The Portland daily press., 1886-05-26
LABOR TROUBLES.
Street Cars Wrecked by Strikers In
Toronto, Ont.
The Eight Hour System Discarded in
the Chicago Stockyards.
worknen Strike for Restoration of
the Ten Hour Day.
Proceedings of the Knights of Labc
Convention at Cleveland.
The South Berwick Shoe Factory
Closes Its Doors.

DOVER, N. H., May 25.-Messrs. Cum
mings have closed their shoe factory in So.
Berwick, Me, rather than concede to the de-
mands made by the Lasters' Union for an
increase of wages. Superintendent Fergu-
son is uncommunicative and declines to make
any statement. The men claim that the
firms action is simply to scare them into re-
turning. The firm employs about 800 hands
with monthly pay roll of $4,000 to $1,000
and it also owns 45 tenement houses occupied
by the operatives The trouble is a serious
matter to the town as this Business is the
only live industry there.
The Eight Hour System.
CHICAGO, May 25.-The eight hour sys-
TEN was discarded in the stock yards district
for the first time yesterday. After trial of
three weeks the Northwestern Fertilizing
Works was opened ON 10 hour basis. A
majority of the employees refused to work,
and the management fearing demonstra-
tion sent the remainder home The eStab-
lis hment will remain closed for several days.
Meanwhile action by the packers is awaited
with interest
At meeting of the Eight Hour League
last night resolutions were adopted declar-
lIlR bllc lultlltlUu VI blC luOlnpClo w Noh-
tinue work honestly for an eight hour day
and advising the holding of general con-
vention at an early day, composed OF all
trades and Knights of Labor Assemblies. in
the United States, for the purpose OF hXlng
ing a definite time in which the people shall
be educated up to it and the eight hour day
go into general effect in all parts OF the
country. There was apparently not much
disposition to discuss the present status. OF
the system, and the meeting adjourned with
out date.
A Novel Strike,
A strike of novel form was developed at
Featherstone's foundry yesterday. The Is
employees there had gained concession OF
the eight hour day, and had worked several
days under that system On last SATURDAY
committee of the men waited on MI Feath-
erstone and stated to him that they wanted
the 10 hour day restored. He replied by ask
ing if they knew what they really did want.
They had compelled him to give them the
eight hour day. He did sc, and made ar
rangements to conduct his business upon the
eight hour basis. He could not change the
hours every time he was asked to do so, and
told them that they could work only eight
hours a day Yesterday the men struck for
the restoration of the ten hour day. 1t is un-
derstood that the matter will be settled TO-
day.
CLEVELAND, May 25.-The General As
senably of the knights of Labor, which be-
gan its session here today, is indeed very
close corporation. Everything is done IN Sc
cret, and all the proceedings come to the
newspapers and press through committee
of Knights appointed for that purpose. Inc
meeting opened at 8 o'clock and closed
at tonight. Alta o'clock the General AS
sembly took a recess for the purpose of CIV
ing Mrs. Mary A. Woodbridge OF Ravenna,
Ohio, recording secretary OF the National
Woman's Christian Temperance Union, an
fn oddrpcc fnQm HNll0WnQ
Mrs Woodbridge came Edwin Norton,
manufacturer of Chicago, who read a paper
on the subject of the formation OF the en-
ployers' association to be known as the
American Manufacturers Union. Ihe
object of the union is to treat with labor
unions on all questions arising between en-
plnyers and employees A conference between
committee composed of trades anienists
and Knights of Labor was highly satisfac-
tory The trades uniOniSts presented plan
adopted by them In Philadelphia for the
solution of the difficulties existing between
the two orders and this plan will be submit
ted to the General Assembly for ratification.
1t seems tonight as If a perfect understand
ing is altogether probable, although there IS
an unmistakable bitterness among many OF
the delegates. The General Assembly to-
day accomplished nothing save the appoint
ment of press committee and committee
on credentials. Tomorrow the real business
of the order will be taken up.
omnibuses for Toronto Strikers.
TORONTO, May 25.-Omnibuses were re-
ceived tonight from Kingston for the use OF
the street railroad strikers The strikers
met them at the depot with band, and they
were escorted through the principal streets.
with was wrecked, in all about 40. The po-
lice were powerless. When the crowd got
tired it dispersed. So far as known nobody
was injured.