Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-26
LABOR MATTERS.
Shoe Factory in South Berwick Closed
Packing Establishments Return to the
Ten Hour Day-Eisht ht Hour Men Strike
for Ten Hours of Work.

DOVER, n. H.. May o5
Messrs Cummings have closed their shoe
factory in South Berwick, Me-, rather than
concede to the demands made by the Laster's
Union for an increase in wages. Supt Fer
guson is uncommunicative and declines to
make any statement. TIE men claim tha,
the hrm's action is simply 10 scare them into
returning. The firm employs abou. 800
hands, with monthly pay roll of SIC. 200 to
$4,000, and it also owns IS tenement houses
occupied by operatives. The trouble is a
serious matter to the town as this business is
the only live industry there
CHICAGO, May %.
Inc eight hour system was discarded in the
stock yards districts Monday, after trial of
three weeks. The Northw estern Fertilizer
Works was opened on the ten hour basis A
majority of employees refused to work and the
management fearing demonstration sent the
remainder home. The estahlishm mt will re-
main closed for several days. Meanwhile
action by the packers is awaited with much
interest
A strike of novel form was developed AT the
Featherstone foundry MONDAY. Seventy-fye
employees there had gained the concession of
the eight hour day and had worked several
days under that system. Last SATURDAY., a
committee of men waited on MIR. Feather
stone and stated to him that thev wanted the
ten hour day restored. He replied by asking
II they knew what they did want They had
compelled him to give them the eight hour
day. He did so and made ARRANGEMENTS to
conduct his business on the eight hour basis.
He could not change hours every time be was
asked to do so and told them they could work
only eight hours day. Monday the men
struck for restoration of the ten hour dav.
1t is understood that the matter will be settled
today.
At a meeting of the eight hour league on
Monday night, resolutions were adopted de.
claring the intention of the members to con-
tinue to work honestly for the eight hour dav
and advising holding of a general conven-
tion at an early day, composed of all trades
and knights of Labor assemblies in the
United States for the purpose of fixing def
mite time in which people shall be educated
up to and the eight hour day go into general
effect in all parts of the country There was
apparently not much disposition to discuss
the present status of the system and the
meeting adjourned.
CLEVELAND, O., MAY 25
The general assembly of knights of Labor
which began its session here today, is indeed
a very close corporation. Everything is
done in secret and all the proceedings come
to the newspaper press through a committee
of Knights appointed for that purpose. The
meeting opened at 3 o'clock and closed at s
| O'Clock tonight At O'clock the general as
sembly took recess for the purpose of Civ
ing Mrs. Mary A. Woodbridge of Ravenna,
an opportunity OF addressing them. Follow
ing Mrs. Woodbridge came Edwin Norton,
a manufacturer of Chicago, who read paper
on the subject of the formation of an employ
ers association, to be known as the American
Manufacturers Union. The object of the
union is to treat with the labor union on all
questions arising between employers and
employees.
| Trades Unionists presented plan adopted
by them in Philadelphia for a solution of the
trouble existing between them and the
Knights of Labor. The plan will be submit
ted to the general assembly for ratification
1t seems tonight as if perfect understanding
is altogether probable although there is un-
mistakably bitterness among many of the
delegates. The general assembly today ac-
complished nothing save the appointment of
a press committee and committee on creden-
tials