Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-11-15

CHICAGO'S TROUBLES.
A General Belief That the Strike is at an
End-Powderly Orders the Men to Re.
turn to Work Monday.
CHICAGO, Nov. IA

Whether or not to return to work led TO
serious complications today. A special
meeting of the Chicago Traders Assembly
had some time ago been called for this after.
noon, the understanding being that action
would be taken in regard 10 bovcotting
Armour Po~derly's order led many dele.
gates to believe, this forenoon, that the OBJ
Ject of the meeting had been removed, but
President Rowan had scarcely raped the as
sembly 10 order when Geo. Schilling. a
soclallstic agitator, precipitated general dis
cusslon OF Powderlv's order, the attitude of
the strikers and what action should be taken
IL was soon developed that there was a very
| strong opposition In the assembly to obeying
Powderiy's order, and strangely enough the
opposition all came from the delegates WHO
are knights, while those who are Trade
UnlonIsts almost unanimously favored obedl-
ence-many of them on the ground that dis
cipilne ought 10 be maintained among the
knights, and others on the ground that Pow
uerly order was the only rational thing he
could do In the premises. Schilling intro
duced resolution instructing and empower
ing the executive committee of the Traders
Assembly acting AS a joint committee, to
hold themselves in readiness and whenever
called on by the executive committee of
the strikers, TO investigate the affairs at the
stock yards, and act with the strikers and as
slst them In any way possible. This resolu-
tlon was understood TO mean that the strikers
wouldn't obey Powderly's order, and that the
Traders Assembly would aid and abet in dis
oDeylng. Richard Powers, ex-president of
the Seamen's Union, vehementlv declared
the Powderlv order arbitrary and dictatoral
The strikers men on the ground, he asserted,
were in the best condition to decide az to the
proper course, and they were in favor of con-
tlnulng the strike. II any outside pressure
was brought te bear to enforce the order, it
would result in a schism in the Knights of
Labor, the destruction Of that organization in
this part OF the country and the crippliug of
Its Influence throughout the land 1t was in
vain that the opponents of the resolution
pointed out that disobedience to Powderly's
order would be just as destructive to the
knights. Schilling and Powers carried their
point, and the assembly Immediately ad-
Journed. The great strike was also the chief
topic of discussion in the Central Labor
Union. Resolutions were adopted tender
ing the strikers the sympathy and substantial
support of the Union.
Barry of the knights of Labor executive
board, said today that be believed the men
would go to work tomorrow and that the
strike was at an end. He had great hopes
that the non unionists would all leave the
packing bouses in a short time, when all the
striking knights could obtain their old posi-
tions. This afternoon he visited wha. as
semblies he could, urging them to comply
with the order and return to work. Only
two assemblies are known to have refused to
ratify the Powderly order-Cooper's, under
the leader of their master workman, Geo.
Schllllng, and that known as the mixed as
sembly, the master workman of which is NJ
j. Butler, who ordered the strike.
The packers and their former met today at
Armour's to prepare for the return of men
tomorrow. Shortly after the meeting pla-
card was issued, headed General order No.
l., and signed by Sheriff Hanchell. 1t stat
ed that employees of the various packing
houses desiring to work would report at the
places designated, the men of each of the
different houses being given a separate loca-
ton, where the manager, with the assistance
of the f3remen, would select from the line of
returning strikers, such men as desired to
come to work on that or any other day, Civ
ing each man pass with the name of the
firm stamped upon it, which will admit him
within the militia picket lines.
After having selected all the men they de-
sired the managers requested the balance to
return home and report again at the same
place on any day that may be selected by the
manager After this had been posted in the
public places, other manifestoes were made
on wrapping paper, advising the strikers to
remain out. The foremen of the houses
made some of their selections this afternoon,
and issued passes to choice mechanics, those
having families being the most favored.
There is general anticipation of great
deal of trouble tomorrow and for several
weeks to come. About the only disorder re-
ported today was at 49th and Looms streets.
Nelson Morris, the packer, had sent milk
wagon from his establishment to the depot to
get some milk. A mob of hoodlums sur
rounded it, cut loose the horses, roughly
handled the two men in the wagon, over
turned the conveyance and turned into gut
ter. Three men were arrested for the Of
fence.
mass meeting of the Knights of Labor
assemblies was held today. Three thousand
men voted to obey PowderIy and return to
work tomorrow. At fret the vote was ll42
to 365 against Powderly, while many refused
to vote: but the speeches of Barry and Carl
ton finally brought out unanimous vote in
favor of going back.