The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-16
WILL BE A GENERAL STRIKE
Transfers and ShOvelers on Public
Work Are All Likely to Be Called Out.
Last Conference of the Contractors and Men
to Be Held This M~orning-N6 Disturb
ance on Alabama Street Yesterday.

The work upon the Alabama-street sewer
was carried on yesterday by the same. few
men who worked Saturday. including. as 10
did that day, the two sons of Mr.. Doe.
Sergeant Mefford with W officers re-
manned at the work all day to preserve or
der, but their presence was not needed, as
the strikers made no demonstrations. When
work was commenced in the morning Doe
demanded hat the officers give him a clear
way TO four hundred feet. as provided in
his contract. This kept the strikers at a
sufficient distance to prevent them from
frightening the teams with their hallo0-
ing.
During the afternoon Mr.. Doe received q
committee from the strikers. He agreed
to pay $3.50 per day fer nine hours work,
or so per week for ten hours, and the men
could choose which il should be. Most of
the men. he says. expressed their willing
meas to accept these terms. and will go to
WORK this morning on the nine-hour basis.
The union, however. still insists on the
eight-hour day, and will refuse to 60 to
work unless this is conceded.
LII the interference Is continued IN. the
contractors will apply to the federal court
for an Injunction. In the Police Court the
cases against the strikers were all con-
tinued until to-day.
The officers of the union say that moth
ing short of absolute surrender to their de-
hands will satisfy them, n il the con-
tractors do not oOme to their terms there
will be a test of strength. They refuse TO
accept the proposition of the contractors
for nine hours work. saying that their of.
fer 10 simply a return TO last years SEIZED
ule, whIch they do not propose To accept.
There will be another conference between
the representative IS of the union and the
contractors at 9 o'clock this morning.
That will be the last meeting we will
have with them.' said one of the officers of
the union last night.
eff your terms are not agreed to then
will you order q general strike2"
If 1t Is necessary TO carry our point
every tesmster and shoveler IN town will
be called out and there are over three
thousand of them"
How long can the union support a gen.
eral striker"
W have enough money to stand O gen.
eral strike OF several weeks duration"
mi. Doe says that most of his men have
agreed TO return TO work at S1.50 for nlno
hours, but the union insists upon their re-
naming out until the eight-hour day is
agreed To. Will the union let these men
return to work on the nine-hour basisp
at will let them If they want to. but
suppose we pay them their wages to re-
main outi'
Twill you do thisi"
-Yes we will"
The prospects seem TO be good for a zen.
era strike. and the nnion Is confident of
success should one be ordered. A
the contractors have their work con.
tracted for n given time" said an
Off Ger of the union last night. land if they
are compelled 10 remain idle for O few
weeks they cannot complies it on time.n
The union will depend upon it's ability to
stand a longer strike than the contractors
can weather through. and force them to
terms.