The sun., 1919-07-20
FIRE FIGHTERS IN
CHICAGO WALK OUT
City in Great Danger II Big
Blaze Starts With Engi-
neers on Strike.
CAR MEN MAY ARBITRATE
Building Trades Workers
Seeking Truce-Stock Yards
Jobs Are Deserted.

CHICAGO, July 1s.-Every engineer
and his assistant in the Chicago Fire
Department walked out at o'clock thip
morning, in accordance with decision
reached yesterday after the city had
declined to meet the demands of the
men for higher wages Two hundred
and fifty city employees were affected
by the walkout.
All the men who left their posts ten
dered their designations to their superior
officers before walking out The 1--WE hire
tugs stationed in the river are not at
fected.
A committee of ten representatives of
the engineers was appointed to negotiate
with the Finance Committee Of the City
Council for settlement An attempt was
made early in the day to provide SUBJ
stitute engineers to take the places of
those who quit
Edward ]. Buckley. First Assistant
Fire Chief. did not attach as much i'm
portance to the strike as other officials.
He said substitute engineers would be
obtained without difficulty from the
ranks Of the department Fire Chief
OConnor said:
IN case there should be a fire OF
great magnitude and stubbornness. or IL
big fires should break out simultane-
ously in different parts of the city, I
fear there might be a catastrophe as a
result OF the present situs ton. II moth
ing abnormal happens I think the fire.
men will be able to handle the situation
without difficulty"
All furloughs in the department have
been cancelled and every member was
ordered to report for duty Immediately
for an indefinite period.
It was reported that officers of the
Firemens Association had issued in
structions to all flremen to refuse to
act as substitutes for engineers The
report caused ureasiness among the
department heads, who declared that II
the order Is obeyed the department will
be unable successfully to fight fires.
Mediators for Car Strike.
Mayor Thompson to-day appointed a
mediation committee OF nine members
to investigate both sides OF the con-
troversy between the Chicago traction
companies and their men in an effort to
avert the threatened strike OF employees
This action was taken in accordance
adopted by the City Council several
days ago.
Heads of the street car employees
union sent a telegram to-day to w. D.
Mcmahon, president OF the International
Organization Of Traction Workers, CIV
ing the result OF the mems vote to strike
and asking him to come to Chicago
Immediately.
The men, It Is said. will meet to-mor-
row to fix date for beginning the strike.
Mayor Thompson will act as chair
man of the mediation committee. Other
members are representatives of the rac-
ton lines, officers OF the street car men s
union and several Aldermen.
Hope in Building Trades Lockout.
Hope of ending the building trades
tieup was expressed to-day, when It
was announced that delegation OF MEM
bers of the Building Trades Council
would seek an audience with the con-
tractors who locked the men out Simon
O'Donnell, president Of the Building
| Trades Council, was authorized TO APP
point Ave members from disinterested
unions to act on the committee.
More than 100000 men are Idle in
| the building trades and this number is
expected to be largely increased when
| the various supply companies join the
| builders and cease delivery of materials.
The lockout was precpitated by a
strike OF $4,000 carpenters, who de-
manded a raise in wages from so cents