The Iola register., 1890-05-02
READY TO STRIKE.
Chicago Packing House Employees
Expectant.
Strikes and Demonstrations In New England
United States Express Employees Ac-
cept q ReductiOn-MOre Carpen-
tiers Getting Feverish.

CHICAGO, April 2s.-One thousand
packing house men by unanimous
vote decided to go out on strike
Thursday unless their request for an
eight-hour day should be complied with.
The announcement of the vote was fol-
lowed by deafening cheers.
The first speaker, John Mccullough,
said that the packers owned the labor
ers, body and soul, since the last strike
and that now, when an effort was being
made to shake off the coils that bound
them, they should take advantage Of
the opportunity and embrace it quickly.
President O'Neil in an interv;ar- after
the meeting said the men lad IN Or
ganizatiOn of 1000 members and were
being backed by the Chicago Personal
Rights League and the Federation OF
Labor. March 10 they had sent a letter
to every packer at the yards asking that
a committee be appointed to confer with
a like committee from the union to dis
cuss the eight hour day move. Only two
houses responded. All efforts made by
Congressman Lawler met with
no better result. He had not yet
despaired of hearing and was
still endeavoring to arrange one. In
any event, Wednesday the packers
would be served with demand for the
eight-hour day and an increase of 21
cents an hour which would leave days
wages less than at present. Thursday
a strike would ensue in all houses not
making the concession. Employment
he said, had been very unsteady, there
being cases where the men did not OBJ
tain seven months in the year, thus
averaging but S4 a week.
President ONeil asserted that the
man who held the key to the situation
was Philip ID. Armour. The packers,
including Mr.. Armour, argued that un-
der the eight hour system they could
not compete with Kansas City. Armour,
he contended, did not have to compete
with Kansas City, for at that place he
had virtual monopoly.
THE NEW ENGLAND STRIKES.
BosToN, April 2s.-The Globe pub
fishes an article showing the situa-
tion in New England regarding the
labor demonstration to take place May
1. 1t says that Boston and Worcester
will be the main battle grounds for this
State, in both of which the contest will
be for a workday of eight hours. The
greater part of the 5000 carpenters en-
ployed in Boston will strike for eight
hours, but they make no demand for an
increase in the nine hour rate of wages.
They believe that decrease in
hours will cause an increase in wages ac-
cording to the law Of supply and de-
mand. The carpenters are SO we'll or
ganized all through New England and
even the Canadian provinces that there
is little fear of outside carpenters COM
ing here to take their places. 1t is said
that in Worcester the painters. plumb
ers and skaters will ask for nine hours.
Norcross Bros. and Darling Bros. have
announced that they will adopt nine
hours for May for carpenters and their
mill hands and other indoor worllmen.
In nine other cities in this State the
carpenters demand working day of
nine hours. In several cities the plumb
ers, bricklayers and masons will demand
nine hours.
The quarrymen and granite cutters in
Quincy will probably strike, as the boss
es, while willing to grant the nine hour
system, will not agree to the price per
hour demanded by the workmen. Strikes
are expected among the granite cutters
in Westerly, Il. L.; Concord, N. H., and
Hallowell, Me.
The mechanics at Portsmouth, n. H.,
and the carpenters at Portland and
Lewiston, Me-, demand nine hours.
WILL ACCEPT A REDUCTION.
CHICAGO, April 2s.-All idea of strike
by the employees of the United Express
Company has been finally ban;shed.
The men met and by unanimous vote
decided to accept, for the present at
least, the new reduced scale of wages
announced by the company to take eff
feet May l. This determination was the
result of thorough discussion of
Vice-President Crosby's communica-
tion in answer to the employees
committee that waited upon him
April 23. In this he said that the re-
duction in salaries was absolutely neces-
sary and that the exigencies of the COM
pany could be met in no other way. Un-
restrained competition of express COM
panies necessitated Improbable con-
tracts with railroads and the employees
had been paid regularly when the stock
holders had received nothing. A pledge
was given that when the condition OF
the company would warrant it the sala-
ries would be restored.
DETROIT CARPENTERS MAY STRIKE.
DETROIT, Mich, April l2e.-Committees
from the Builders Exchange and the
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
met to consult on the demands of the
carpenters for thirty cents an hour and
eight hours day. The builders agreed
to increase the wages, but declined to
shorten hours. This did not satisfy the
carpenters and the conference ended
without result. Both sides seemed de-
termined.
PHILADELPHIA, April 2S.-A meeting
of carpenters delegations Saturday
night representing over half the car
penters of the city, decided to support
the demand for 35 cents per hour and
eight hours day.
Clippings.
Henry Boyle, alias John Cox, a life
convict committed suicide in the Joliet