Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-04-25
THE STRIKE FEVER
Chicago on the Brink of La
Dor Upheaval.
THE OUTLOOK Is FOR UGLY TIMES

Strikes and Strikes Coming That VIII
Involve 100. 900 workmen-The Terri
BILE Scenes of 1856 Perhaps to be Re-
peated-Prospect for Complete Par
aIysis of the Industries Of Great
City Labor aud Capital in for n
Finish" Fight.
CHICAGO, April 25.-The labor situation
is growing more complex every hour. What
with the strikes that are on and the ones
that are threatened labor leaders do not
hesitate to predict a condition of affairs
even more formidable than the stirring
times of 1886 There is no telling as yet
how many trades will bs drawn into the
new eight-hour movement There is so
much Reorganization and so little leader
ship that everything will depend on the out
come of the big labor parade that will take
place on May l. The action of the American
Federation of Labor in designating Chicago
as the theater of the struggle for eight hours
has had the effect of arousing a spirit of
discomfort among certain trades that were
believed TO be entirely neutral
VIII Involve 100, 900 Men.
The ultimate effect can hardly be nything
tions which may include over l00, 900 men,
According to well-known labor leaders, who
are receiving returns, or rather bulletins,
from FESTIVE organizations, the movement
will be even more sweeping than it was in
1886. Tbs strike fever is spreading with
| marvellous rapidity Organizations that
four years ago made an utter failure of their
efforts to secure a redution of working hours
are in the field again more determined than
ever The men who are contemplating strik-
ing believe they will have material and
moral support without stint Down at the
stock yards, for example, upwards of 200
men are ready to OeSert their benches and
stalls at a moments notice. They complain
that work is so uncertain that they can
hardly make living, so that their strike
will not be simply for eight hours.
The Turbulent Element and Others.
Another organization that is likely to
| jump into the fight is the union of lumber
yard laborers, which was largely response
bic for the bloody riots on the BLACK Road
four years ago The freight handlers are
| also growing FESTIVE; so are the shop tailOrs,
the machine woodworkers and many others.
| The brick layers are practically as idle as if
| they were on strike, as are the plasterers,
hod-carriers and stonemasonS, owing TO the
| row of the carpenters The bricklayers
who are at work are getting FESTIVE They
! are beginning To demand that the carpen-
ters' troubles be adjusted at once, ami they
| are dropping hints every day that unless
something is done they will decline 10 do
| any more work. Then this employees of the
United States express company are very
| FESTIVE under the proposed cut in their wages
| May !, though there is only remote posi-
| bihty of strike
A Mighty Serious Outlook.
Very few people, if any, thoroughly APP
preciate the Importance of the situation or
| the magnitude of the move. Its effect for
| will probably precipitate and bring to a
| fight to the finish the two giants, capital and
labor. Labor enters the arena, having flung
down the gauntlet and given warning one
| year ago, and capital steps in, from all APP
| pearances, prepared to make it a test case.
| A general strike of loo, 600 workmen in the
| city would paralyze everything. The other
265, 900 men might well JOIN. because they
| will be able to do nothing. Then there is
| the grim spectre of riot with its attendant
horrors Meantime the only thing that has
been done is call for a meeting of all who
| will join the new boss carpenters associa-
| ton for an attempt at settlement
Hopes of "A settlements.
LATER The latest from the carpenters is
| that the new bosses association has shown
| that it can employ 900 men aud negotia-
| tons are proceeding for a resumption of
work. They are nct yet complete ami may
| fail, but there are strong hopes that the end
of one strike Is near