St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-13
FEARS OF A BEER FAMINE.
All Breweries in Chicago Are Shut
Down.
THEIR MEN OUT ON A STRIKE
Two Thousand Men Out Of Employment
New York breads Beer Famine
Out at Cincinnati.

CHICAGO. April 12.-All the union
masters and brewers in Chicago went
on strike at 4 a. m. to-day. Such a
move has been imminent for some time,
and had its origin in circular issued
by the proprietOrs, which in substance
announced their determination to refuse
s'recognition to any brewers and mails
/ ters' unions. The first clash between
the employers and the men resulting
from the circular came about week
eago. Foreman Muller, of the Ernst
Brothers brewery, gave employment to
a non-union man named Alvin Black
man. Blackman's presence in the
brewery excited the anger of his fellow
employees, and Backman's immediate
dismissal was asked for. Mr..
Muller refused and told the men
if they did not like it they
might all leave, which they did. Later
in the day they considered their action
and applied for reinstatement. Mr..
Muller agreed to take them all back ex-
cept the one whom he considered the
ringleader of the revolt. This proved a
new grievance to the men, and they re-
fused to accept the proposition. The
news spread rapidly to the men en-
ployed in other breweries, and Secre-
tary Young was induced to call meet
ing, which was held at the old an
archists' headquarters, Zepf's hall, on
Lake street. Fully 900 men crowded
into the room. Many of the speeches
made were violent in the extreme, and
it was decided to stand by the Ernst
Bros men at all hazards and see that
the union was recognized. The
sentiment in favor of an immedi-
ate general strike was strong, but
as matter of policy the event
was postponed, pending negotiations
with the employers. The negotiations
have been fruitleSs, and this morning
300 maltsters and brewers quit work,
stopping every brewery in the city ex..
employment probably 1900 to 1000
men. Ernst Bros establishment is
working because the proprietors some
days ago secured force of non-union
men. W. c. !Seipp, a leading brewer,
said this afternoon that since the issu-
ance of the last notice by the master
brewers that they proposed to run their
business themselves, the Central Labor
union have been stirring up the brew
erS. Yesterday the committee called
on the bosses and demanded renewal
of the old contract. All talking was
done by Matt Schmiedinger, an anarch-
iSt baker, and by saloonkeeper named
Hepp. The bosses refused to cOncede
the demand. Schmiedinger announced
that he and the committee were anarch-
lists and would die for the cause. The
bosses told him to go and die if that was
4Iro n tI,o- f,.iIv ic-0
The strikers think the bosses can't get
enough non-union brewers and malt
sters to fill their places.
I AT NEW YORK.
NEW YORK, April 12.-From present
indications there will be beer famine
in this city after Monday next. Not
only in this city will the dreaded famine
spread but in Brooklyn, Newark, Eliza
master brewers say that the days of
Ilabor unions picking out an individual
brewer to boycott and ruin have passed
away, and they have adopted the motto
of the Knights of Labor, IAN injury to
zone is the concern of all.", Secretary
Seiforth. of the United Brewers associ-
aation, when asked if the contemplated
lockout was, as rumored in some quar-
tiers, only bluff, replied; mo, sir, we
mean just What we say. Next Monday
If the boycotts are not removed all the
breWeries will close"
AT CINCINNATI.
CINCINNATI, April 12.-There is a
strike in Moerlien's brewery which grew
out of the discharge yesterday of Gel
larman. The men claim that he was
unjustly discharged for an alleged dis
obedience of rules. About thirty-SiX of
the $50 men are already out and the dis
satisfaction is spreading.