Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-04-09
TROUBLOUS TIMES
Looming Up in the Labor Field
at Chicago.
EMPLOYERS VS.. THE TRADE UNIONS,

The Former Effect Federation on tho
Labor Plan and Determine on q Lockout
That Will Involve tho Whole Building
Operations of the Western Metropolis,
and, Ms Variously Estimated, from 60, 900
to 100000 Workmen Riots Appre.
hentled.
CHICAGO, April 9.-Capital and labor are
preparing for a struggle in this city which
has no precedent here. To meet strikes
the contractors, employers, and material
men have federated, and all will actor
say they villas one man. The man who
makes figures says variously that &C, 600
and 10000 men will be involved by the &C
ton determined upon by the employees
general lockout. 1t will be the first time
in Chicago's history when the employers
have joined hands to fight a strike. Here
tofore it has been all the trades unions
against one or a few employers, and when
the strike of one trade was likely to fail all
the other trades were called out to force
terms-that was federation of labor
Federation Of Employers Now.
The means used to meet this federation
Is federation of the employers and it will
When the carpenters struck some weeks
ago on the Stock Exchange building and
the contractors We're gradually getting
men to supply the strikers places sudden
ly all the workmen on the building were
called out and the threat was made that
all the workmen on every building in the
city would be called out if necessary. The
employers propose to adopt the same prin-
tftN Ia ha lncl- u 1x-
they will take the heroic stage at ONCE and
lockout every trade all over the city next
"Wednesday morning. This is because
there is a general movement of the trades
unions for higher wages and several are
on strike now with plenty of prospects
for more.
Concluded to Fight 1t Out.
The plumbers want higher wages; so do
the painters, and others are, SO the em-
ploye-s say, preparing to demand the same.
So the Central Building League" COM
posed of some eighteen or twenty organ
lied trades, will openly declare war next
"Wednesday against striking employees by
inaugurating n general lockout in every
| branch of the business. This course was
unanimously decided on at largely at
| tended meeting of representative bosses,
contractors and material men. The bosses
, meeting one of them said. We are in this
thing for all it is worth, and propose
! fighting TO finish. 1t will not he a fight
| with soft gloves, either. We have per-
| mitted the walking delegates. professional
| agitators and political labor champions to
| run our business for us until patience has
| long since ceased to be a cardinal virtue ;"
Noouestion of Wages.
1t is claimed by the bosses that wages
cut no figure in the action determined
upon. I'VE are not considering the wage
| question at all. That is not in the issue,
and any attempt on the part of the labor
leaders to make it appear that we are try
| ing to reduce the pay Of our workmen viii
be without foundation. A large ma iority
| of the workmen are well satisfied
and would not think of going on strike
| except for the walking delegates, who go
| around telling them what they must do
! wish the public to understand also that
were are not opposed to organized labor
On the other hand, we believe in it and
prefer at all times to employ union men,
| for the simple reason that they are always
| the best workmen.h