Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-11
ARMED WITH RIFLES.
f1nkerton's Men stationed in Chicago's
>tockyards-rhey are Watched With
Interest and Hatred.
CHICAGO, Oct. 9

IHlCAGo, Oet. y
Advices from the stockyards repor, the sit
uation unchanged there this morning and nc
disturbance OF any kind has occurred. Ar
mour Co. say that the report that their
beef killers had also Joined the strikers i. a
mistake, snd that that part of their establish
ment, as well As those OF the other packers
10 running as usual, the strikers being con-
nned to the dog killers. About 2000 head of
cattle and 900 hogs were received Al the ward
today.
Over $50 Pinkerton men were lodged and
oreskfssted at the Transit House last night
ana at O'Clock this morning emerged from
the dining room, and shouldered their Win.
chester rifles. which were stack ed in the cor
neT around the lobby. Capt. Foley called
the men to Attention" and thev were
marched of through the wards. At each
packing house a squad of men left the line,
ana, IN charge OF sergeant, defiied through
the yards, and were stationed at the various
corners, where they could command a view
OF the entire premises, and they were watched
with interest and hatred by the men in work.
ing clothes, and by hundreds of men without
dinner pals and sttired in their Sunday
clothes, who, by this time, had assembled in
force in the yards and watched the proceed
lngs at the odious packing houses. This morn
ing 1t was rumored throughout the yards that
the packers had appointed committee to
ADJUST the diff :ulties with the men. 1t was
asserted that the men had been making money
under the new schedule of wages, and were
satisfied with the advance, but could not al
low the machinery to remain idle for two
extra hours. The compromise to be offered
to the men, 1t was claimed, is to advance the
wages for ten hours to the same rate paid
during the nine months for eight hours This
1t was said by some men would be satsfact-
ory, but that nothing but eight hours work
would be accepted The great mass of men
were non-committal. and referred all ques
tlons to the leaders. The sitnation, from a
business point of view, is decidedly gloomy
one. The market is very dull, there being no
demand for fat hogs for packing. There is,
however, some little demand for light hogs
for the eastern market The buyers are sit
ting around the office waiting for prices to
go down. Commission men have advised
their customers not to ship any more cattle,
and kilograms of inquiry as to the condition
OF things are being received all the time.
The commission men are very gloomy
In an Interview on the subject of the
strike, published this morning, Mr.. p. ID.
Armour says 1.-THE matter of returning to
the l0-hour system rests entirely on the
question of self-protection. Chicago packers
are unable to compete with Cincinnati or
Kansas City people on basis of eight hours.
chiefly on account of the lessened cost of op-
Grating at these points. The corn belt has
moved pretty much westward, and hogs are
cheaper out there. Chicago packing house
property has greatly deprecated in value of
late, and. for my part, stand ready to dis
pose OF my Chicago stockyards property at 20
per cent. less than cost have expended
$500, 900 on my Kansas City packing houses
this season, | would gladly have my men
work eight hours if could do so in justice to
myself, but under the circumstances this is
not possible, and self-protection, of course,
must be primarily regarded by the packers.
| work IA hours myself every day. and 10
hours daily toll is certainly not a great hard
ship for my employees l do not anticipate
closing down work entirely, although for a
few days we may not operate at full capacity
There are plenty of men who are willing to
work 10 hours each day, and take the places
of the strikers if they are assured of protec-
tion, and this will positively be offered them
to the fullest extent. | trust the old hands,
however, will take proper view of the stu-
alton and reconsider their action. which is
certainly i'll advised
CHICAGO, Oct. 10
There was no disturbance at the stock
yards today, but the entire vicinity of the
great packing houses was tbustling with sig
nificant preparations. Pinkertons force OF
guards have been increased 10 40) men and
each one of them is armed with a revolver
and repeating rifle.