The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-08
CHICAGO'S CARPENTERS.
TIE BIG STRIKE INAUGURATED
WITH 1000 MEN OUT.

A Brotherhood Official Says the Main
Point Involved is Recognition OF the
Organization-The Eight-Hour Day
With 40 Cents an Hour What the
Men Are After.
CHICAGO, April THE carpenters strike
was inaugurated this morning according
to the programme. 1t is estimated that be-
tween 5000 and 1000 men went out. Car
penter work on nearly all large jobs has
been brought 10 a standstill.
The strike is for eight hours as a days
work with wages Of 40 cents an honr. A
great many non-union men quit work out
of sympathy with their union brethren, and
IL is asserted that most of them will join the
carpenters union. 1--WE are we'll orga-
nized, have plenty of money, and will make
the fight to the last ditch,n said Secretary
Howard. REPORTS are coming in rapidly
from all over the city, and so far as we now
know there is not u union carpenter at
work. In fact, building operations have
been practically stopped"
Secretary Johns Of the master carpenters
said that so far as he could tell about all
the union carpenters in the city had left
their tools. I'VE shall not attempt at once
to resume work with the help of non union
men, said he, ''but will wait till our Thurs
day meeting before doing anything de-
cisive.n
BRICKLAYERS GO OUT.
In some places the brickiayers went out
with the carpenters out of sympathy, ana it
was a common theme of conversation
among them that the entire body of brick
layers would be called out unless the trouble
should be settled within week. In any
event, nearly oil Of the other building
trades will have to stop work soon unless
terms are reached between the carpenters
and bosses. In that event $4,000 men will
be idle. There was no disturbance
during the day. The men needed the ad-
vance warning of their leaders to keep
away from saloons and the result was quiet
and orderly gatherings at their various
headquarters throughout the city. Some of
the contractors who must complete the
work they have on hand have offered to ac-
cept the mems terms, but the brotherhood
is cunning for the Builders association and
refuse to let any one return TO work until
that body has recognized the union.
A BROTHERHOOD BATTLE.
President O'Connell, Of the Carpenters
Brotherhood, says: "rhe strike is not now
SO much for either higher wages or a shorter
days labor. The whole thing resolves
itself into whether or not the bosses propose
to recognize the brotherhood as SUCH
or whether they intend to
continue treating with us as
individuals. That is, we want the boss
carpenters to sign contract with us each
year fixing the number of hours we shall
work each day and the amount to be re-
ceived an hour. As to the 40 cents an hour
proposition, we are willing to arbitrate that
with tue boss carpenters committee at any
| time.n
William Goldie, president of the Builders
and Traders Exchange, said that in his
| opinion many of the men had been intimi-
dated by threats, and struck to-day because
of fear, but that they would be back to
ceive 35 cents an hour. II think it will be
at least week before the strike is settled,
and by that time all the building trade
| will be blocked, which means that there
| will be between 10000 and $4,000 idle
laborers on the streets of Chicago"
| The carpenters claim that before the
middle of the week nearly every carpenter
in Cook county will have joined the brother
| hood, and that not a carpenter will be found
working on any other conditions than those
| proposed by the strike committee.
A number of bosses who were interviewed
| said that they would be willing to pay 40
cents per hour after their present contracts
| had been filled, but that on these they had
| figured at 80 cents per hour and would lose
money on them if they should pay 40 cents
per hour.
Many of the masons and bricklayers who
were at work have been compelled to lay off
because of the carpenters work on various
structures being at q standstili,