Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 July 1902 — DRIVERS QUIT WORK. [ARTICLE]

DRIVERS QUIT WORK.

NINE THOUSAND CHICAGO TEAM. BTERB STRIKE. Walk Ont in Sympathy with Freight Men—Shipping Tied Up nnd Food Prices Soar—Governor Order* Militia ■ to Be in Readiness. What promised to be the greatest sympathetic strike in the history of Chicago was begun Saturday when 9,000 teamsters quit work and joined the ranks of the 8,000 striking freight handlers. The seriousness of the situation induced Go.VYates to issue orders td the State militia to prepare for immediate action. The colonels of five Chicago regiments received the orders and made haste to obey them, while the union leaders were preparing to wage bitter war against ths railroads. Up to Saturday night the freight handlers wete supported by the teamsters, the longshoremen and some of the switchmen. With their assistance they succeeded in tying up the business of the city. Wholesale grocery houses practically suspended business, while restaurateurs, commission merchants and packers were seriously affected. Before the end of the week, a Chicago dispatch says, the 20,000 men now on strike will be joined by others. All Chicago is feeling the effects of the strike. Prices of provisions are so high that poor families are obliged to subsist on scanty fare. Orders were issued by ths railroads and wholesale houses against the shipment of goods to the city. Late Saturday afternoon longshoremen employed by the lake transportation companies joined the Strikers. They organized only recently and consequently not all of the nhen quit work. One hundred switchmen affiliated with the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen also joined the -strikers. Freight arriving on boats remained upon them or lay in the sheds along the river. Teamsters refused to visit the docks and the lake freight transportation was effectually tied up. The conditions were brought about by the refusal of the railroad pompanies to treat with their employes Saturday. The managers met in conference and decided to make no concessions to their men.