Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-05-07
SHORTER HOURS.

Several Business Houses Yield to
the Demand for Eight Hours a
Day.l
CHICAGO, May 1.-The Western
Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Asso-
citation have adopted a constitution and
bylaw and appointed an executive
committee to take care of all disputes
and manage the general concerns of
the association A communication
was presented at last nights meeting
from the Shoe Cutters Assembly, no.
tifying them that after Monday next
the men would work eight hours a day
for eight hours pay. This state of sf-
fairs is to continue for two weeks, but
that IN May 18th a schedule Of prices
would be submitted to the association
for its consideration. This proposition
was accepted, with the distinct under
standing that 1t was not to have any
effect upon existing contracts or to
work to the prejudice Of employees who
have consented to work more than
eight hours. 1t was claimed that four
ifths of the cutters in the city were
members of the assembly.
A Grand Rapids. Michigan, special
says: The furniture manufacturers and
their employees in this city have arrived
at an amicable adjustment Of their
difficulties, and six or seven thousand
men employed there will continue
work uninterruI tedly, beginning Mon
day, all Of them on the eight hour
system. There had been quite a dis
cussion of the wage question and the
workers request a ten per cent advance
on their wages by the hour. A COM
promise has been secured. In some
factories the question of wages is
pretty much left to the employers with
an assurance from them that good
business will give the men ample
satisfaction.
In some a revision of the pay rolls
has taken place, with slight advances
of from two or three to twelve or
fifteen per cent. The latter generally
to the lowest priced men, some If
whom will get even ten hours pay for
eight hours work. The workmen are
jubilant over the outcome, and
confident that the near future will
give them all they had asked for. At
their request they will have a general
holiday to-day in honor of the establish
ment of the eight hour system.
Tho own0utiUo nom mi tkoa 90 A.
Knights of Labor, Machinists' Assem-
bly,, publishes a card this morning,
which says !: Messrs. Frazer and Copl-
mers, p%roprietors of the leading ma.
chine shop in Chicago and the North
west, who have always paid the high.
est wages in the trade, and have never
had any trouble with their employees,
have, with their usual l~iberality, con-
coded the eight hours to the employees,
and will u their shops with two
shifts If necessary. Messrs. Crane
Bros. have also conceded to all Of their
employees the eight hour rule and if
overtime is necessary they will pay a
time and a half for it, and advance pay
as circumstances may warrant. The
following firms have conceded the
same: Robert Tarrant, Mcdonald
Vulcan Iron Works, John Feather.
stone, II. H. Scoville, Willard Gales
iron works, Peacock, West Division
Car shops, and Link Belt Manufacture
ing Company. In fact all shops of any
Importance, except Bullock Manufac-
turing Company, have now conceded.
This is somewhat at variance with in
formation obtained by inquiries dur
ing yet 'rday afternoon:
CHICAGO. May Promptly at 10
o'clock the 200 freight handlers of the
Chicago, Milwaukee s. St. Paul road
stopped work. At the New Albany
freight house, before the men went
out, Thomas M. Gillespie, an employee
of the Milwaukee & 81. Paul road,
mounted a Car and addressed the crowd.
He told them that he wanted all freight
hsndlers to join the union preparatory
to forming an assembly Of Knights
Of Labor. His remarks were greeted
with cheering. After this the crowd
Of strikers marched to Clark and
Payton streets. Here they formed In
line four abreast. Great crowds turned
out to see the sight, and cheering the
men as thty marched through the
streets toward the Michigan Central
freight house. AS they pursued their
way the strt cts became filled with
sight seers, but nothing approaching
disorder was apparent. 1t took but a
few moments to induce the Michigan
Central men to quit work. Almost be
fore the strikers reached the freight
house the men commenced to put on
their coats. AS each addition was
made to the ranks the enthusiasm in.
creased.
DAbout ten Of the men employed in
the Michigan Central yards refused to
join the strike, and about this time
police protection was sought by officers
of the road. Lieut.. Laughlin and a
squad of police soon appeared and;
succeeded in clearing the depot without
using violence, although the men
grumbled at being forced back, claiming
that their intentions were ~peaceable.
BOSTON, May lin this city the
trades union of carpenters, the broth
erhood of carpenters and ~jOiners of
America, the amalgamated society