The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-05-07
THE STRIKES.

For some time past the country has
been i'm turmoil of uncertainty regard
ing the labor question, and the frequent
strikes in various cities has 80 unsettled
business as to cause flow of fear and
trembling to permeate almost every
branch of mandatory and all kinds of
But the general stampede
did not occur until the first of May,
since which time advlces from all quar-
tiers indicate a genera! uprising of labor
demanding from employers the eight
hour system, and in some instances an
advance in wages in addition. In a
number of instances the demand for less
hours has been acceded to, while in
others compromise has been made on
nine hours. In Washington, six thous-
and men principally members of the
Knights of Labor, quit work and will
stay ont unit, the eight hour system is
accepted. The situation in Chicago is
such as to practically suspend business.
The freight handlers OH all the railroads
have quit work and declare their inten-
tons of staying out until their demands
are acceded to. The entire forces of
some of the leading manufactures AS
sumo like position, while stonemasons,
brickmasons, plasterers, ETC., join the
general lockout.
At meeting of stonemasons of Pitts
burg and Allegheny it was decided to
strike for $3.25 per day of nine
hours work. They have been receiv-
ing $3.50 for ten hours, and employers
are willing to concede them the de-
crease i'm hours, but say they cannot af-
ford to pay more than 33 cents an hour.
About one thousand men will be thrown
out of employment by the strike.
Two hundred house carpenters in Bal
timore have notified their employers
that they would not return to work un.
til they were guaranteed $2per day for
eight hours work until Aug. and 81 &c
per day thereafter.
One hundred and twenty-five EN-
ployes of Weed 4 Co.'S mill, Amigo
Wis.,, struck Saturday for eight hours
work and ten hours pay; also fifty meT
employed on the Lake Shore worl
trains, who want 81 so per day.
The executive committee of the Unit
ell Piano makers of America iu New
York Saturday adopted resolutions re
questing all workmen in the piano trade
not to work any longer than eight hours
per day from May 3.
The coal operators of the Mahonin,
Valley have refused to grant the 800
miners demand for an advance of II
cents per ton, and strike Will probabl,
be ordered.
A most disgraceful riot occurred il
Chicago on Monday. Six thousane
strikers. intiamed by anarchist orators
attacked the Mccormick Reaper works
and drove the men from the shops. Ii
the melee dozen men were more O
less seriously wounded and it is pre-
sumed that one or two were killed out
right. But the most revolving and ter
rible fusilade which spread death an,
suffering in its path, occurred Tuesda,
night. The socialists held meeting oil
Desplanes street and listened to i'm
cendiary speeches by several leaders
where defiance of law and order wa
preached. A detachment of police com
manded the mob to dispense, whereup
on bomb was thrown into the ranks o
the policemen, exploding with terrlbl,
effect, killing several and woundin,
about fifty, The unframed officers i'm
medlately fired into the crowd, and fo
a time things were run with higl
hand. A number of the rioters receiv
ed severe injury, and a few were killed
The majority of those responsible fol
the riot are Poles and Bohemians will
Il few Germans. The city authority nov
that innocent human blood has beer
freely split, will take the matter in hand
and deal summarily with those who in
any way agitated revolt. Had this beer
done in the outset il is more than likely
that all trouble would have been ave- t
ed. Wednesday morning the McCor
half the laborers returning to work.
special police force is on duty to prOtec
the workmen, but their services have
not vet been needed.
| In Milwaukee the striking workmeI
drove 800 men i'm the Chicago, Milwau
kee & st. Paul shops from their work
Ii is claimed that not oyer ROO az TN
800 desired to n t,r,.iL work, and the
J felt that inaSSsmuch as the workmen Ia
unan,!n9Ijously adopted resolution {
, give the company till June to decid
whether or not they Would adopt TIN
; eight hour system, they ought TO renal
4 until that date.
The general labor demand reache
st. Paul and Minneapolis, but in mos
q cases an amicable settlement has bee
reached In the capitol city sewers
contractors acceded to the demand Ofth
bricklayers to begin work at and qui
. at . o'clock. The stOnemasons hav
asked for an increase of % cents for te
hours work, but it is not thought the
will strike even should the demand b
l refused.
II Matters i'm Mankato among the la
borers and different tradesmen are quie
and give no indication of an unfavora
BILE or exacting nature SO far AZ we hay
been able to CLEAN. The subject G
I shorter hours has been discussed by tin
, wOrkmen in their meetings, but Their
r seems to be well defined purpos
among many to take no action at thi
: time, feeling it the better part of valo
: to await the outcome of affairs ut othe
, points.
NOTES.