The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-03-28
STRIKERS DIRE DISTRESS.
Thousands Suffering in Chicago and
the End is Not in Sight.
r.,ts Long Overdue, and Many Families
of the Fifty Thousand May
Soon BE Homeless.

CstcAao Especial. D.-One OK the most
,onspicuous results OF the long-contlnued
.Ie.ap in the building industry OF Chicago
and the consequent idleness OF $4,000 union
vorkmen IS that thousands OF strikers
families are In actual want.
Most of the men now on strike did. not
want to be locked cat. They have been
out OF employment for five months, and
practically every one OF the so 600 has been
Without work for five weeks. In that time
their little stock OF provisions and money
has diminished rapidly or entirely disap.
peared, and now in many cases families are
on the extreme verge OF starvation.
To the business agents. who are looked
upon by union men as their leaders, work
jnr men have come with tears In their eyes
70 say that their families were starving
and that they must work. At the Civic
Federation Headquarters 1t was said that
many requests for aid had come from famt.
lies OF workmen involved In the big build
ing strike. Material men and contractors
who are personally acquainted with many
OF the workmen also say that manyappeals
had come to them and In scores OF cases
the employers aided their former work
men, many OF whom we're, out at the order
OF the union and not OF their own volition.
About $500, 900 has been paid out OF the
treasurles OF the various unions for "strtke
benefits" but this Is TO be stopped, 1t is
said. as tho treasures are low, and the
money remaining Is needed for the purpose
OF buying of non-unton men who want to
III. the places OF the union strikers.
Agents OF the landlords have served
thousands OF the dreaded fve-day notices
on strikers to vacste tthelr dwellings or
.oot dr a. oy a a 4 "a fona nj q N va
no money, It meaus that they are to be
homeless in a short time. Many OF the
men have NOT Paid their rent for two or
three months.1 sS tt1ts
In the districts where the striking union
men live evidences OF want are particu-
larly apparent The small deaders In gro-
cerles, meats and other provisions along
Milwaukee avenue giybourn avenue. Blue
Island avenue and Other nelghborh oods
say the conditions are the worst that have
prevailed for years. III Us ~ "a
Purchases have been limited to the bar.
est necessities, and hardly Is cent is spent
exceUt for something, toSeat. The small
dealers have relt the conditions kesnly. and
have been sufferers to a great extent
through the strike. Those who afforded
many Of the luxuries have been compelled
to ask their grocers for credit In order to
obtain the necessities for the table.
In this way many who never requested
credit before have been carried on thG
books Of the storekeepers, until 1t has be-
come burden almost too, heavy for their
small capital to foat.
Even il conditions change soon It is said
that 1t may be imposslblefor many OF the
men, whose wages at bese ara small, ever
to catch up on their Indebtedness, and &c
the small dealers and property owners Will
lose much BY the labor troubles.
No one can see the end, poth sides being
stubborn, and the fight issttnply to all ap'
pearances test OF endurancs