The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-05-19
FIGHT HOUR MOVEMENTS,

! Demonstrations in Various Cities,
and Many Factories Closing.
Tn many cities on the 1st inst. working
men. through their organizations, demanded
a reduction in the hours of labor to eight
hours dav. with the same pay as had been
riyen for ten hours. In Chicago occurred
the greatest demonstration of all, about
A, 900 workingmen striking for eight hours
| a dav. Some Chicago manufacturers acce-
ded to the demands of the men: while others
closed their doors and declared they would
| not reopen them until the situation improved.
Mauv New York workingmen took holl-
| dav on the lst to discuss the final presenta-
! ton of their demand for shorter hours Of
labor, or to arrange for their participation
in the short-hour mass meeting In Union
snuore at night. The open air
meeting in Union Square at night was par
ticipated in by every trade organization IN
the CITY, the number of worklngmen taking
part being estimated at all the way from
&c, 600 to 10000 The various organizations
marched to the meeting place with bands OF
music and transparencies and were ad-
dressed in several languages from different
stands.
At ST. Louis in some cases the employers con-
ceded the demands of the workmen, and IN
other instances there was fiat refusal. In
most cases immediate action was not taken,
decision being reserved and conferences
asked.
At Boston the Trades Union of Carpenters,
the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
of America, the Amalgamated Society OF
Carpenters and Joiners, and the Plumbers
Union, 5000 men in all, resolved to demand
eight hours. The Boston Master Build
ers' Association, 200 strong, unanl-
mously adopted manifesto condemn 1
ing the whole blame on the labor unions, and
declaring that the demands could not be
complied with without disaster to the busi-
ness and workingmen both, and that they
would close up business rather than submit
to any interference.
The 5000 employees of the various breweries
in Milwaukee, Wis, demanded an increase
in wages.
At Cincinnati about 500 employees of fur.
niture manufacturers and 100 employees OF
the Brunswick & Bake billiard table manu-
facturers, went out in consequence of re-
fusal to grant ten hours pay for eight hours
work. In other branches of industry, while
there is general feeling in favor Of an eight
hour day, nothing was done toward entorc-
ing the system. on,
of the United Pianomakers of America, held
in New York, it was resolved to request all
workmen employed in the piano trade not to
work longer than eight hours a day, the ques-
tion Of wages to be arranged between en-
ployes and employers.
At Pitt,burg, Penn, the Cabinetmakers'
Union, go strong, inaugurated strike
for eight hours labor. They demanded the
same wages for eight hours work ~! as
they have been receiving for ten. The
employers said they could not accede to
the demand The Pittsburg stone-cutterS
and bakers also moved for reduction IN
the hours of labor. The brass workers, how
ever issued a circular to their employers say
ing that they had come to the conclusion
that to demand the eight hour system at
present would be unwise and embarrassing,
and they instead demanded half holiday on
Saturday.
From other cities and towns come similar
| reports to the above of demands of some kind
or another by workingmen generally for
reduction in the working hours.