Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-04-18
THE BREWERS UNIONS.
A Strike at Chicago to Sustain Union
Principles.

A Strike at Chicago to Sustain Union
Principles.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, April 12.-All the union
maltsters and brewers in Chicago went
on strike at 4 A. NJ. to-day Such
move has been imminent for some time.
and had its origin in circular issued
by the Brewery proprietors, which in
substance announced their determine
ton to refuse recognition Of any brew
ers' and maltsters' unions. The first clash
between the employers and the men re-
sulting from the circular came about a
week ago. Foreman Muller, of the Ernst
Bros. brewery, gave employment
to nOn-unlOn man name Alvin Back
man. Backman was formerly an en-
ploye of the firm, but for the past year
or so has been running asaloon. Back
| mans presence in the brewery excited
the anger of his sixteen fellow employees,
all of whom belong to the Brewers and
Maltsters' Union No. Is, and vigorous
protest was made to the foreman. Back
| for. Mr.. Muller refused and told the
men if they did not like il
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
except the one whom he considered
| the ringleader of the revolt. This
proved new grievance to the men, and
| they refused to accept the propo-
sition. A meeting was held and
the sentiment in favor of an
immediate general strike was strong,
but 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 except Ernst Bros, and throw
| ing out of employment probably 1900
to 1000 men. Ernst Bros. establish
ment is working because the propri-
etors some days ago secured force OF
non union men.
| 1t appears that for some time past no
individual brewery owner has made a
contract with the individual men he
employed, but they were paid and
| worked according to the schedule of
wages and hours fixed by the contract
| with the union. Yesterday a strike
committee, in spite of the published
declaration of the bosses that
they would not renew contracts,
made the demand that the con-
proposition was fatty rejected The
terms each with his own men. The
question was then raised whether the
bosses would recognize the Brewers
and Maltsters' Union at all, and the
bosses answered in the negative. The
representatives. of the union were told
that the bosses did not object
to trades union on general principles,
but did not want to deal with one that
was in the hands of Anarchists. Matt.
Schmiedinger, who was present as a
representative of the Central Labor
Union, in the course OF the discussion
on this point avowed that he was an
Anarchist. The discussion became
heated, and the representatives Of the
men withdrew very much dissatisfied.
CINCINNATI, o., April 12.-There is a
strike in Moerlin's Brewery which grew
out of the discharge yesterday of a
cellar man. 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
dissatisfaction is spreading.