St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-02
TOOLS THROWN ASIDE
Thousands Of rd-Working
ToiIeps Strike for the
Eight-Hour Day.
Carpenters Bear the Brunt OF
the Struggle for Indus
trial Freedom.
Artisans Of Almost Every
Class Join in the Great
Movement.
Some Gain the Desired Goal,
but the Majority Must
Fight.

PHILADELPHIA, May 1.-The journey
men carpenters of this city went on
stlike this morning, as they had prev
iously announced they would do. Their
demand is for a nine-hOur working day
with pay at So cents per hour. The
present union rate is 50 cents per hour.
A majority of the master carpenters at
a meeting Tuesday night decided to re-
slSt the demands of the men for an in
crease. A few, however, including
John Wanamaker, who employs 90
men, and Allen R. Rorke, a builder
who has It's carpenters on his
rolls, notified their men Satur-
day beginning to-day their wages
would be increased to $3.15 day. The
number of men thus affected is some
thing over 500. They are at work as
usual to-day, and it is not believed they
will be ordered out. At the carpenters
headquarters all was confusion this
morning. The strikers had been Or
deFed TO report there early, and from 2
o'clock until noon continual stream OF
men-numbers of them carrying their
tOol-bOXes on their ShOulders-pUured
into the room. Secretary James Day,
ping out the work for his numerous
lieutenants when an Associated Press
representative questioned him as to the
extent of the strike. He declared that
all the union men had struck as ordered
this morning, and with them a great
many nOn-uniOn men. Mr.. Day was
unable to, as yet, say how many work.
men would be affected by the strike,
but he roughly estimated that in the
DeighbOrhOOd of 5000 men are out. The
men are very quiet in their demOnStra-
tiOns and wore ashOpeful look. They
express confidence in gaining their
point as this is the builders busy season.
and the strikers say they cannot get
along without their skilled WoTkmen.
Six master carpenters, employing 200
hands, after holding out until noon,
conceded the demands of their meu.
The reception of this news at the head
quarters of the strikers caused a great
deal of raiOicing and strengthened the
belief of the men that they would
win their strike. in addi-
ton to these another large builder has
asked that a committee Of his men walt
upon him. Some of the employers say
they will cOncede the demands of their
men as individuals, but will not recOg
nize the union. 1t is believed that the
question will finally settle down to this,
as the employers are very unwilling to
recognize the organization.
DETROIT, May Fully 1000 caTpen-
ters are out in this city to-day. The
strike is expected to be short-hved,
Sowever, as the principal contractors
are cOnceding the mems demands. and
it is thought work will be pretty gener-
allv resumed tomorrow. At 3 o'clock
this afternoon the strikers will
parade the principal streets and
a monster mass meeting will
be held. The strike committee
have pickets posted throughout the city
on the watch for ScabS-the Windsor
boats are being watched vigilantiy to
prevent the importation of labor. There
have been no disorders reported as yet,
and it is thought everything will pass
over smoothly. No other trade except
the carpenters has been affected by the
movement.
BOsrON, May 1.-The strike of the
carpenters of this city for all eight-hOur
dayWas formally inaugurated this morn
ing. About $4,000 men are out, and of
this number $50 are new recruits, who
joined the ranks of the dlsatfected
within the past day. 1t is estimated
there are 1000 men in the city who have
been granted eight hours by about 100
firms who are not members of the mas
ter carpenters association. These men
have the approval of the carpenters
union in continuing at work. An en-
thusiastc meeting of 800 strikers
was held this forenoon to celebrate the
institution of the eight-hOur movement.
Addresses were made by several labor
leaders, and the men were pleased with
the state of affairs. A number of men,
hers of the Builders association said to
a reporter this morning that the strike
is of much smaller dimensions than eX-
pected. They express the opinion that
the strikers will never secure their de-
mands from the Builders association.
and that this move by the men will have
the effect OF breaking the carpenters
union.
The prevailing strike among the car
penters in this city is quiet and un-
eventful as yet. All the signs, however,
point TO a determined struggle. The
preliminary work of the strikers
in appointing pickets, enrolling the
strikers and arranging the number
less details of so Widespread a
movement is about completed.
a few men are still at work who, though
in sympathy with the eight-hOur move
ment. may not join the ranks of the
strikers till after pay day. Among the
employers there prevails a policy of
mastery activity, SO far as is visible TO
those upon the outside. Builders
in the outlying districts, who are
not Identified with the employers,
organizations, are, in many cases, ac-
cOTding eight hours work at the nine
hour price. Offers from city contractors
to Individual men are generally refused,
the carpenters contending for recOgnI-
of their organization quite as much as
for the eight-hOur day. To the casual
observer. there appears to be no trouble
about the big buildings in process of
construction in this city, and it would
never be supposed that big strike was
in progress.
KNOXVILLE. Tenn. May AL the
carpenters of this city, both union and
nOn-uniOn. are out. They demand ten
hours pay for eight hours work, and
theiy demand has been refused by the
master builders.
HAvERHILL, Mass. May 1.-The mas
ter carpenters have all signed the agree
ment granting nine hours as a days
work at the old pay of S15 per week.
Fort WAYNE, Ind, May ALI the
carpenters in this city went out on a
strike this morning for nine-hour day,
and % cents per hour as the lowest rate
of wages. A few of the bosses granted
the demands of the men during the day,
and their employees returned to work.
A conference will be held between the
strikers and the bosses, and there is
every prospect of an amicable settle
ment of the difficulties. The stonecut-
ters, who have been working ten hours,
were granted eight hours this morning,
and their wages remain the same as be-
fore.
DAYTON, o.. May 1.-Sixty wood