Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1886-10-09
A BIG STRIKE Ar CHICAGO.
Eight Thousand Pork Packers Go Gu
to Preserve the Eight Hour System,

Eight Thousand Pork Packers Go Out
to Preserve the Eight Hour System.
CHICAGO, Oct S.-A big strike was begun
at the stock yards this morning. Nearly all
the hog men are now idle. The employees
say that inasmuch the packers intended to
lock them out Monday unless they returned
to the ten hour day they thought it best to
give the first blow. The struggle promises
to be stubborn one. The men claim to be
prepared for a siege. If the packers can
not make money under the eight hour sys-
tenn, they say, they ars willing to work for
smaller wages, but they wish continuance
of the eight hour system. The employees of
the Chicago Packing and Provision company
to the number of fifteen hundred
were the first to go out this
marched down on the other packing
house and shortly before 2 o'clock, evidently
by preconcerted action, all the men en-
ployed by the following packing firms re-
fused to work and Joined the strikers:
Armour & Co., John Morell, J. T. Hickey &
Co., John Cudahy, International Provision
company, Moran & Healey, Silberhorn &
Co. and the Anglo-American Packing COM
pany. About eight thousand men struck
to-day. Silberhorn & Co. sent for their
men soon after they left and requested them
to return to the house and clean up. The
result was that meeting was held and it
was decided that twenty of them should go
back and clean up the house. They worked
all day and will work to morrow. Some of
Morelps men after going out decided to go
back. The strikers at once invaded the
place. Quite riot ensued and the town of
Lake police were summoned to quell it.
This afternoon one hundred and fifty Pink
erton men left for the stock yards at the re-
quest of the packers to preserve the
peace and protect property. They were i'm
mediately sworn in special police officers
for the town of Lake and each was provided
with Winchester rife. In command of
their superior officers the force was marched
down into Packingtown and squads were
distributed to protect property and prevent
violence if possible. William A. Pinkerton,
who is on the scene, says he represents all
the firms who published the circular which
stated that the ten-hour system would be re-
sumed on Monday. He says that work will
be resumed Monday and if the old employees
packers. The specials are all in uniform and
have several rounds of ammunition with
them. Two hundred more are expected
to be on the ground tomorrow.
The strikers say there is
no use for all this display
as they are law abiding citizens and mean to
be peaeeable.
During the afternoon excitement of most
marked character prevailed all through the
stockyards district. While there was no
organized riot, individual encounters were
very frequent and there were broken heads
and bloody noses received. The officials of
Lake declare that they will preserve order at
all hazards. Such packers could be seen
to-day were very cautious but positive in
their statements. Robert Warren just
rived from st. Paul and could not speak of
the action OF the packers or the men. At
the Office of Silberhorn & Co. they said:
''This action has undoubtedly two serious
sides. These men work very hard and de-
serve all they get. If all the packers of the
country adopted shorter hours the desires
of the men could be gratifed. But
New York men are going by Chicago
they work ten hours and can give
better rates. Our packers must be on an
even footing with those of other cities and
this forces us to return to our old hours. +"
P. D. Armour was not pleased with the
reports which the wires at his desk brought
from the stockyards. eve shall never
open the packing houses again until the
men work ten hours a day if the estab
lishments go down." said Mr.. Armour with
a mild firmness that showed he was not
speaking hastily. 81 understand the boys
are having a time to-day, but there will
be no trouble. There is no law compelling
them to work if they don't wish to. The
houses will not be closed entirely and men
will soou drift this way. But I do not
care to discuss that matter now. One
thing you can set down and that is we
will hereafter run ten hours day or not
at ALL"