The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-30
The Strike Fever Still Raging at Several
Important Business Centers,
With the Signs of Disturbance Most Promi-
nent at Chicago, Milwaukee and New York,
but the Smaller Cities Are Not Escaping.
Many Employers Preparing to Meet the
Mems Demands by Shutting Down.
How Non Unionists Are Prosecuted BY Knights
Of Labor-The House Investigating Com
mittee at st. Louis-0ther Labor News.
MOVEMENTS AT CHICAGO.

MOVEMENTS AT CHICAGO.
Demands for Eight Hours Work and Ten
Hours Pay-Several New Strikes.
CHICAGO, April 20. The employees Of the
West Division street-car shops notified Superin-
tendent Cregor. on Tuesday, that they would
adopt the eght-hour rule on May l, and would
expect the same pay as they were receiving at
present. Mr.. Cregor replied, 'Times are hard, |"
and asked them if they would not reconsider the
matter. A meeting of the employees was held
yesterday, and the adoption of the eight t-hour
rule was voted down. Then it was decided to
work ten hours, but to ask the company for an
advance Of 10 per cent in wages, the car works
to close on Saturday at noon, thus giving half q
day each week. making the work on the average
nine hours day. Mr.. Cregor said last night
that he could not say what course the company
would pursue until he had received the final an
swer of the men.
The wages of the one hundred men in the me-
chanical department of the South-side street
railway were increased from 10 to Is per cent
on April l. Yesterday the men agreed to ac-
cept their former wages if the company would
establish the eight-hour rule May 1. The
company consented. and on Saturday the men
will join in the eight-hour celebration.
Employees of the Pullman company, to the
number of nearly thousand, held mass-meet-
ing, last night, at Kensington. The question Of
eight hours day was agitated, and considerable
heat was developed in the discussion. Some
wanted eight hours work and an adjustment of
wages after the short day was secured; others
wanted eight hours work and ten hours pay,
while others demanded the short day and 20 per
cent. increase in wages. It was said that the
claim Of the company was that its contracts
were made for year, and that ten hours work
at given wages had been figured on by the com.
pany in making reductions, and that no change
could be made. The meeting finally decided to
appoint committees to canvass all the depart
ments and report the sentiment of the men.
1t is declared that the freight-handlers on all
the Chicago roads will 60 out on strike Friday
night, unless the railways concede eight hours
for days work, with the old rate of pay for
ten hours. 1t is stated that the movement
originated two weeks ago among the men in the
Lake Shore freight-houses, who consulted the
freight-handers of the various roads, and it
resulted in determination to make general de-
mand. The Burlington officials informed q COM
mittee of their that the road could not be run
successfully on the eight-hour plan. The other
roads, it is declared, will contest the matter be-
fore conceding to the new demand and q general
strike is expected to follow. Sixty-nine men.
including clerks and truckmen employed In the
freight house of the Galena division of the Chi
cago 8 Northwestern railroad have gone out on
q strike. A committee of five was appointed to
wait on A. B. Brinkerhoff local freight agent.
The men want eight hours work and ten hours
pay. General Superintendent Wheeler and
Vice president Hughitt said they would take no
notice of the demand of the freight handlers.
1--WE have" said they, "a similar demand fro
the men who work in our car shops, but we
fuse to grant it. We cannot permit en-
ployes in any department to interfere with the
business of our roads. We must and will run
our trains and machine shops to suit ourselves. ;"
General Manager Miller. of the Chicago Mil
waukee & St. Paul railway, was seen by an
Associated Press reporter this evening" and
questioned as to what reply would be given to
the demands made by the companys freight
handlers at Chicago. Mr.. Miller declined to give
for publication this reply until it has been for
mally placed before the men, believing 1t to be
improper for him to do SO; but from remarks
made by him, as we'll as other officials of the
road it is evident that the demands of the men
are not to be granted. He evidently believes
them to be unreasonable, and such as would not
be made by the men at time other than now,
when the excitement Of a strike craze exists.
At o'clock this evening the men employed in
the freight houses OF the Chicago 81 Alton held
a meeting and resolved to join in the demand of
the freight-handlers on other roads for eight
hours work without corresponding decrease in
compensation. All told, the Alton men number
fifty. Their action will be made known to-mor-
row to the officials of the road. Until then the
officials refuse to discuss tho matter
The freight-handlers of the Baltimore & Ohio
railroad are by no means satisfied with the pres
ent condition of affairs. A tax per man of 81. so.
which is taken from the regular monthly salary
by the company, to be used in cases where men
laid off by sickness, causes considerable
grumbling. There is rumor to-day that
freight handlers association will soon be organ
ized. The same scheme is also being talked up
among the men in the Illinois Central depot.
The Wabash, st. Louis s. Pacific freight hand
dlers are reported rather inclined to join in the
movement inaugurated on the Burlington and
the St Paul roads Up to this evening, how
ever, they have taken no definite action.
It seems to be the opinion Of all the officers Of
the roads whose freight men have asked for q
reduction of hours that the employees will be un-
able to successfully naugurate strike, owing
to the fact that they have no union or other or.
ganization. 1t is the intention OF the men, how
ever, to form a society. For this purpose a
meeting of all the petitioners and persons en-
ployed in the local freight-houses of the roads
will be held tor morrow evening. Their wages
range from 81 80 to 81. rs a per day.
The firm of Rothschild q Sons states that 1t
will yield to the demands of its men at Cincin-
natl II will give ten-hours' pay for eight-hours'
work In order to finish outstanding contracts,
but will reduce the working force to one fifth its
present size. The firm expects this will end the
troubles of the firm here, also.
At IL o'clock to-day comittee of three, repre-
senting the freight-handlers Of the Chicago,
Milwaukee q ST. Paul road, called at the office
Of Mr.. P. e. Wilson, local freight agent of that
road, to present petAion asking the adoption of
the eight.hour system in the freight-houses here.
and requesting q reply to their demands by
o'clock Saturday afternoon. Mr.. Wilson
cannot decide, but will send
your communication at once to the officers of