My friends, it is solidarity of labor we want.
We do not want to find fault with each other,
but to solidify our forces and say to each other:
"We must be together; our masters are joined together
and we must do the same thing."
-Mother Jones
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Wednesday June 14, 1905
From The Broad Ax: "The Teamsters' Strike Seems to be Fizzling Out."
The Broad Ax, an Afro-American newspaper of Chicago edited by Julius F. Taylor, recently reported that the Teamsters' strike in that city appeared to be "fizzling out."
From The Broad Ax of June 3rd:
The Teamsters' Strike
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Seems to be Fizzling Out.
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From the beginning of the great teamsters' strike, which seems to be fizzling out, down to the present time, everything which has appeared in these columns in reference to Marshall Field & Company, Mandel Bros., and the head officials of the Employers' Teaming Co., had no further use for the Negroes, they induced to come here from the far South and other sections of the country except to use them like so many slaves, as strikebreakers, for the Secretary of Employers' Teaming Company was the first among his Negro hating associates to formulate plans to dispense with the services of the colored men whom they had promised steady work and good wages, and even today before the strike has been finally settled it is a rare thing to see a colored man driving a team through the streets belonging to those firms whose regular drivers are on a strike.
Marshall Field and Mandel Bros., were the first to discharge their colored drivers who they regarded a their slaves for the time being and their places have been filled with white men and many of them are hard-looking characters.
Many other concerns who at the beginning of the teamsters' strike were glad to avail themselves of the services of the colored drivers were quick to follow suit, and in a short space of time the sentiment has become so strong against permitting the Negro to have anything more to do with the present strike, that the first of this week, none of the strike-bound firms would employ one Negro, and the white drivers for A. M. Rothschild and Company, refused to set in the same seats on the wagons with colored policemen, this race prejudice protest on the part of the drivers for Rothschild and Company, was hailed with delight by the drivers for other firms, and on Monday the lumber merchants in the lumber district on the west side, sent their solemn protest, and a long petition to Chief O'Neill, against sending colored policemen into their district for the purpose of guarding their property.
The actions of the lumber merchants in this respect should have been or ought to be treated with the greatest contempt by Mayor Dunne and Chief O'Neill, for as long as the city is willing to furnish police to them to prevent their property from being destroyed by mobs, they have no moral right to dictate to its authorities whom to send or whom not to send for such purposes, as long as the men discharge their sworn duty, and the color of their skin or nationality should cut no figure whatever.
There is no desire on our part to discourage any citizen from doing his duty in times of trouble but for our part we would prefer to be shot down like a common traitor rather than permit ourself to raise our little finger to protect the property of any citizen or individual who are always ready and willing to foster and manufacture race prejudice, at the expense of any race of people.
In the past our sympathies have been with the striking teamsters, but as long as they and their followers will persist in waging an unholy warfare upon those who have never harmed them in the slightest degree, it is time to call a halt and it is the duty of all law abiding citizens to array themselves on the side of law and order.
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The Rock Island Argus Covers the Chicago Teamsters Strike
Today Hellraisers begins a review of recent events from the Chicago Teamsters Strike featuring the reporting of the Rock Island Argus of Illinois This review will be continued tomorrow.
From the Rock Island Argus of May 29, 1905:
RESUME TEAMING
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Nonunion Men Put to Work in the
Lumber Districts at Chicago.
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GRAND JURY AT WORK
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Shea Deprived of Management of the
Contest by the Teamsters Union.
-----
Chicago, May 29.-Efforts toward a general resumption of teaming in the lumber districts met with considerable success today. Non-union drivers were put upon wagons. As a result, three more large firms claimed to be doing business on a good sized scale.
Attempts to involve the box manufacturers in the lumber dealers' lockout movement against the teamsters have failed.
Grand Jury Investigates.
The grand jury began the investigation of the strike today, particularly of charges of "graft" made by some employers, who allege the strike could have been averted if money had been paid.
Out of Shea's Hands.
Chicago, May 29.-The general executive board of the Teamsters' union has taken the management of the strike out of the hands of President Shea, and it will be managed hereafter by the members of the executive board and the local strike committee. After assuming control of the strike the executive board issued a statement indicating an intention to conduct the strike along the same general lines as in the past.
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From the Rock Island Argus of May 30, 1905:
HEADS OFF PEACE
----
President Shea Able to Defeat Possible
Solution of Chicago Trouble.
-----
TEAMSTERS WANT TO VOTE
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Let Members of Union of Entire Country
Decide-Memorial Day Quiet.
-----
Chicago, May 30.-The Daily News today says:
Conservative members of the executive board of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters want to submit a proposition calling off the strike to a referendum vote of teamsters throughout the country. According to information which leaked out today, this move is being blocked by President Shea. Shea is being supported by two members of the board.
Peace for a Day.
Memorial day was calm, and the peace affected the teamsters strike today, insuring other sides temporary relief from distressing conditions. The big mercantile houses remained closed and nonunion strike breakers obtained their first holiday since the strike began, 54 days ago.
Decide on Lockout.
Chicago, May 30.-Thirty-five sash, door and blind manufacturers affiliated with the Planing Millmen's association in the combination of wood industries, have decided to lockout their 200 drivers.
-----
From the Rock Island Argus of May 31, 1905:
COAL DRIVERS OUT
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Discharged for Refusing to Deliver to
Express Companies at Chicago.
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MORE DRIVERS SLUGGED
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Police Fear Incendiarism and Increase Guard-
Court Grind Resumed.
-----
Chicago. May 31.-Three more coal yards were affected by the spread of the strike today when drivers for the Weaver Coal company refused to deliver fuel to the American Express company and were discharged. Their places were filled by men from the Employers' Teaming company.
Fear Fires.
Fear of incendiarism has caused the police to reinforce the guard at the lumber yards of several large concerns.
Slugging of strike breakers is continued. James Spencer, a Kansas City non-union driver, was reported to the police today as having been attacked by three men and left unconscious on the prairie.
Resume Court Cases.
Court proceedings and legal steps in connection with the teamsters strike were resumed today. Sixty men were cited by Judge Kohlsaat to appear to answer to charges of violation of injunctions.
-----
[Copy of advertisement added.]
From the Rock Island Argus of June 1, 1905:
CHANGE TACTICS
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Teamsters Begin Negotiations With
Individual Employers at Chicago.
-----
SHEA IS READY TO TESTIFY
-----
Will Explain to Grand Jury About $25,000-
Offered $10,000 to Call Strike.
-----
Albert Young
Chicago, June 1.-A committee consisting of three members of the department store delivery drivers' union, appointed by the teamsters' joint council today opened negotiations with individual members of the Employers' association in an effort to settle the strike.
Ready to Explain.
President Shea and Albert Young, former president of the teamsters' union, announced today they were ready to go before the grand jury and explain how $25,000 was paid into the treasury of the organization by certain agents of the Employers' association.
Offered Money to Call Strike.
Shea reiterated his statement made to the grand jury that two years ago he was offered $10,000 by an official of the associated teaming interests to call a strike against the mail order house of Sears, Roebuck & Co.
[Photograph added.]
From the Rock Island Argus of June 3, 1905:
AGAIN PLANNING TO SETTLE STRIKE
-----
President Shea Says He Has
No Knowledge of Meeting
of Committees.
-----
Chicago, June 3.-Negotiations along new lines for a settlement of the teamsters' strike were under way today. A committee of five appointed by the teamsters' joint council with full power to effect a peace compact with the department stores awaited the appointment of a similar committee to act for the merchants. The committee will get together this afternoon if possible. President Shea denied any knowledge of the new plan of settlement.
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Cartoon from the Chicago Daily Tribune
The Chicago Daily Tribune of June 3rd shows off that newspaper's typical anti-union bias:
~~~~~~~~~
SOURCES
The Broad Ax
(Chicago, Illinois)
-June 03, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
Rock Island Argus
(Rock Island, Illinois)
-May 29, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
-May 30, 1905,
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
-May 31, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
-June 01, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
-June 03, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
IMAGES
The Broad Ax African-American Newspaper
of Chicago Illinois X2
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...
Cornelius P Shea, Harpers Weekly, June 17, 1905
https://books.google.com/...
International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
Charter with AFL
http://teamster.org/...
Scab Teamsters Wanted,
Chicago Daily Tribune, June 6, 1905
http://www.newspapers.com/...
Albert Young about 1902
http://teamster.org/...
Chicago Teamsters Strike, Detail, Patrol Wagons Guard Trucks,
Daily Tribune, Apr 9, 1905
http://www.newspapers.com/...
Chicago Teamsters Strike, Grand Dukes of Chicago
http://www.newspapers.com/...
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The Road I Must Travel - Tom Morello
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