THE GREAT QUESTION.

THE EIGHT-HOUR WAVE STRIKES THE RAILWAY FREIGHT HANDLERS.

The Milwaukee & St. Paul Men Meet and Will Make Their Demands This Morning--Ten Hours' Pay and Eight Hours' Work Wanted--Probable Action of the Company--The Furniture Men Will Stand Firm--Will There Be a General Shut-Down May 1?

It would seem that the local troubles of the railroads, which began with the strike of the switchmen and was only concluded last week, are about to break out in an entirely new direction. Now it is the freight-handlers, who are next in importance to the switchmen, and without whose assistance it is practically impossible to do any business. The agitation of the eight-hour question in most of the branches of trade has resulted in a reported determination on the part of something like 1,500 men who handle the freight for the principal Western roads to demand of their employers eight hours' work with ten hours' pay. The movement is said to have been started among the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy men, and it is reported that a proposition from them is now in the hands of the officers of the company.
Last night the freight-handlers in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad at both in and out depots met after knocking off work. The force consists of 240 truckers who receive $1.50 a day, fifteen scalers who get $1.65, fifteen stevedores who are paid $1.60, and fifteen loading clerks and the same number of receiving clerks who receive $50 and $60 a month respectively. About all were present. While these men have no union and are practically unorganized, the speakers who addressed them stated that, as the switchmen had expressed a willingness to back them up in their demands, they were perfectly able to ask the company for the increase in pay, and felt moderately sure of success. After some little talk a committee of three was appointed to draft resolutions embodying the demand and present them to P. E. Wilson, the station agent. The committee will call on him today, and an answer is expected by noon Friday. Unless it is favorable, the men say they will strike when the day's work is done.

C. L. Rising, the General Freight Agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, was seen by a TRIBUNE reporter and told of the action the men had taken. When asked his opinion as to what action his company would take in the matter he first parried the question by stating that he was not the responsible man in a case of this kind, and said he was not the one to speak authoritatively. He was then asked what his impressions were touching a possible compliance with the demands of the men. He replied that he believed there was a general understanding among all the roads that if the freight-handlers, or, in fact, the workmen in any department, make any such absurd demand that they will simply close down and await developments. "If," he said, "the men are unwilling to listen to reason and be governed accordingly, there is a probability that they will be brought to their senses when their stomachs begin asserting themselves; and I'm inclined to think the prospect of starvation will speedily bring them round."

H. J. Gleason, local freight agent of the Chicago & Rock Island Road, said he had received no intimation from those under his control that they contemplated demanding an increase of wages or a reduction of the hours of labor, and therefore had no opinion to express on the matter officially. Should his men present a petition embodying their demands and intentions it would receive due consideration and answer. The men employed in his freight-house had expressed no dissatisfaction, and he did not suppose there were any reasons why they should do so.

Two Important Concerns That Will Not Pay Ten Hours' Wages for Eight Hours' Work.

J. McGregor Adams, President of the firm of Adams & Westlake and of the Union Brass Works, said in regard to the reported trouble in the two establishments last night that for the last two years they had been making very little money. There had been some talk two years ago of shutting down altogether. The competition was so great that there was hardly any profit in the business. But from regard for the men who had been with them for a long time they kept them at work. Competition had reduced the price of headlights, for instance, from $75 to $40, and of lanterns from $12 to $15 a dozen to $5. The company had had a friendly talk with a committee of the men and told them the eight-hour system would be a simple impossibility. They would try to keep the works running on ten hours a day. It would be a relief to them to shut down if it could be done without harm to the men. The company would be ruled by the decision of the men in the matter of running the works or shutting down. It was impossible to carry out the eight-hour system until the whole country adopted it. But Chicago being at such a disadvantage the competitors could put their goods in the market cheaper, working ten hours. The committee of the men that the company talked to had been entirely satisfied. What the majority would do if excited by a few hot-heads it was impossible to tell. When times get better, so that the company make a reasonable profit, they might agree to the eight-hours scale. All this applied to the Union Brass Works as well. The men there had had a talk with the Superintendent, but what the result was he did not know. But to show how unreasonable the men were who struck: Monday the company took a job and advertised for ornamental ironworkers. Of 100 applicants twenty were employed. They worked two days and Tuesday night demanded ten hours' pay for eight hours' work. This was refused and they went out. They were paid off, but in the afternoon they came back and went to work at the old scale. Mr. Adams anticipated no trouble at all, but said the company would be guided by the men in the matter of running the works. It would either be with ten hours or not at all.

The Furniture Men.

The movement to consolidate the furniture manufacturing interests in preparation for the eight-hour crusade has been apparently wholly successful. Over 175 manufacturers attended the meeting of the association yesterday at the Sherman. At the end of several hours' discussion the following was given to the press as the ultimatum of the association to the labor unions to the demand of the latter for eight hours' work with ten hours' pay and of 20 per cent advance on piece-work:

Resolved, That it is the sense of this association that 20 per cent advance and after May 1 eight hours of labor cannot be complied with, owing to the state of trade; and

Resolved, That our factories close Monday, May 3, if such demands are insisted on and remain closed until matters are adjusted.

Resolved, That any demand made on any member of this association by his workmen, and all strikes, be referred to the Executive Committee; and that no shop, if closed, shall be opened except on the advice and consent of the Executive Committee.

Another resolution declaring that "No member shall allow any interference with his business by outside parties," was also adopted, and the following officers elected: President, Z. S. Holbrook; Vice-Presidents, M. Bensinger, G. F. Sugg, Alexander H. Revell; Secretary and Treasurer, L. M. Paine; Executive Committee, M. Bensinger, Frank Mayer, Frank Wenter, William Hendley, G. F. Sugg, A. H. Revell, F. M. Carsley, J. Deimel, and Charles Garner. The association meets again next Tuesday afternoon.

Eight Hours Will Be Determined at the Stock-Yards.

A mass-meeting of employés of the Stock-Yards packing houses, including coopers, butchers, laborers, and others, was held last night at Union Turner-Hall, on South Halsted street near Thirty-seventh, for the purpose of agitating the eight-hour question, about 800 people being present. John Sheehan of the Coopers' Union presided. The meeting was addressed by George N. Schilling of the Trades Assembly, G. N. Sceets, William Gleason, and others, who advised those present not to involve the question of wages with the eight-hour question, and also deprecated strikes unless in urgent cases. John Murray, an employé of the Chicago Packing and Provision Company, stated that his employers had agreed to pay nine hours' wages for eight hours' work after May 1, and that laborers would receive $3 per day for eight hours' work, the same amount which has been heretofore paid for ten hours' work. The following resolutions were adopted:

Resolved, By this mass meeting that we regard the inauguration of the eight-hour system paramount to all other issues, and that we will do all in our power for its successful establishment, and that every department in the Union Stock Yards immediately consult with each other, so that their demands may be placed before their employers in an intelligent manner; and also be it

Resolved, That a proper committee be selected from each department in each packing house to meet Thursday evening, April 29, at No. 3109 South Halsted street, to the end that the wishes of all the men working in the Stock-Yards may be known, as well as the disposition of the employers.

The Boxmakers.

In speaking of the meeting of the box manufacturers Tuesday evening, a prominent manufacturer and member of the association said: "Ten hours I consider a reasonable day's work. An increase of 10 per cent in wages, if used judiciously, would benefit employés far more than the reduction of daily hours. If we were to concede their demands and adopt the eight-hour system it would make a difference to the various boxmaking firms of from $1,200 to $1,500 per month. There isn't any manufacturer who makes that much profit in a month, and the consequence would be a general shut-down. We couldn't very well do our work in eight hours, either, as you will generally find every box-shop overcrowded, and facilities cannot be increased. The desire to increase facilities in cramped quarters would naturally have a tendency towards the introduction of nailing machines, which caused so much trouble in the Maxwell strike, and the nailers would thus be virtually cutting their own throats. In Michigan they have lately reduced the hours from twelve to ten, and if we reduced our hours to eight we would have to compete with these firms. They would come into this market and knock us higher than the Board of Trade tower. It would be disastrous to the box-manufacturing trade in this city for us to adopt the eight-hour system."

"What effect will the 10 per cent increase in wages have on the price of boxes?"

"Well, we won't be able to advance our prices for awhile--not until business revives. I understand that the Boxmakers' and Sawyers' Assembly will soon hand the manufacturers a schedule of prices to be paid in all the union shops. There really ought to be a uniform price in all the shops. During the last year some paid less than others, the result being that the 'cheap shops' underbid the others."

The speaker said there wasn't a mill that will take a contract after May 1. By that time all present contracts will expire. In consequence of the proposed shutting down of a number of lumbermen it is most likely that a number of planing-mills will have to shut down also.

At the meeting of the boxmakers last night it was decided not to strike for eight hours. The kind offer of the manufacturers to increase wages 10 per cent was respectfully declined, the assembly deciding to continue working as at present. All they want is simply that the rates paid in each box-shop shall be equalized, as in some cases there is a difference of 1 1/4 cents in a [box] in different shops. After the equalization, it is presumed, if the offer of the manufacturers still holds good the men will accept it.

The Boot and Shoe Situation.

If the 4,350 people employed in the shoe factories of this city persist in their demand for an eigh-hour working day, as made by the representatives of their various unions, the probable result will be a general strike or lock-out in all the shoe factories of the Northwest, employing altogether from 12,000 to 15,000 hands. As the situation is today two things seem clear: first, the men will absolutely refuse to accept any reduction in their present earnings; second, the employers will not submit to any reduction in the hours of labor without a proportionate reduction in wages except on condition that the Eastern manufacturers first make the same concession. Committees appointed at the manufacturers' meeting held in the Sherman House Tuesday evening met yesterday at the private offices of Selz, Schwab & Co., and, after drafting a constitution and by-laws for the newly organized "Western Boot and Shoe Manufacturers' Association," spent some hours in consultation on matters relating to the shoe trade all over the United States. The first point of importance considered was the claim of the Cutters' Assembly that cutters are paid about 20 per cent less in Chicago than in Massachusetts, and the general claim of the local shoemakers' unions that the men here are not as well paid as in the East. From schedules of wages submitted it appeared that Chicago cutters are paid even higher than in the East. The examination, the committee claimed, clearly showed that shoe labor was as well paid all round and in some classes of work better paid in Chicago than anywhere in the East. The results of yesterday's work, it was stated, merely tended to more strongly confirm the manufacturers in the attitude they had taken. Charles H. Schwab, the President of the Manufacturers' Association, in conversation with a Tribune reporter yesterday said that he believed the men would be more reasonable than to persist in a demand for ten hours' pay for eight hours' work. All the manufacturers asked was fair play in building up the Western trade, and as soon as the men could guarantee that Eastern men would adopt the eight-hour time with ten hours' pay, Chicago would willingly fall into line. Rather than be compelled to submit to a special and unfair handicap in this matter he believed the Western manufacturers would suffer [all the loss] and inconvenience of a general lockout.

The Brickmakers.

A largely attended meeting of the Brickmakers Union of the South and West Sides was held in the hall over No.691 South Halsted street last night. Representatives were present from nearly every yard on the two sides mentioned, and the early portion of the evening was spent in hearing the reports from the committees previously appointed to confer with employers. In some instances the committees reported unqualified accessions to the demands made, while in others the answers given were the opposit. The report that P. Lichtenstadt had yielded to the demands of his men for eight hours' labor and present rates was received with marks [of] favor. A resolution was passed calling upon all the brick manufacturers in the city to accede to the demand of ten hours' pay for eight hours' labor in all cases where work was done by the day. This does not apply to piece-work. The piece-workers readily perform their tasks in eight hours. When asked if the brickmakers would strike pending a settlement of the question, it was said a majority of them were already out, and that the others would go out also unless the demand was complied with.

Iron and Steel Men.

The iron and steel manufacturers say that no demand has yet been made on them for the introduction of the eight-hour system, and they do not anticipate any such demand. The general rule in [the] trade is that all employés except the yardmen or unskilled laborers are paid by the piece. The wages are fixed at a certain rate per ton, and the longer the men work the greater the ton output will be. The introduction of the eight-hour law would simply mean a reduction of 20 per cent in the workmen's earnings, and the change would be most unwelcome to both manufacturers [and men.] Representative manufacturers say that if the men demand the change they can have it, but believe the men have sufficient appreciation of their own interests to prevent them doing anything of the kind. The inconvenience to the manufacturers would not count for much, but the loss to the men, most of whom live well up to their means, would be seriously felt.

Fieldhouse, Dutcher & Belden, engaged in the manufacture of wrought-iron pipe, give employment to about 100 men. Mr. C. W. Belden said he didn't see how any of the manufacturers would be able to concede ten hours' pay for eight hours' work; that he finds his men very independent and disposed to quit work on the slightest provocation. He said that his firm was full of orders, with a prospect of running right along on full time if the men will continue work at present wages, but the margins in the business were not sufficient to justify any advance in wages. He had had no official notice that the men wanted eight hours' work and ten hours' pay, and thought the works would shut down before complying with any such demand.