The Portland daily press., 1886-05-04
Encounter Between Socialist StrIk-
ers and Police In Chicago.
Several Of the Former Shot anc
Wounded by the Officers.
Nearly Four Thousand Laborers
Idle In Boston.
A Great Iron Factory in Chicago
Shuts Down and 900 Men Idle.

CHICAGO, May 3-The freight handlers, to the
number of 700 or So0 met last night. The meet
ing was prolonged and noisy one. An aggres-
sve policy was decided on, especially with refer
ence to the Burlington road, which, it is alleged,
pays the men poorly.
The large freight depots of the Chicago, Mil
waukee and st. Paul Railroad Company were
early the resort of curious crowds this morning.
Among the number were the striking freight
handlers of the road. Fifteen minutes before
O'Clock special train of three passenger
coaches and an engine ran into the yards. There
were also on hand fourteen special detectives OF
the company in citizens clothes. Following them
marched 200 men, brought in by tie railroad
company from different points on its line. They
were at once surrounded by strikers, who urged
them not to go to work and deprive them the
strikers) of their positions. There was no wayer-
ing on the part of the new men, however, land they
entered the freight houses in body. Only the
ordinary number of city police were on duty, and
therewas no call for their services. The strikers
appeared dazed at first at the size of the crowd
which had arrived to support the company, and
owing to this fact. possibly offered no violence.
The leaders of the strikers, seeing that no I'M
preston was made on the men, called OFF their
followers and hurried consultation was held on
the tracks near the freight houses. After few
minutes of parleying, the entire crowd marched
off in body to the Burlington yards Tor a consul
tation and to obtain, possibly, an enlargement OF
their forces.
the Fort Wayne, Burlington and Alton roads, and
at O'Clock the officials of these companies had
given no sign of their plan OF action for the day.
The Wabash road, which is in the hands OF
receiver, applied today to Judge Gresham for
force of deputy United States marShals to protect
its men in handling freight
strike of employees OF the hrm OF RotnScnlld
furniture manufacturers, passed yesterday from
the control of its former leaders who had con on
Quoted it in a decent and orderly manner into the
hands of couple of agitators. At Injecting OF
the strikers communication was read, granting
the eight-hour demand and 10 per cent advance
in wages A heated debate followed the reading
Of this letter, and the majority of the men seemed
in favor of accepting the firms offer, But at the
critical moment Hansch, the president Of. the
professional agitator, arose ana violently de-
nounced the idea of accepting anything. The
Michael McMahon and John Reynold, the chair
man and secretary respectively OF the strikers
committee, then brought things to ,'arE Crisis by
tion to 90 to work. Great confusion ensued, and
the agtator Stalnecht took it upon himself to ask
McManon whether he knew what the result Of his
step would be or not Both Mcmahon and Rey-
nolds replied that they did not care what the re-
suit would be- and therefore they left the nall fol
lowed by the anathema of the union, which was
launched at them by Hansen. The meeting then
passed under the control OF the agltators, ana a
motion to stand out against the flrm was passed.
All the power was vested in the hands OF the
union, and the men cut themselves OFF by passing
the motion, from the privilege of communicating
with the RothSchds, either through a committee
Sr otherwise. Some of the men, nevertheless
privately admitted their intention OF going to work
to-day. The firm has promised protection 10 those
who would return to its employ.
A III. Andrews head of the several furniture
factories bearing his name met his 400 employess yes
with that of the Rothschild company 1t was ac-
cepted and was TO go into effect this morning.
The box makers reconsidered their former de-
cision to resume work this morning, and have re-
solved to stay out still longer. This is because
the lumber mills are closed, and they would have
to get the material for boxes from non-unlon es
Establishments.
A large number of foundrymen held an eight
hour mass meeting yesterday afternoon. Reports
sailed fof IRON every S shop IN Iae TO he d
mand for eight hours, and will pay for eight nours
of work, giving double pay for extra time. Ihree
work Five shops have refused to adopt the eight
hour day, and two of them have shut down indeh-
nitely. Resolutions were adopted asserting that
the demands for the eight hour day should not be
complicated by demands for higher wages.
Before noon the Fairbanks Canning Company
settled their differences with the men Dy agreeing
to give nine hours pay for eight hours work.
Work at the Mccormick reaper works was re-
sumed this afternoon. The firm sent word they
would give the men ten hours pay for eight
hours work. at least until they found out how the
present eight hour movement would come OH.
GLATER.]
The day, while filed with exciting episodes,
bade fair to close without any serious conflict be-
tween the strikers and the authorities. num-
ber of foreign speaking anarchists, appealing to a
large crowd of idle men from the lumber yards
this afternoon, however, succeeded in provoking
an assault upon number of peaceable laborlng
men, and a Serious conflict with the police fol-
lowed At o'clock this afternoon 5000 men
lumber showers, planning mlll hands ana laci0ry
men-assembled to hold mass meeting. The
meeting was addressed by the Socialists who had
the matter in their hands, and after listening to
an infiammatory harangue the crowd began to
throw stones at the surrounding buildings. Then,
as if moved by one spirit, the 6,OUo mel Stdrteu
to the Mccormick reaper works, half q mile west,
where they Immediately began an an attack upon
the gates, which were then closed. One OF the
men was shut out and was beaten almost to death
Smashed with stones Police aid soon arrived
and scattered the crowd, but in few minutes n,es
they returned to the attack; when the police police
opened fire with their revolvers. More police
then arrived and the crowd were driven out OF
sight. Four of the mob were. wounded with the
bullets and it is probable that later developments
will show more wounded The police escorted the
Mccormick men safely home.