You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
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Saturday April 29, 1905
Chicago, Illinois - Federal Injunction Issued Against Striking Chicago Teamsters
Since last
Hellraisers reported on the Chicago Teamsters' Strike, that strike has been declared off, then declared on again, and has now spread across the city. Yesterday, according to the
Rock Island Argus of Illinois, a federal injunction was issued against the teamsters:
Chicago, April 28.-Federal Judge Kohisaat today granted an injunction to the Employers' association restraining all persons from interfering with the movements of the association's wagons upon the streets or in the alleyways or obstructing business of members of the association. The in junction is returnable May 10. It is specifically directed against the teamsters' joint council of Chicago...
The injunction was issued on the grounds that the Employers Teaming company, is a corporation organized in West Virginia and being a corporation of a foreign state has a right to protection under the federal government. As soon as the injunction was filed in court 750 copies of the order were given to United States Marshal Ames. Six deputy marshals were called into Ames' office and given instructions to serve the papers at once.
Today, below the fold,
Hellraisers features reporting on the Chicago Teamsters Strike from the
Argus covering the past several days of the escalating strike situation in the city of Chicago.
From the Rock Island Argus of April 25, 1905:
TEAMSTERS CALL OFF CHICAGO STRIKE;
DISAGREE WITH GARMENT WORKERS
Striking Garment Worker of Chicago
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Chicago, April 25.-The teamsters last night called of their strike against Montgomery Ward & Co. The refusal of the garment workers in aid of whom the teamsters struck to be parties to a fight against only one firm when they had grievances against a number, led to the disruption of the committee managing the strike and the collapse of the struggle. According to a statement of the teamsters' strike committee, the teamsters refused to spread the strike to other houses than Montgomery Ward & Co., and the garment workers were not satisfied unless the strike was extended to the larger clothing houses.
Want Old Positions
The differences cold not be harmonized and the teamsters decided to withdraw from the fight. A committee was appointed which will wait on the employers to obtain the old positions for the strikers.
From the Rock Island Argus of April 26, 1905:
CHICAGO EMPLOYERS DECIDE TO KEEP UP
WAR AGAINST TEAMSTERS
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Refuse to Accept Peace Offered Them---
Strike Rehabilitated by the Men---
May Tie Up Large Business Interests.
Cornelius Shea, President
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
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Chicago, April 26.-The Chicago Employers' association yesterday absolutely refused the concessions offered by the teamsters' strike committee toward ending the strike against Montgomery Ward & Co. Meeting in secret conference during the evening, the representatives of 28 of the strongest business houses of the city, all members of the association, agreed that the fight against "dictatorial unionism" should proceed, whatever might be the consequences.
Will Discriminate Against.
The policy of "no Discrimination" was abandoned by unanimous consent. Henceforth, it was agreed, the employers are to be arrayed against their union teaming employes in a decisive issue. It was declared that hereafter labor not allied to the present unions would be given the preference by the Employers' Teaming association.
Teamsters to Revive Strike.
At the same hour in which the meeting of the employers was held a session of the Teamsters' Joint council was in progress at 83 Madison street. President Shea delivered an impassionate speech and as a result the union's representatives voted to continue or "rehabilitate" the teamsters' strike against Ward & Co. This action was taken just before midnight.
Though the action of the teamsters was not known to the employers when the latter reached their decision, it was conceded among them that their own radical stand might result today in a deadlock of teaming in the city.
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[Photograph added.]
From the Rock Island Argus of April 27, 1905:
STRIKE SPREADS
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Other Wholesale Firms of Chicago
Affected by Labor War.
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NEW METHODS EMPLOYED
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Police Sergeant Fatally Hurt in Fight
by Being Run Over by Bus.
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Chicago, April 27.-The teamsters' strike spread today to the wholesale and retail houses of Marshall Field & Co., Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. and the wholesale house of John V. Farwell company. Strike pickets, with orders to prevent, if possible, the handling of goods by non-union men, were placed about stables, stores and warehouses of the firms named.
Drivers Refuse to Haul.
Drivers for the railway express companies refused today to haul or deliver goods to the firms against which teamsters had struck. One hundred and ninety drivers of the Forbes Cartage company struck today. This strike had the effect of interfering partly or wholly with teaming of 60 other firms for whom the Forbes company is furnishing wagons.
In a mix-up between union and non-union teams Police Sergeant Richard Cummings was run over and fatally injured by a bus. John Ceresam, a union driver, was arrested.
Express Drivers Quit.
Four hundred and twenty drivers for the United States and American Express companies and 30 stevedores quit work during the day rather than handle goods for establishments under the labor leaders' ban. There were numerous attacks on nonunion drivers and several clashes between police and strikers and their sympathizers but only one was seriously hurt.
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[Photograph added.]
From the Rock Island Argus of April 28, 1905:
FEDERAL INJUNCTION IS ISSUED TO CHECK
STRIKING CHICAGO TEAMSTERS
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Use of United States Troops is Hinted at by Marshal.
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EMPLOYERS ARE BUSY
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Move Goods in Spite of Strikers---
Negroes From South Brought in.
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Patrol Wagons Guard Trucks
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Chicago, April 28.-Federal Judge Kohisaat today granted an injunction to the Employers' association restraining all persons from interfering with the movements of the association's wagons upon the streets or in the alleyways or obstructing business of members of the association. The in junction is returnable May 10. It is specifically directed against the teamsters' joint council of Chicago.
Is Outside Corporation.
The injunction was issued on the grounds that the Employers Teaming company, is a corporation organized in West Virginia and being a corporation of a foreign state has a right to protection under the federal government. As soon as the injunction was filed in court 750 copies of the order were given to United States Marshal Ames. Six deputy marshals were called into Ames' office and given instructions to serve the papers at once.
Intimates Use of Troops.
Marshal Ames said, "Any violation of the injunction will come under the jurisdiction of the federal court. It necessary large numbers of special deputy marshals will be sworn in if the disturbances and violations continue and if the marshal is unable to cope with the situation, the federal government will be appealed to and it will use whatever means it deems necessary to quell the insurrection."
Trouble Starts Early.
Chicago, April 28.-Scenes of violence in connection with the teamsters strike began promptly today, the first victim being a nonunion colored teamster, who was kicked and beaten into insensibility by strike sympathizers.
Special details of police were sent to the Employers Teaming company in Eighteenth street near State street where nonunion teamsters are employed. It was feared the most serious disturbance would occur in the vicinity of these stables.
Employers Aggressive.
The employers were aggressive in operating with nonunion teamsters. Under escort of a large force of policemen wagons were sent out from Marshall Field & Co.'s stables, notwithstanding the streets in the vicinity were crowded with teams of strike sympathizers. Nonunion teamsters were jeered and hooted by the mob while a number of teamsters wearing union buttons attempted to form blockades. Prompt action by the police forced a passage through for the nonunion conveyances.
Fifty negroes from the south who are to take the place of strikers arrived in a box car on the Burlington railroad today.
Department Store Hit.
Sixty drivers for Hillman's department store joined the strike ranks today. Striking unions declared a boycott on the Great Northern and Heyworth buildings. Union officials said today 500 tons of coal had been stored in the sub-cellar of the Heyworth building and was being used as supply for Montgomery Ward & Co.
Most Dangerous Disturbance.
Chicago, April 28.-Chicago is facing the most dangerous labor disturbance since the Debs strike of 11 years ago, if not the most serious in its history. The business of the city, already partly paralyzed, may soon be completely enveloped, so far as it is dependent upon teaming, by the greatest teamsters' strike on record. By next Monday morning, perhaps, before that time, all of the 25,000 union drivers who handle so important a part of the city's traffic may be involved.
The employers expect to apply to the United States courts for a blanket injunction. The state court order protecting the business of Montgomery Ward & Co. lacks the force that is needed.
Beyond Control of Union Leaders.
Union leaders declared last night that the conflict had got beyond their control, even if they should desire to limit it. The leading merchants and business men, too, realized their impotency to check its spread. They simply assembled all the resources in their power and prepared to meet the attack and cope with it.
Lurking behind the teamsters' contest is the shadow of a greater war-one in which organized capital and organized labor may clash in Chicago for supremacy. Only the conservatism of some of the labor leaders, it is believed, may avert the lining up of the combined forces of the workmen against their employers, in all branches of industry, in such a contest.
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[Photograph added.]
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SOURCE
Rock Island Argus
(Rock Island, Illinois)
-Apr 25, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
-Apr 26, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
-Apr 27, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
-Apr 28, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
IMAGES
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Charter with AFL
http://teamster.org/...
Striking Garment Worker of Chicago
http://www.newspapers.com/...
Cornelius Shea, 1903
http://teamster.org/...
Police Sergeant Cummings
http://www.newspapers.com/...
Scene from Chicago Teamsters Strike
http://www.newspapers.com/...
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Workers of the World Awaken
If the workers take a notion,
They can stop all speeding trains;
Every ship upon the ocean
They can tie with mighty chains.
Every wheel in the creation,
Every mine and every mill,
Fleets and armies of the nation,
Will at their command stand still.
-Joe Hill (words and music)
https://www.youtube.com/...
http://www.folkarchive.de/...
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