St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-21
fhe United States Express
Company's Sliding Scale
Isn't Popular.
Many OF It's Chicago Employees
Meet and Talk Of a
Strike.
European Workmen Gener-
ally Propose to Have a
May-Day Holiday.
Indications That There Will
Be Serious Trouble at
Some Points.

CHICAGO. April 2O.-The great dis
satisfaction among the employees of the
United States Express company over
the order reducing salaries in all de-
partments eliminated tonight III
mass meeting of the Chicago employees,
at which intense feeling was manifest
ed. About 800 men were present. Will
lam Stubbs, one of the Oldest men
in the service. was appointed
chairman, E. c. Rosey secre-
tary, and George Hinckley assist
ant secretary. The document giving
the details of a sliding scale making
cuts varying from 10 to 20 per cent was
read, and then one after another score
OF more of men-sOme of them EN-
ployes who have worked from twenty
to thirty years for the company-arose
and denounced the proposed measure
as heartless injustice to themselves
and families, and one as needless as 1t
was unjust. Alonzo Wygant, the Chi
csgo general agent, who was present by
request, manifeStly felt uncomfortable
and beat a hasty retreat after he had
DlduG a DlISl oNaol SNO' ~
said the United States Express COM
panv and some others are paying most
of their profits to the railroads. The
future of the express business is not
bright, he said, and lie would not put
straw in their way if any Of them could
better their condition elswhere. A
strike would be fruitless, for
the company would certainly re-
sort to the employment of in
experienced hands. Despite MI.
Wygant's assertions, however, the men
expressed themselves in unqualified
terms in favor of taking a firm stand
and holding out against the company.
Charles Robe said if the officers had
made unfortunate contracts with the
railroads, and got the company in a
hole, the employees were not respoDsi-
BILE. E. Card strongly urged union and
concerted action. Il never believed in
strikes before,' said he. "but do be-
lieve that all the employees of the
different express companies should JOIN
hands and stand as unit in opposition
to the demand that we shall work for
less" Mr.. Johnson said he had been
sent down from Milwaukee for the pur-
pose of attending the meeting. The
men in Milwaukee, he reported, were
incensed, and were ready to support the
decision of the Chicago meeting. Similar
advices were received from the employees
at Detroit, st. Louis and other cit
les. Chairman StubbS urged modera-
ton and care, saying strike should
not be declared until it had been def
initely ascertained that the officers of
the company would not arbitrate. Fol
lowing the chairman'S suggestion,
Charles Randy moved that committee
be appointed consisting of two men
from each branch of the company's
service to wait upon vice President
Crosby and make an effort to adjust
matters by arbitration. A committee of
ten, headed by Chairman Stubbs and
including messengers, wagon men,
Office men, depot men and solicitors,
was appointed, and instructed to report
next Sunday. If the committee are not
favorably received strike seems almost
certain May l, when the new schedule
of wages is to 90 into effect.
PHILADELPHIA, April 20. - Repre-
sentative master carpenters united in
saying to-day that the demands of the
journeymen carpenters of the city that
their wages be increased to 35 cents per
hour would in all likelihood be
granted. The statement gives as
surance that there will be no
trouble in Philadelphia among the
building trades during next year. The
bricklayers. plaSterers, plumbers, paint
erS, stonecutters and st0nemasons have
all entered upon agreements with their
employers concerning the rate of wages
to be paid during the coming season.
PITTsBURG, Pa, May 2O.-Confer-
ences are still going on between railroad
officials and the men, and to morrow the
latter will present what is called their
ultimatum. Insiders say these demands
will be put in such shape that the rail,
roads can accept them, as some have
already done so. Meanwhile all yard
and other men are working steady, and
also making efforts to strengthen the
ranks of the federation In Ohio.
Boston, April 20.-There are no new
developments in regard to the strike at
Squire's pork packing establishment at
East Cambridge. AT a meeting of the
Knights of Labor assembly. to which
the strikers belong, vote was passed
instructing the executive committee to
cable to France, England, and other
foreign places and request the pork
handlers not to handle Squire's goods
until the trouble is settled.