Omaha daily bee., 1890-05-04
THE STRIKE NEARLY OVER.
Chicago Carpenters Will Probably Return
to Work in Few Days.
THE EIGHT HOUR DAY GRANTED
Differences About Wages, Apprentices,
Etc, Will BE Settled by Referees
and Both Sides VIII Abide
by the Decision.

CHICAGO, May 3-[Special Telegram to
TnE BEE. The great carpenters strike is
practically over and soon the sound of
the hammer and saw will be once more heard
in Chicago
So far the discussion between the bosses
association and the carpenters association
council has been perfectly amicable, and the
services of the referees have not yet been
necessary.
Everything has now been settled but the
apprentice question and the rate of wages.
The employers maintain that 80 cents an hour
as a minimum rate is high enough, while the
men still hold out for 40 cents
The men claim the right to have the ap-
prentices directly under their control and to
regulate the number from time to time as the
union deems best. The employers think that
the apprentice system should be like that
adopted by the bricklayers. BY this system
each employer is allowed Il certain number of
apprentices to start with and is permitted to
take one new apprentice every year
These are the only questions that will be
submitted to the judges for decision. What
ever that decision is both sides will abide
by it.
About the recognition Of the union and the
eight-hour day there was no discussion, as
the employers We're willing to ac-
cede to the mems demands in these
particulars. The bosses made some OBJ
lection to agreeing to employ none
but union foremen, but finally conceded the
point without having recourse to the judges.
The rate for overtime and Sunday work was
settled in satisfactory manner, overtime
being rated as time and one-half and Sunday
work as double time.
The men went out four weeks ago Monday,
and since then there has not been 800 car
penters at work in Chicago at any one time.
None of the union men will work for the
old association of builders, and as the brick
layers and masons will probably refuse to
work with non-union carpenters that organ
ization will probably be obliged to import
laborers from the east to take the place of the
Chicago men.
The strike of the sash, door and blind
workers in the lumber district of the south
west side was settled temporarily this morn
ing in more than half the factories, the men
gaining what they asked for The employers
granted the eight hour day temporarily,
These concessions were made on conditions
that hold good only until Monday morning,
when the employers will give the men a final
answer to their demand.
''You can say that we will refuse to give
eight hours said an employer this morning,
: 'because we simply cannot work eight hours
and meet the competition of factories outside
of Chicago where labor is so much cheaper.
Unless the eight-hour day is made universal
we will shut down Monday, and that is what
all sash, door and blind manufacturers will
do"
The employees of the gas trust
will on Monday demand eight hours,
and rs there is little hope of their
employers granting the demand it is probable
that Monday night will see between six and
seven hundred gas men out. The trust fore
seeing the probability of trouble laid their en-.
tire force off last Wednesday night with in
structions to be on duty on Monday
morning, evidently thinking that by
so doing the threatened strikc could
be averted. They gave the men no expana
ton of the days of idleness, simply telling
them there would be no work until Monday
The men became incensed, called meeting
of the union, and this morning decided tC
have an eight hour day or strike This vii
,siffect all the companies in the trust, includ-
ing the Chicago gaslight and coke
company, the Consumers gas company
and the Peoples gaslight company
The men are determined to win, and should
the trust attempt to import men to take the
place of the strikers serious trouble will re-
suit. The union has little hopes of having
its demands granted without strike, and il
seems at present very probable that the city
will be left in darkness unless an adjustment
of differences can be affected.
The strike of 200 employees at the Malea-
BILE iron works will be continued indefinitely.
The company this morning refused to grant
the demands of the men,
The threatened strike for Monday noon by
the walters and other employees of the largest
restaurants or oyster houses was averted by
the restaurant owners acceding TO the de-
mand made upon them this morning, The
walters demanded - cents an hour for over
time permission TO replace broken articles at
the lowest possible price and recognition OF
the Culinary alliance The alliance will have
an office, and when man is needed he will
be furnished by the secretary of the alliance
The packers at the stock yards have con-
cluded that all danger of strike is passed.
The special policemen have all been dis
charged and the extra force of city officers
has been withdrawn. The International
packing company, which has been closed for
several weeks resumed business this morn
ing with full force of men. This security
~-of the packers may be more fancied than real.
"a strong minority of the men are in favor of
strike, and only the efforts of the represen-
tatives of the American Federation of Labor
prevented an outbreak on May Q,
The spirit of unrest is still strong 1t was
said today that there was movement on foot
10 prccipitate n strike at Fower's packing
house on Monday. II is claimed that the
coopers and, butchers are thoroughly organ
lied in that place and are willing to lead the
strike. Altogether the city of Chicago is
Just now permeated by a restless feelng
which completely demoralizes all business
and causes the gravcst apprehension for tn,
future.
Not Quite so Good.