If they want to fight, let them come on.
We will call out every member of our union rather than give up.
-Teamster President Cornelius Shea
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Saturday May 20, 1905
Chicago, Illinois - School Children Enter the Teamsters' Strike, Arrested and Jailed
School children went on strike this past week in Chicago after noticing that scab coal had been delivered to their school. Fifty children were arrested for being "disorderly."
From the Rock Island Argus of May 16th:
FIFTY STRIKING CHICAGO SCHOOL CHILDREN
ARRESTED AND JAILED
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Movement Grows, 1,500 Going Out
Without Cause.
-----
MEN STILL DETERMINED
-----
Decline to Take Steps Looking to Peace---
Threaten to Tie Up the City.
-----
Blockade at State and Madison Streets
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Chicago, May 16.-Three hundred colored strike breakers arrived in Chicago today from St. Louis. They were largely recruited from river towns. Another gang came in from Cincinnati. Nearly a score of the latter deserted when they reached here claiming they were told no strike was prevailing here. One deserter said the coaches in which they traveled were locked during the entire trip.
Messengers Out.
Over 100 of the Postal Telegraph company's messengers struck this morning. The boys occupied themselves chiefly in jeering at nonunion teamsters.
Two colored men were severely beaten in Fourteenth street today by a mob which the police dispersed by the free use of their clubs.
More Pupils Quit.
Pupils of the Fallon public school also struck when two loads of coal from the Peabody Coal company were delivered at the building. The Fallon school and the Graham school are in adjoining districts on the south side.
Youngsters Put in Jail.
The youngsters became so disorderly 50 of them were arrested and jailed. The others quickly disappeared from the streets. The strike of school children assumed larger proportions today when 1,500 pupils of the Graham school refused to enter the building. Officials say no "unfair" coal has been delivered at the school.
Looks Like Spread.
Chicago, May 16.-The possibility of a tieup in all delivery business in Chicago including funerals grew definite at a meeting today of President Shea, with W. J. Gibbons, business agent of the Cab and Livery Wagon Drivers' union and representatives of the liverymen's and undertakers' associations...
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Photograph added.]
Below the fold
Hellraisers offers further news on the Chicago Teamsters strike from the past week.
From the Illinois Rock Island Argus of May 13, 1905:
FOUR MORE TEAM OWNERS' ASSOCIATIONS
MAY JOIN
-----
Prospects Are There Will be
8,000 New Strikers.
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HAVE BEEN NEUTRAL
-----
President Shea Declares All Teamsters
May Be Called Out.
-----
Chicago, May 13.-Four Chicago team owners associations employing about 8,000 drivers, heretofore neutral in the teamsters strike will confer tonight with the teamsters' joint council. If the teamsters officers adhere to their present policy, these associations may discharge the drivers who refuse to make such deliveries. In this event the strike is likely to extend Monday.
Will Call Out All.
President Shea of the Teamsters' union said: "If they want to fight, let them come on. We will call out every member of our union rather than give up."
Deliveries increased today and there is little interference. The Employers' association claim to have a surplus of teamsters. A big demonstration is expected tomorrow at the funeral of Pierce, the union driver, who was shot by a deputy sheriff. Stones were thrown by school children at non-union drivers who delivered coal to the Carter H. Harrison school.
Another Death.
The death of Harry Grady today added anther fatality to the list attributed to the strike. Grady and his brother, William, were called to the rear of their home in the night and without apparent provocation shot down.
Martin Lacy a nonunion colored teamster, was dragged from his wagon by six men and beaten into insensibility.
Ice wagon drivers, who are demanding an increase in wages, have reached a deadlock with the employers. Nineteen ice companies have refused to promise the teamsters advance...
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[Photograph added.]
From the Rock Island Argus of May 15, 1905:
GREATER UPHEAVAL MAY YET
APPEAR AT CHICAGO
-----
Influences Among Teamsters
Working to Head it Off.
-----
THE END MAY BE NEAR
-----
President Shea Requests Meeting of
Officers of A. F. of L. Saturday.
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Patrol Wagons Guard Trucks
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Chicago, May 15.-Possible signs of the end of the teamsters' strike began to grow today. President Shea, of the teamsters union, sent a telegram to President Gompers, of the American Federation of Labor requesting that a meeting of the national board of that body be held in Chicago at the end of the week. The report is also confirmed that Shea had telegraphed the national officers of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to come to Chicago forthwith. The executive board will be in session Wednesday or Thursday. Some members are already here.
Makes for a Settlement.
The move to bring the national board of the American Federation of Labor together was viewed by the team owners, who through their various associations have been striving to bring about a conciliation between the strikers and employers, and by labor officials generally as important in the direction of a settlement. This may possibly take the form of calling off the strike. The telegram to Gompers asked that he call the meeting in Chicago not later than Saturday...
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[Photograph added.]
From the Rock Island Argus of May 17, 1905:
GOMPERS' PRESENCE MAY MEAN
END OF THE STRIKE
-----
Federation Leader is in Chicago
by Invitation.
-----
HOLDS CONFERENCES
-----
No Intention of Interfering Unless
Shea Requests Him to.
-----
Chicago, May 17.-Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, was the central figure in the teamsters' strike situation to day. His presence in Chicago is regarded as offering hope of peace, but the cry of the strikers was still for arbitration, which the employers had resolutely refused as to the garment workers in whose behalf the teamsters quit work six week ago.
Will Not Interfere.
Just before going into conference with the labor leaders, Gompers said:
I am not in position to say what will or will not be done. I will say, however. I have no intention of interfering, unless I am commissioned by President Shea and his colleagues to do so.
Invited to Come.
Gompers admitted he had come to Chicago at the solicitation of both business men and teamsters' officials to act in the capacity of peacemaker.
Pledges Aid for Peace.
During the morning Gompers called on Mayor Dunne. He assured the mayor he would use every honorable effort to bring about a speedy settlement of the strike to the best interest of all concerned, although admitting that he was without authority to act. Immediately after leaving the mayor Gompers conferred with Ald. Dover, chairman of the mayor's peace committee...
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[Photograph added.]
From the Rock Island Argus of May 18, 1905:
LABOR LEADERS UPSET ALL PLANS
TO END THE STRIKE
-----
Arbitration Committee Appointed
Without Authority.
-----
DELIVERY THE ISSUE
-----
President Shea Declares There Will be No
"Backdoor Settlement."
-----
Chicago, May 18.-Aside from the presence of Samuel Gompers, the influence that gave greatest promise of a settlement of the strike was the arbitration committee appointed by the Chicago Team Owners' association and the Teamsters' union.
The question of arbitration is on the justification of the teamsters in refusing to make deliveries to strike affected firms. In anticipation of a favorable verdict the large team owners prepared today to begin hauling to such stores.
Both Name Men.
The team owners met this morning and appointed as their member of the arbitration committee Edward J. Hines, a prominent lumber man. The teamsters selected William J. Gibbons, president of the Teamsters' Joint council as their representative. These two after appointing a third member will, it is announced, proceed to settle the question whether the teamsters should deliver goods to boycotted houses.
Shea Upsets Move.
Later in the day President Shea, of the Teamsters, International union, threw cold water on all peaces moves. He declared he had not considered arbitration in any form, and had never agreed to arbitrate the question whether the teamsters should deliver to boycotted houses.
No "Backdoor" Settlement.
[Said Shea:]
There will be no backdoor settlement...When I am beaten I will come out and say so.
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[Photograph added.]
From the Rock Island Argus of May 19, 1905:
CHICAGO TEAMSTERS' STRIKE ENDS TONIGHT
OR TOMORROW MORNING
-----
Sheriff Barrett Positively States
Hostilities Will Close.
-----
CALLING IN THE GUARDS
-----
Neither Side to Claim Victory, But Best Men
Go Back to Work.
-----
Mayor Edward Dunne
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Chicago, May 19.-"The strike will end tonight or tomorrow morning. There will be no claim of victory of defeat by either side. The employers will take back the teamsters who are worthy and desirable men and who have not violated the law."
REPORT CONFIRMED.
This declaration was made by Sheriff Barrett today and was confirmed from several sources. The sheriff began to call in extra deputies engaged in guarding the wagons of the Employers' Teaming company.
MAYOR ALSO INFORMED.
Chicago, May 19.-Mayor Dunne today said he had learned from a source not connected with either side of the teamsters' strike, that the strike will be called off within 24 hours.
A report appeared on the ticker today that Sheriff Barrett had informed the grain firm that a settlement of the trouble had been reached and the announcement will be made this afternoon.
Board Holding Council.
Chicago. May 19.-The national executive board of the teamsters' union came to Chicago this afternoon, and are holding a secret session.
Shea Makes Flat Denial.
Chicago, May 19.-President Shea, when told of the declaration of the mayor and sheriff said:
There is no man in the world that has the power to call this strike off or make any such settlement. The teamsters' joint council alone has that power. The council has not considered any such proposition.
Gompers Departs.
Chicago, May 19.-Overtures looking to a peaceable settlement of the teamsters' strike here were temporarily set aside today. Through the departure of President Gompers for Dayton, O., last night the chief influence upon which the hopes of peace were centered was removed...
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[Emphasis removed from first four paragraphs for ease of reading.]
[Photograph added.]
~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCE
Rock Island Argus
(Rock Island, Illinois)
-May 13, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
-May 15, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
-May 16, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
-May 17, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
-May 18, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
-May 19, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
IMAGES
Blockade at State and Madison Streets
https://books.google.com/...
Cornelius P Shea
https://books.google.com/...
Patrol Wagons Guard Trucks
http://www.newspapers.com/...
Samuel Gompers,
Oakland Tribune, May 17, 1905
http://www.newspapers.com/...
International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
Charter with AFL
http://teamster.org/...
Mayor Edward Dunne
http://darrow.law.umn.edu/...
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Never Cross A Picket Line-Billy Bragg
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