The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-02
The BEEF MEMS STRIKE
AT THE CHICAGO STOCK YARDS
THREATENS
To Become General II the Demands
Made Are Not at Once Com.
piled With.

CHICAGO, ILL, November 1.-The
threatened strike among the beei
men at the stock yards wal com
menced this morning, ADD nearly 6OOO
men are now out from the slaughter
houses Of G. +. Swift &Co. aud Nelson
4 Morris. The trouble is over the
adoption Of the ten hour system, the
men refusing TO work the two extra
hours without additional pay. Ia
these two houses there are no hogs
killed, and the employees say they
cannot accept the ten hour system.
Each of the firms employ about 5000
men, and at present many OF these are
consreRated about the streets and on
the n near the big houses, but
there is as yet no Indication Of any
trouble. There is M indication that
the police will be called upon 10 pro
tect The two houses, but it is yet too
carly TO determine the intention CT the
two firms. At o o'clock everything
was quiet.
Further particulars fom The stock
Yards strike are to the effect that
Swifts men sent q communication TO
him on Saturday aud infested on hev
ing an increase Of so cents per day
should the firm return to the ten hour
sys.em, and this was agreed to. This
morning when the beef butchers went
TO work they found that Foreman
Welder, of SXiit's, had discharged
james Maithewson, one OF the com
mitteemen. They also found that the
wages OF the laboreTB had not been
increased, and 30 they atTuok. They
insist now on having Matthews0n re-
instated and also a ECU to the eight
hour day.
On hearing that Swift's men were
out the beef butchers employed by
Nel6on Morris went cut. A crowd
went down TO Smiths machine shop
and compelled the men there ia
strike. After this they went TO Ar
mour's for tue purpose OF calling his
men out, but this movement was an
ticipated by the firm, who got a force
OF police to guard the principal On
trance, and the crowd was he { away
The strikers arranged to hold a meet
ing during the day. A member o
the Executive Committee tod a re
porter that unless the two firms gav'
In all the employees in the yard
would be called out.
Between 200 and 800 men in Libby
Mcneil & Libby's canning establish
ment also went out. The reason al
legged was that MoTris's establishment
/. partly gu piled the firm with beef. 4
meeting Of the strikers was held lat
this afternoon. None except Knight
, OF Labor were admitted. Fully 100
non-unlon strikers c~onRregated on tn
! outside anxiously awaiting the actor
D OF the Knights. Several speeches wei,
made and wild applause greeted ever.
reference to the eight hour day. J
a motion to make no compromise o.
anything short OF eight hours was cal
: iied by q unanimous vote. A CON
a mittee wan appointed TO take chars
Of the sttike and given full power :
8 act. A Knight Of Lsbor eE
q planned tonight that the me
' mad been offered the reinstatt
Q ment OF the discharged mel
Z but would now ho'd out for q retur
y to the eight hour system 10y all th
G beef houser. He said the proprietor
would be given until Saturday 10 d.
y eide what they would do, and II the
il persisted in RAINING ten houre, = gel
-, eral strike won d probably bs ordsre'
" which would include Swift's, Morris
y and also Armoul's elaughter houses.