Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1906 — LAKE STRIKE IS “OFF' [ARTICLE]

LAKE STRIKE IS “OFF'

Secret Negotiations Have Ended the Trouble with the Longshoremen. MEN ABE TO GO BACK TO WOBK Last Tear's Wages to Obtain-Further Conference To Be Held. Lay-Off Has Cost Much Money, and Freight Rates May Advance— Baer Controverts John Mitchell’s Assertions. Cleveland, May 10.—Following conferaices between President Keefe, ot the Longshoremen's union, and allied labor interests, and representatives of the dock managers, it is announced that the strike of the longshoremen on the lakes has been settled. The men will go back to work on the basis of last season’s wages pending another conference. The strike was inaugurated at midnight May 1 by tlie longshoremen for recognition of the mates’ union. The firemen, oilers and waterteuders also quit with the longshoremen, and as a result lake-carry-ing traffic has been tied up since with the exception of a few boats which have cleared from here and other lake ports with non-union men. Has Cost a Ixtt of Money. Dozens of ships have been tied up in the harbors here and id Detroit, Buffalo ad other ports, laden with grain and ore, and no effort made to discharge the cargo, and in consequence enormous losses have resulted. It Ts generally conceded that an increased charge for freight transportation will follow, temporarily at least. Duriug the progress of the strike the best of feeing has prevailed between the conflicting elements, and no sort of disorder has occurred. President Keefe, of the longshoremen, arrived Tuesday morning from Detroit. At that time it was said the longshoremen were dissatisfied with the showing made by the mates in the strike, but no authoritative statement was given out. Negotiations Have Been Secret. President Livingstone, of the Lake Carriers’ association, arrived from Detroit yesterday, and all of the negotiations looking to the peace which has been patched up were conducted with great secrecy. The strike involved fully 20,0(X) men employed on the great lakes. The passenger lines were not affected by tbe strike, and that class of boats has made regular trips on schedule time. Issue of the Mates Is Eliminated. At the close of the conference between President Keefe, of the Longshoremen's union, and President Livingstone. of the Lake Carriers’ association, 1t was stated that President Keefe had issued an order to the men to return to work today. According to the terms agreed upon the question of recognition of the mates’ union va* eliminated. *

BAER REPLIES TO MITCHELL I Operators Did Not Intend to Reduce j Wages—Constabulary Defended. 4 New York, May B.—At the anthracite miners’ scale committee and the operators’ joint meeting here an understanding was arrived at for the ex- j tension of the strike commission j awards for another three years and i the companies have agreed to replace , in their former positions all men except those who have committed acts of violence. New York, May 10. The anthra cite coal operators have given out k . statement with reference to the speech j made at Scranton Tuesday by John j Mitchell, in which he said that had j an org-iHiring tour not been made by j him last ) car the railroads would have ’ increased the regular working day j iTom nine to ten hours; increased the j engineers' not king time to seven days I n week, compelled the firemen to work j twehe hours ami reduced wages. “It is important that there should lie, n » misunderstanding on this point," j says the statement. "The fact is that roue of the operators had the slightest intention of reducing wages, or of increasing the length of the working day. On the contrary, if tlie men had been left at work, and if the agitation' of which Mr. Mitchell so proudy boasts had not taken place, the men would not have idle for six weeks, much lawlessness would not have occurred, and the public would not have been disturbed by this wholly unnecessary controversy. “It is doubly unfortunate, also, that the convention should have condemned the state constabulary; for a cursory: examination of facts will show that! this organization performed its duties most carefully and moderately. Not a shot was hml or a stroke wielded except to protect life or property which had teen, wantonly attacked. This brnv« corps of men—organized upon the specific recommendation of President Roosevelt’s coal commission—. should receive the thanks of every lawabiding citizen for its conduct during these weeks of trial and difficulty.” SOFT COAL MEN IN COUNCIL Operators Meet at Chicago to Decide Upon a Policy. Chicago, May 10. Nearly 800 coal operators from Ohio. Indiana. Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Indian Ter-

rltory and Texas met at the Auditorium to discuss the mining situation iu these states. It was decided to send a committee to \. ashington to urge the president to appoint a national eommission to take up the issues between the operators and miners in the bituminous field. Among the matters the conference thinks will bear invcetgiatoln are the “check-off” system, by which the operators are compelled to keep the accounts of the unions: the “machine differential,” the ratio of difference between the “pick weight” and the machine weight of the coal mined; the relations of the railroads to the operators, and the “autocracy of the pit committee,” the members of which represent the miners In each mine. At the close of yesterday’s meeting the representatives of the Ohio Operators association met In executive session to determine what action of the cor •* rted associations it will Indorse. The Illinois and Indiana members met this morning, and the representatives of the tnree associations, as well as the representatives of the associations of the western and southwestern states, will meet this afternoon to cast a final vote on the question of the personnel of the committee to be sent to Washington and the representations to he made. Chicago Coming Oat of Strike Cloads Chicago, May 10.—Compromises have been reached at Chicago that insure a quick resumption of all building activities, which had been threatened and cheeked for thapast ten days. The bridge and structural iron workers and their employers have agreed to arbitrate their differences. The striking stone derrick men liave decided to return to work pending a settlement of their wage scale. Engineers’ Brotherhood in Session. Memphis, May 10.—Tbe seventh biennial convention of the International Brotherhood of Engineers met iu tbe Grand Opera House. The sessions of the convention will extend through a series of four weeks, and many important matters will be disposed of.