. luCy AoNC IoASA S
ground chiefly because they contenc
that the pilots, or mates are agents
of the companies rather h employ
eS.
Negotiations looking oward peace
have not yet reached the conference
| stage, altho a request for a meeting te
discuss the situation is reported te
have been sent to the officials Of the
longshoremen's union. President Dan
iel J.. Keefe is expected to respond to
the invitation for a conference anc
meet the officials of the Lake Carriers
association within the next few days
at Cleveland.
Settlement Impossible Now.
The arrival in Chicago of President
H. C. Perry of the Illinois minework-
ers served to allay temporarily the
hostile sentiment caused by the en-
ployment of nonunion men in the
mines Of the O'Gara Coal company. Mr.
Perry's presence here revived talk Of
peace: He conferred last evening with
| several operators relative to the call
ing of a joint peace convention of op-
orators and miners. The operators
however, thought the two sides are toe
far apart to permit a settlement of the
strike al this time.
Active preparations were continued
by the mining companies looking to the
hiring Of nonunion engineers, firemen
and pumpmen wherever strikes o.
these men are called. No additiona
walkouts were reported in Illinois dur.
ing the day, but the shafts of the Rocl
Island Coal company in Indian Terri
tory became. involved. Guards were
placed about the mines to protect thu
properties.