Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-30
LAB0R'SEIGHT- HOURLAW
WIDE SPREADTROUBLE ANTICI-
PATED IN THE WEST.


Employees Bound to Garry Their Point
and Employers Equally as Deter
mined To stand Firm-A Possibility
4 OF Violence in the Strike of the Bill
J lard Table Hands.
CHICAGO, April ga large meeting of
workingmen and laborers from the Union
stock yards was held last evening to rati-
/ fy the eight-hOur movement. The meeting
was addressed by George n. Sceets, edi-
tor OF the Knights OF Labor organ of Chi
cago, who took occasion 10 give his views
on strikes in a manner that astOnlshed
some of his hearers. He declared strikes
TO be foolish, no matter how just the cause
OF the strikers might be, and said they
were weapon which no workingman
could use without doing harm to himself.
+ They were TO be avoided above all things.
! There had never yet been strike where
I the strikers made permanent gain OF
everything they demanded.
] FURNITURE WORKERS RIDICULED.
The speaker ridIcued the action of the
200 furniture workers on the north side
who had gone out, after receiving every
thing they asked, because some men in
Cincinnati are not similarly favored.
AT present the sole aim of the working
!
the elght-hour system, not by striking,
/ but by appointing committees Of cool
/ headed men to talk the matter over in
friendly spirit with the bosses.
William Gleason was the next speaker.
/ He also warned the men against follow
ing the lead of wooden-headed fellows
who were so fond OF ordering strikes, and
| ne told them they could always gain
more by exercising Judgment and COM
mon sense.
George Schelling, labor agitator, then
| introduced a resolution declaring for
eight hours dav, and providing for the
/ appointment of delegates from every de-
partment OF every packing house in the
stock yards to meet representatives Of the
different companies tonight for the pur-
| pose of reaching an amicable understand
ing on the eight-hour question. The res
olution was adopted.
A GENERAL STRIKE FEARED.
1t is declared that the freight handlers
on all the Chicago railroads will go out
on strike Friday night, unless the rail-
ways cOncede eight hours for days work
with the old rate of pay for ten hours
work. 1t is stated that the movement
originated two weeks ago among the men
in the Lake Shore freight houses
who consulted the freight handlers
of the various roads, and 1t re-
suited in determination to make gen.
| eral demand. The Burlington officials in
formed a committee of their men that the
company could not be run successfully on
the eight. hour plan. Other roads, it is
declared, will contest the matter before
conceding the demands. A general strike
is expected TO follow.
WILL OVERCOME THE TROUBLE.
The firm Of ROthschild & Sons states
that it will yield to the demands of
l. nil
give 10 hours pay for 8 hours work in or
dor to finish outstanding contracts, but
will reduce the working to force one fifth
its present size. The firm expects that this
will end the troubles here also.
Dispatches from all points in the Middle
West show that the eight-hour agitation
will eliminate Saturday in a general de-
mand by the workmen, and IL not granted
"a strike. The manufacturers are organ
lied to resist the demand, and the rail-
ways say they will not recognize such a
proposition as eight hours to constitute a
days work.
UNDER MILITARY ORGANIZATION.
''To-morrOw," said Moses Bensinger, the
head of the local house OF the Brunswick,
Bake d COliender Billiard Table COmpa-
ny, whose employees are on strike, "we
propose to deliver some of our goods in
the morning, peaceably if possible, and
factory picketed, and will probably
interfere il we try to move. If
they do, tomorrow l shall APP
peal to the Federal Court and under an
Injunction l will get protection of the
United States Marshal, and, il necessary,
United States troops. A majority of the
employees are acknowledged Communists.
They have established headquarters in a
saloon at No. 105 Wells street, and
although no arms appear. the men are
under military organizations.
DEMANDED AT BALTIMORE.
BALTIMORE, April 29.-The first public
demonstration in this city of organized
labor in favor of making eight hours a
DAVIS work took place tonight. There W as
monster tOrchlight procession in which
many thousand men, representing all
classes of labor, took part. Following 1t
a mass meeting was held at the opera
house, where addresses were made by z.
7 j. Mcclure. of Cleveland, Secretary of
the Carpenters Brotherhood. j. j. McNa-
, mara, OF Washington, and others.
1t is understood the house carpenters
will demand eight hours after May 1. The
builders are willing to compromise on
nine hours, but there is not much probs-
biiity of a settlement. and a strike is
looked for. To-nigbts meeting was very
enthusiastic. and 1t is said all branches oil
labor will demand shorter hours before