New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-03
THROWING DOWN THEIR TOOLS.
UNEXPECTED STRIKES IN CHICAGO TURN
OUT ABOUT TEN THOUSAND MEN.
ENTERING THE SHOPS on TINE IN THE MORN.
ING AND GOING OUT WITHIN AN HOUR
wooDwoRKERS, IRoNwoRKERs, REAPER
MAKERS AND soAPMAKERs IDLE-NEw
DEMANDS OF THE CARPENTERS.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TkIBC,


Chicago, May 2.-Twenty thousand laboring men Of
Chcago, representing dozen different trades
paradeh the streets in squads to-day, demanding the
eighthonr day, and everything indicates that the
present troubles are only the beginning Of an era OF
labor wars that may last weeks or months The
nitiatoy step was taken entirely without warning by
most Of the trades. From 5000 10 1000 sash. door
and blind makers walked out of the various factories
In the southwest lumber district in the forenoon.
Their number is estimated at 10000 tonight. The
men went to their places Of employment "a usual this
morning. and with only few exceptions fell to work
when the whistles blew. An hour so later they
threw down their tools and quietly walked out, giving
no explanation
The ongantlcpated strike of the moulders began
when 700 men, employed at the Chicago Malleable
Iron Works, refused TO go to work. AT O'Clock tho
fires ere banked and the entire plant was deserted
The strike started by the mOuders who wanted an
eight day, and more pay for overtime. some OF
the moulders work BY the piece, but they also went
ont, in order to help along those who work
BY the day. As soon as it learned
that the mouders had quit work. other employees Of the
concern struck. At Wells. French d CO.'S car works
LOO men in their working clothes went into the
shops at O'Clock this forenoon, prepared to go 10
work. At o 30 O'Clock they quietly filed ont of the
big brick building. The had demanded ten
hours pay for eight hours work, and the demand
had been refused they decided TO quit Their ex-
ample was followed in other iron works. \ strike
Was also threatened at the works Of the Illinois steel
Company, but tho company granted an eight-hour
day, and the trouble averted.
At tho Mccormick reaper works all the men did
not quit, as they did at the car and iron works, but
half the number employed in the big building walked
out, when their request for an cight-hOur day
refused. The others are expected TO 20 on strike
tomorrow. There were 1880 men at the reaper
works.
The entire number Of employees Of the y. K Fair
banks Company, soap manufacturers about 800, will
90 out on Monday The coopers, number- r
men employed there getting better wages than
those generally paid by the large Laborers
receive ~ 60 a day, 10 cents over the amount paid
In other places.
In the lumber yards trouble is also brewing The
lumber showers employed at the different yards in tho
southwest part OF the city, the number OF several
thousand, dissatisfied and may march out any
time.
The carpenters strike is still unsettled and tho
probability IS that these wOrkmcn may again become
lmhued with the strike fever and even add 10 their
present exacting demands. The Board of Arbitration
has In session all day. but has been handicapped
by "A new complaint Of the strikers. that the employing
capacity OF the new Master Carpenters Association Is
not large enough
Reports from the stock yards 70 day showed that
there strikes In any line of work and the 300
special police without occupation.
Two mm grant Inspector, have been ordered by
Secretary Window at Washington to report in Chicago
10 Collector Clark for duty In connection with the
forccment Of the Alien Contract Labor law which pro-
hbits the importation Of foreign workmen under con-
tract The reason for sending the inspectors 10
Chicago Is said 20 be that the department had been ad
vsed that All effort would be made to get the carpenters
from Canada to take the place Of the men on strike
now one ~ the pectOrs reported Ia Collector Clark
today and Is at work and the other i expected 10
reach the city tomorrow.