The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-08
THE BIG STRIKE AT CHICAGO.
| Quiet and Rather Uneventful Day in
and About the Packing-Houses.
The Ttrikers State Their Side of the Case
Deputy SherifIs in Charge and Two Regi-
mentS of Militia Ordered in Readiness

CHICAGO, Nov. There was no disturbance
worthy of mention at the stockyards to-day
Armour & Co. report that eight hundred cattle
we're slaughtered in their establishment. 1t is
low known that the strikers committee formally
presented their demands TO the packers yester
day They asked for the eight-hour system and
7xcale of wages slightly less than the one in
force for ten hours. The packers refused
to entertain the proposition, and the strike
was ordered. The strikers sent committees
around to-day to induce the men still at work to
quit. In many instances, especially with the
fremen and engineers the attempt was success
ful. number of packers had a conference in
Armours Office to-day but they declined to talk
about tne proceedings Several largely attended
meetings of the strikers were also held. The
deputy sherffs did not leave their barracks dur
ing the day, all detail work being done by the
regular Town of Lake police. The great ma
!, jorty of the strikers remained away from the
I yards One hundred more deputy sheriffs
rived in the evening, making the total force
BOO
The strike committee of Knights of Labor. dis
trict assembly No 81 has issued the following
official statement of the grievances of the men,
ltterance of the only committe authorized to
urnish o statement covering the reasons for the
Jtrike:
"Fearing that the position of the striking en-
ployes of the Union Stockyards will be misunder
stood, we make the following statement in re-
gard to the situation: When the men returned
20 the ten-hour system, few weeks ago, by or
Ter of II. B. Barry, there was great dissatisfac
ion at the loss of the eight-hour day.
- .o e,.1 ~ nol
had they not been made to believe that the re-
turn to ten hours was but temporary retreat,
and that in the near future. when opportunity
offered. they would again reclaim the eght-hour
lay This opportunity was furnished by the
employees in the beef houses of Swift and Mel
son Morris going out on strike-the two houses
which had continued the eighthour day until
last Monday. The attempt on their part to re-
establish the ten-hour system met with re-
fusal on the part of the This, coupled
with the implied understanding that the pork
men were also to make effort in the near
'uture in this direction, is responsible for the
resent strike"
IN pursuance to telegraphic instructions from
fov Oglesby, the following order was issued by
Sen Fitzsinmons, commanding the First Bri.
gade of State troops tonight, directing the as
sembling of two of the infantry regiments of
his command at their armorles tomorrow morn
ing:
HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, ILLINOIS I
NATIONAL GUARDS, CHICAGO Nov. z.
Especial Orders, No. s..
BY direction of the commander inchef, the officers
and enlisted men of the First and Second regiments of
infantry of this brigade will assemble at their respect
: we armories at o'clock A. NJ, Nov 8, 1886, armed
and equipped for active service.
BY command of Brigadier general Eitzsimmons.
CHARLES S. DIEHL, Asst. Adjt. gent.
Anticipating serious trouble at the stockyards
this week. on account of the general strike of
the 10000 men employed there, Sheriff Hanchett
went to Springfield this morning and had con-
ference about the matter with Governor Ogles-
by and Adjutant-general Vance. The Sheriff
informed those officials that he had no confidence
ii his ability to preserve order at the stockyards
,r to protect the property there with the
,orce of special deputies which had been sworn
N for that purpose, as it was likely many of
them would be In sympathy with the strikers
and he therefore desired the aid of the militia.
The conference lasted for some time, and the
strike was thoroughly discussed. Governor
Oglesby and Adjutant-general Vance were at
ast entirely satisfied that the sheriff was right
n his conclusion that the militia were necessary
70 protect lives and property at the stockyards,
md the foregoing order was issued.
In an interview, tonight, P. d. Armour de-
0lared emphatically that he would start up in
al departments tomorrow morning at any haz-