The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-02
A BIG LOCKOUT COMING.
The Chicago Packing Houses Decide to Return
to the Ten-HOur System of Work,

CHICAGO, Oct 1.-The statement is published
this afternoon that great lockout at the stock
yards has been decided upon, some time during
this month, when the packing-h houses will all
close down and remain closed until the question
of eight hours or ten hours is settled. One of
the large packers said this morning Trouble
is, of course. expected. 1t will be long fight.
but we can't run on eight hours with the other
houses around us running on ten hours. So the
trouble might as well come all at once to drag
along until we compelled to shut down by
will start up in small way on the ten-hour
schedule, and make the fight"
The Chicago Packing and Provision Company
has already shut down for repairs That is what
all the packing company officers say, and this is
probably the secret of the denial of the packers
that this is to be lockout The houses will
shut down one after another-for repairs. When
they open it will be on ten hours time or not at
all. At this time of the year it is customary for
all the houses which have been running all sum-
mer to shut down for repairs This October.
however. the shutdown will be significant.
1t will afford the houses the opportunity
to throw on their men the onus of the fighting.
The houses will be closed. Those who apply for
work can 60 to work at ten hours, or they can
stay out. Meanwhile, all the houses at Kansas
City, Omaha, Milwaukee, Springfield, st. Louis
and elsewhere will be running day and night.
The fact of the lockout is authoritative. So is
the fact that the packers all acting together.
There is no doubt at all about there being con-
cert of action Yet the packers are reticent, and
some of them deny the fact so glibly that to one
not versed in their ways their denials would be
accepted. There is however, no doubt that the
lockout is agreed to, and preparations are going
forward to make a long and stubborn fight for
the ten-hour question hogbuyer said this
morning: There is plainly something in the
wind at the stockyards but just what it is
body knows. The houses are going to close down
very soon They can better afford to make the
fight in October than in November Hogs are
high now, and by shutting down and forcing the
ten-hour fight the packers would really make
their expenses by the depression of the price of
hogs"
BY the great lockout &c, 900 people will be de-
prived of employment. 1t is expected that they
will offer stubborn resistance, and it is not
thought improbable that the fighting will lead to
bloodshed.
District Master Workman Butler, of District
81, Knights of Labor, to which about eight
thousand of the packing house employees be-
long said he had not heard of the proposed lock-
out and hoped it was not true. Mr. Butler
stated further: "The men, l am sure, are de-
sirous of a peaceable settlement of all difficult
ties. They want no strike, and would submit to
any oecent compromise TO avert lockout. Ii
the packers are losing money at the present
rate of wages let them reduce wages, but main
tain the eight-hour system. | am sure some
compromise be effected, and that the men
will concede what is right If we are locked out
it places US on the defensive, and there will be
lively times, as we are in good fighting condi-
ton" Mr.. Butler added that the employees be-
leve the packers have been striving to make
them strike in order that they might go back to
the n-hour system with plausible complaint
to support them; but the men have been careful,
and have been unwilling to originate strike.