A FATAL BULLET.

(page 6, column 1)

A New Employe at St. Louis, Attacked by a Mob, Slays One of the Strikers

Meeting of the National Board of Arbitration of Operators and Miners at Columbus, Ohio.

Cardinal Tascherean Finally Issues a Pastoral Letter Condemning the Knights of Labor

Furniture Manufacturers Decide to Close Their Factories Rather Than Resign Control.

Other Industrial Affairs.

LABOR TROUBLES.

. . .

CHICAGO.

BILLIARD-TABLE MAKERS.

Becoming aware that the Brunswick-Balke-Collender company had on hand an unusually large lot of contract orders the employes of that company struck three weeks ago, and refused to return to work unless their wages were increased 20 percent, and wanted an immediate concession. Mr. Moses Bensinger, one of the two resident directors of the company, replied that he was unable to concede the demand without the consent of the other directors, two of whom live in Cincinnati and two in New York. In addition, the firm would be unable to compete for the trade if it was obliged to pay the increase. He was informed that the other manufacturers would be compelled to make the same increase; he had been selected as the first person to be called upon for the increase. If he made it the union pledged itself that no further demands would be made upon him, except that he must agree to employ none but union men. Mr. Bensinger made the required concessions, and was granted as an especial favor the retention of one non-union man. This man was George Roeder, the lumber-measurer, an old and trusted employe, whose Roman Catholic religion would not allow him to become a member of a secret union. Work was resumed, and the contracts were rushed rapidly toward completion, for delivery on May 1. Tuesday the men violated their pledge and demanded Roeder’s discharge and an agreement to give ten hours’ pay for eight hours’ work, and gave Mr. Bensinger till 8 o’clock yesterday morning to reply. Yesterday Mr. Bensinger was in attendance upon the meeting of the Western Furniture Manufacturers’ association at the Sherman house. At 8 o’clock the four hundred men all marched out of the factory and proceeded to No. 105 Wells street, where they appointed a committee to wait upon Mr. Bensinger and present the following demand:

CHICAGO, Ill., April 28.—TO THE BRUNSWICK-BALKE-COLLENDER COMPANY, Chicago: The employes of the company held a meeting this morning and passed the following resolutions by a unanimous vote:

1. To discharge the lumber-measurer, Roeder.

2. To agree to the eight-hour days after the 1st of May.

3. To recognize the union and have these demands signed by the firm.

We further demand that the firm agreed to the demands of the employes of the Brunswick Balke-Collender company at Cincinnati, O., and will not return to work until all these demands are granted.

A. HESS

WILLIAM NEUHAUS,

JOHANN HAMRACK,

Committee.

The demand was received by Mr. Miller, manager of the factory. He told the committee that no reply could be made until a meeting of the board of directors of the company could be held. The directors were telegraphed the situation, but nothing had been heard from them up to last evening. Mr. Miller stated to a reporter for THE TIMES that it would be impossible for the company to accede to the latest demand. Even if it did it had no assurance that the union would not have further demands to make. The company had offered to turn the factory over to the men and let them run it if they would first allow the company to take out of the proceeds a reasonable percentage upon the plant. The men refused the offer. Mr. Miller said also that it was his opinion that if the manufacturers should resort to what seemed to him the only recourse—to act in concert and shut down their factories—it would precipitate a revolution. Such a result was anticipated, and the sooner it came the easier it could be settled. Something would have to be done to counteract the direful influence of the missionaries sent to this country by the social democracy of Germany and other nihilistic organizations in Europe. While Mr. Miller was speaking one of the office men came in and said nearly two hundred of the men wanted to come into the factory and get their dinner-pails and tools. Mr. Miller gave orders that only a few should be allowed to enter at once, and they should be accompanied by watchmen. Meantime, however, the men made a demand for entrance at the opposite end of the factory, and a young boy in charge of the door opened it. The men surged in—several of them howling drunk. They demanded their pay, and were very noisy when told that they would not be paid at that time. It was the regular pay day, and some swore vengeance against the company for not paying them. The strike at this time leaves the company in bad shape with their contract orders. Saloon and office fixtures and billiard-tables in immense quantities are all ready for delivery excepting a finishing coat of varnish, and without which they can not be sent out. The delay will be a serious annoyance to those who are contemplating removal and the opening of new places on May 1. The strike of the employes of the company at Cincinnati is based upon a similar demand for increase of wages and decrease of hours and labor.

ROTHSCHILDS’ EMPLOYES.

When the office-fixture factory of R. Rothschild’s Sons was opened yesterday morning not one of the 275 operatives went to their work. The firm runs another factory at Cincinnati, where five hundred are employed in making the same class of work as that made at the factory here—bank, office, and saloon fixtures, and interior woodwork generally. On April 16 the men here demanded an increase of wages of 10 per cent and the abolishment of piece-work. Owing to existing contracts the firm was obliged to accede to the demand. On last Friday the men at Cincinnati demanded ten hours’ pay for eight hours of labor and the abolishment of piece-work. As they were working chiefly upon stock-work their demands were refused, and on Monday they quit work and telegraphed their Chicago fellow-workers to strike with them. The same day a red-headed, wild-eyed socialist, said to be the president of the Furniture-Makers’ union, appeared in the factory here, and, waving a green gingham umbrella over his head, called aloud upon the men to quit work at once. Mr. David Rothschild, manager of the Chicago house, threw the agitator out, and work continued till Tuesday evening. Yesterday morning not a man of them went to work. The engineer, firemen, porters, drivers, and shippers struck with the rest. A committee of the strikers called upon the firm yesterday, and said they would all go back to work if the firm would close its Cincinnati factory permanently and bring all their business to Chicago. Both members of the firm, Messrs. David and Julius Rothschild, laughed at the proposition, although the audacity of it startled them. Said Mr. David Rothschild to a reporter for THE TIMES: “The idea of our abandoning a $200,000 plant and throwing 500 men out of employment permanently at the caprice of the 275 men here is the most absurd phase of these labor troubles yet developed. It shows how much real sympathy there is between the men of the two cities.”

“What efforts will you make to induce the men to return to work?” asked the reporter.

“None at all. We’ll let them rot if they want to after the way they have treated us. While a majority of factories have closed down for a third of the year we have kept our factories going to their full capacity all the time, and during the past three months have turned out fully one-third more stuff than we ever did before in the same length of time. We had anticipated these labor troubles, and the result is that we now have five large warehouses packed full of goods, and enough in the ordinary run of our trade to keep us going for four months. We have about $200,000 worth of property here, so we are fixed for the strike, and the men can take their own time about coming back to work. One thing is sure, there never will be an abolishment of piece-work. Our work here is principally upon contracts, no two orders being alike usually. If they were to work by the day, we couldn’t estimate the cost of production at all, and would be obliged to abandon that class of work entirely."

Both members of the firm were of the opinion that every furniture factory in the city would have to shut down after May 1, and there will be thousands of idle men in consequence of the strike mania. The men met at Mueller’s hall on Clark street yesterday afternoon, and every effort was put forth to stiffen up about seventy-five of their number who regretted the strike and had during the day called at the factory and apologized for their part in it. A resolution to stay out till the firm gives in was adopted.

IRON-MOLDERS’ DEMANDS.

A circular letter signed “By Order of the Iron-Molders’ Union,” has been received by a majority of the iron manufacturers in the city including foundries, machine-shops, and iron-works of almost every description employing over twenty-five men. It has caused quite a flurry in the establishments affected, and the managers of some of the larger concerns are debating very earnestly the question of closing down for a time if the eight-hour issue is forced, for that is what the circular letter is about, and its demands are said to be even more preposterous than the most exacting of other trades’ demands. It says in substance that on and after May 1 the hours of labor shall be eight per day except in cases of emergency, and then all overtime shall be paid at the rate of double the usual wages. No one shall be compelled to work over eight hours unless at the double rate. The majority of the employers of iron-molders who received this document have not said anything about it, because to comply with its terms was simply ruin. Those firms whose men have sent a committee to demand eight hours find that the double-pay clause is not mentioned, but that ten hours’ pay for eight hours’ work seems to be the acme of their desires at present. Mr. George Eddy, of the Globe iron-works, at No. 41 Indiana street, said that he could not accede to the demand of his men unless it was general among the foundries. The prices would have to go up at least 20 per cent, which would enable outside competitors to come in and secure the trade. Even if customers stood the increase in prices he failed to see how the work necessary to be done in a foundry could be finished in eight hours. The men in R. A. Streeter’s iron-works at Nos. 83 to 85 Indiana street; Clark, Raffen & Co., Etna iron-works, corner Kingsbury and Ontario streets; Excelsior iron-works, and M. Benner & Co., have all demanded the eight-hour day, and in most instances ten hours’ pay. A member of the firm of Benner & Co. said that in anticipation of the short-day movement they had lately been making a slight advance in prices, but found in each case that competitors in Louisville, Indianapolis, and St. Louis had underbid them, and it was therefore useless to suppose that any advance in price was going to overcome the difficulty. It was found that although the demand for eight hours was almost unanimous among the iron-molders, not one of the firms interested had taken any decided stand as to whether they would or would not concede the demand or shut down. Each of the firms seen could give no definite answer regarding their probable action, but said in a hesitating sort of way that whatever the majority of the others did they would do.

FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS.

The Furniture Manufacturers’ Association of Chicago met yesterday afternoon at the Sherman house. About 150 firms were represented. Z. S. Holbrook presided, and stated that the object of the meeting was to consider what action ought to be taken by the manufacturers on the demand made by the workmen generally for eight hours’ work a day with ten hours’ pay and an advance of 20 per cent on all piece work. A lengthy discussion of the matter was indulged in, the majority of the members claiming that it would be impossible to accede to any such demand. The following decisive resolutions were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That it is the sense of this association that the demand for 20 per cent advance and after May 1 eight hours’ labor can not be compiled with, owing to the state of trade.

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

The following resolution was also adopted:

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.

It was also resolved that no member of the association should allow any interference with his business by any outside parties.

The following officers were elected, which completed the organization of the association: President, Z. S. Holbrook; vice presidents, M. Bensinger, G. F. Sugg, and Alexander H. Revell; secretary and treasurer, L. M. Paine. Executive committee. M. Bensinger, Frank Mayer, Frank Wenter, William Hendley, G. F. Sugg, Alexander H. Revell, F. M. Carsley, J. Deimel, and Charles Gamer. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 4, at the Sherman house.

CONDUCTORS AND DRIVERS.

The new president of the North Chicago Railway company yesterday sent for a committee of two men to represent the employes of the various lines of the company and made a proposition to organize a benevolent society for their benefit. He did not favor the idea of the men organizing with the Knights of Labor, and was willing to make it an object for them to organize independent of the Knights. In case of the sickness of an employe, the company would pay $4.50 a week and furnish medical attendance and give $400 to the heirs in case of death. The committee reported the matter back to their fellow workmen, who were at first disposed to accept the proposition. Upon further reflection, however, a great many found serious objections to it. About 250 of the conductors and drivers were sworn into a union of the Knights of Labor last Sunday morning, and a majority of the remaining employes are expected to join next Sunday morning. All of the men on the cars who were spoken to on the subject appeared a little doubtful of getting much benefit from the organization proposed by Mr. Yerkes, and besides, they would be placed in an awkward position when they desired to obtain an advance in wages or remedy for any grievance. A driver on one of the lines, who joined the union last Sunday, said the proposition made by the company had come too late. The men had already organized, and would not back out; besides, there were certain things which the men hoped to have changed in the management. They would probably not have organized but that old employes were being discharged without cause, and the men begun to see the company was managing so as to keep the roads running with men who were paid less than $2 a day. “I worked for the company for a number of years,” said one of the drivers, “and went out in the country to work about nine months. When I came back I had to commence at the foot as though I was green in the business, and am now being paid $1.75 a day. If I stay six months I will be paid $2, but as soon as I get up to $2.25 I expect to be fired, and we purpose to form such a strong organization that the company will be obliged to treat us fairly. One thing we will demand is that when a man has worked two weeks he be paid full wages. I am a man with a wife and four children, but will have nothing to do with the benevolent organization of the company.”

BRICKMAKERS.

The brickmakers met at Westphal’s hall, No. 691 South Halsted street, last night, to take action on the eight-hour question. A large number were in attendance, delegates from most of the West-side brickyards being present. A delegate from the yards of P. Lichtenstadt, Ashland avenue and Cologne street, announced that Mr. Lichtenstadt had come to an agreement with his men, giving them ten hours’ pay for eight hours’ work as they had demanded. The announcement of this victory was received with great cheering, which was redoubled when the speaker said that the new order of thing had already gone into operation, yesterday being the first day. A delegation from Hoyt & Alsip’s yards, at Forty-third and Wood streets, said a committee had been in conference with the firm yesterday, and that Mr. Alsip had said in substance that if any of the larger yards adopted the eight-hour system he would do the same. It was reported that Purington & Kimbell were likely to concede the same hours, and a general feeling of acquiescence was found among all the leading manufacturers. The men were very jubilant over the outlook for the establishment of the short day, and it was thought that the yielding of Lichtenstadt would have the effect of bringing all the manufacturers to terms. Although not brought up in the meeting, one of the brickmakers expressed the opinion after the adjournment that the price of brick would advance at least $1 a thousand, but the raise could be paid by consumers, as prices had been low for several months.

The brickmakers remained out in Hoy & Alsip’s yards yesterday. The proprietors have no heavy contracts on hand and are not rushing affairs. J. B. Legrand, who is working a steam yard, which will be in running order by May 1, said yesterday that he will not accede to any such demands as have been made on Hoyt & Alsip and others. Legrand was to have started his steam-power yards yesterday, but the cylinder-head blowing out of his engine compelled him to call a halt, and he may not commence work until Friday. The union, it is thought, will not object to his running the horse-power yards as in previous years.

EIGHT-HOUR MEETING.

About five hundred workingmen and laborers from the Union stock-yards assembled at No. 3,607 South Halsted street last evening to ratify the eight-hour movement. The meeting was addressed by George N. Sceets, editor of the Knights of Labor organ of Chicago, who took occasion to give his views in a manner that astonished some of his hearers. He declared strikes to be foolish, no matter how just the cause of the strikers might be, and said they were a weapon which no workingman could use without doing harm to himself. They were to be avoided above all things. It had been demonstrated that they very seldom had the effect of adjusting differences between employer and employe, and there had never yet been a strike where the strikers made a permanent gain of everything they demanded. The speaker ridiculed the action of the two hundred furniture-workers on the North side who had gone out after receiving everything they had asked because some men in Cincinnati were not similarly favored. If a Cincinnati man drank a quart of stale beer was it any reason why a Chicago man should have the stomachache from the effects of it? There was never yet any difficulty between labor and capital so great that it could not be properly adjusted by arbitration. At present the sole aim of the working classes should be the establishment of the eight-hour system—not by striking, but appointing committees of cool-headed men to talk the matter over in a friendly spirit with the bosses. They should not insist on ten hours pay for eight hours work, but be content to wait until the system created a demand for labor, when wages would naturally increase.

At the conclusion of Mr. Sceets' address a report was received from a committee of employes of the Chicago Packing and Provision company, represented by the chairman, Mr. Murray. The report was to the effect that Manager Kent, of that company, had invited a committee from each department of the works to meet with him in his office for a conference on the eight-hour question. Mr. Kent, when waited upon by the representative employes, told them that they could take their choice between working eight hours for nine hours pay, or nine hours for ten hours pay. After a careful consideration of the propositions, the skilled workmen decided to work eight hours and to give the extra hours pay to the unskilled laborers, so that they might not suffer a reduction of their small wages because of the reduction of their working hours. This announcement was received with cheers.

William Gleeson was the next speaker. He also warned the men against following the lead of the wooden-headed fellows who were so fond of ordering strikes, and told them they could always gain more by exercising judgment and common sense.

George A. Schilling then introduced a resolution declaring for the eight-hour day, and providing for the appointment of delegates from every department of every packing-house in the stock-yards to meet with representatives of the different companies to-night, at No. 3,109 South Halsted street, for the purpose of reaching an amicable understanding on the eight hour question. The resolution was unanimously adopted, and Mr. Schilling followed it up with a speech, which closed the meeting.

NOTES.

A SMALL STRIKE.

About twenty men went to work in the ornamental iron-shops of the Union brass works on Ohio street Monday morning and demanded an increase of wages yesterday morning. This was refused and they quit work at 9 o’clock and were paid off. There are about four hundred men employed in the same works and there is an understanding between them and their employers regarding wages that is not likely to be interrupted by agitation. Mr. J. McGregor Adams, president of the company, said last evening: “All of our men are engaged by the hour, and I think they are disposed to be considerate. We have been carrying on the business with actual lack of profit for two or three years in order to keep our men employed. We would be very glad to shut up the works, but some of our men have worked for us ten or twenty years, and we will stand by them as long as they stand by us. As to the question of eight hours for a day’s work, it is impracticable under the present condition of things. It would cost as much to get steam up for eight hours as for ten and we must run for ten hours or not work at all. If there should be a general advance over the country for eight hours, and we should get a necessary advance on the price of goods, we would be willing to allow an abbreviation of work, but it looks at present as though there would be almost a total cessation of orders for a time, and the workingmen will be the ones to suffer.”

Mr. Adams is also president of the Adams & Westlake Manufacturing company, which employs about six hundred men at the factory on Ontario street, and he said what he had said concerning the eight-hour question applied to both factories. They could not work eight hours and compete with ten hours’ work elsewhere.

HOD-CARRIERS.

The Hod-carrrier’s union held a special meeting at No. 76 Fifth avenue last evening, and had rather a noisy time in trying to adjust the relations of capital and labor. The body is composed of two classes—those who writ on plasterers being one, and those who attend bricklayers being the other. They met with a full determination to demand on and after to-morrow a decrease of hours, and a uniform increase of pay, but a wrangle ensued, and the result was they could not agree among themselves. Finally, the two interests separated, and after an extended harangue the plasterers’ carriers, who are now working ten hours at 17½ cents an hour, agreed to demand eight hours and pay at the rate of 25 cents an hour. The bricklayer’s carriers were then heard, and were found unanimous on the eight-hour question, but divided as to whether they should demand an increase to 20 or 22 cents an hour. The trouble with them appeared to be that the bricklayers had not fully determined as to the date of their demands, and though they agreed to eight hours and 22 cents they are liable to reconsider at another meeting to be held to-morrow evening. The plasterers, however, said they would quit work after to-morrow unless their demands were acceded to.

CARPENTERS.

Branch No. 2 of the Brotherhood of the Carpenters of America met at No. 2,780 State street last night to discuss the enforcement of the eight-hour system. The meeting was an open one, and many non-union men were present. Speeches were made favoring the eight-hour movement by a great many of those present, and some, who were not union men wanted to know why not go further and demand an increase of wages after May 1. As it is, the union scale of wages an hour for carpenters is not less than 25 cents, and there were some in the meeting who thought that while they were about making a demand the men might as well ask 80 cents an hour and eight hours a day’s work, but the majority of the men thought that it would be well enough to get one concession secured before asking for another. The ideas of the majority of the two hundred men present were voiced in the remarks of the chairman, Mr. W. H. Kliever, who said: “Let us not be hot-headed, in so far as this assembly is concerned at least. Let us get the eight-hour concession first and consider the wages question afterward. If we grapple for too much at first, the chances are that we will catch the little end of nothing. If we wait for a little while we will get more wages. It has been frequently asserted, and it has been said here to-night that this union of carpenters has never accomplished anything for itself. And why? Simply because it happened to be controlled by certain hot-headed individuals who got up strikes on generalities, without any special end in view and the consequence was these individuals weakened the organization instead of adding any strength or dignity to it. I maintain that it would be highly unjust for us or any other band of workingmen to demand from an employer ten hours wages for eight hours’ work. Such demands as there are what put trades-unions up before the public for ridicule. Let us be reasonable and not hot-headed in our demands. The bosses tell us that supply and demand govern the price of labor as it does that of any commercial production. Our labor is our commodity. If we will insist upon having eight hours to constitute a day’s work, the loss of two hours each day to the building interests will be enough to cause a demand for more workmen or better wages for better or quicker work, and if bosses will insist upon extra work extra pay must follow. Thus the supply will be less and the demand will be correspondingly greater, so that in a short time it will not be necessary to strike for higher wages. They will raise themselves from the necessity of the situation. Strikes should be avoided when a reasonable request on our part can be obtained at any other cost.” Mr. Kliever’s remarks were heartily applauded, and when he had concluded about fifty men joined the union, being influenced in their action by the principles he laid down.

DRY-GOODS CLERKS.

The clerks of the Bee-Hive sales-rooms held a meeting at No. 178 State street, last evening, which was largely attended by men and women in that employ. The object of the meeting was to form an association to further the adoption of the eight-hour movement. After organizing and electing Mr. Martin Reagan president, the meeting adjourned until next Thursday to meet the committees from other retail houses which are expected to report upon the subject.

METAL-WORKERS.

The English branch of the Metal-Workers met last evening at No. 54 West Lake street. About one hundred members were present. Several new names were added to the roll. Speeches were made by W. Snyder and John Walters on the eight-hour movement which is to take place the 1st of May, although the union is not a part of the regular Knights of Labor. The proposition, however, to join that body has been under consideration for several meetings past, but has met decided objections from certain members. Last evening the matter was settled by the union deciding not to join, but to have an independent body of its own. The chief reason for this decision is the fact of there being one man with absolute power at the head of the Knights.

EMPLOYING PRINTERS.

An employing printer has issued a circular to his colleagues inviting them to come together for the purpose of resisting the attempt to make them pay one-fifth more wages for the work done for them. He reminds them that there is not now a margin of profit which can stand that increase in wages, and that under the competition which exists with other cities the printers of Chicago must go down. He urges that they band together and resist the ten hours’ pay for eight hours’ work, and to blacklist every man who leaves their employ on May 1.

FREIGHT-HANDLERS.

The freight-handlers on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway company, numbering about three hundred men, and comprising check-clerks, scalers, and truckers, held a meeting last night and resolved to make a demand upon the company to-day for ten hours’ pay for eight hours’ labor. A similar demand will be made by the same class of employes upon the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway companies.

REACHED AN UNDERSTANDING.

The employes of Hutchinson’s packing-house, at the stock-yards, made a demand yesterday for ten hours’ pay for eight hours’ work after May 1. Mr. Sidney Kent, the superintendent, replied that he would concede the demand to the “cellar men,” and all those who make from $1.25 to $1.50 a day. To the men who were employed above ground, butchers, cutters, etc., whose wages now amount to from $3 to $5 a day, he would allow nine hours’ pay for eight hours’ labor. The men were satisfied with his proposition, and will continue at work.

PLANING-MILL STRIKE.

A strike was inaugurated at the planing mill of the W. E. Frost Manufacturing company, at the corner of Twelfth and Canal streets, yesterday morning, and about one hundred men quit work. On Tuesday a committee of one waited upon Mr. Frost and demanded ten hours’ pay for eight hours’ labor and wanted an immediate answer. Mr. Frost wanted till Saturday to consider the demand, but the impatience of the men suffering with the strike mania could not bear that long a strain.

COOPERS.

Twenty beer-barrel coopers, employes of William Thaler, No. 901 Clark street, struck yesterday for 20 per cent increase of wages and decrease of hours of labor from twelve hours to ten. About the same number of men went on a similar strike at Edward Torman’s beer-barrel factory in the same vicinity.

WALKING DELEGATE FINED.

Thomas O’Malley was before Justice C. J. White yesterday, charged with disorderly conduct. The complainant, E. Arzt, a foreman in a West-side furniture factory, testified that the defendant came into his place early in the day, and, without asking permission, proceeded to where the men were engaged at work. He stated that he had been appointed by the Knights of Labor to go into the different factories and talk to the men, and if he found any who were not union men to report the same. As soon as the foreman found out what he was about, he ordered him out of the place. O'Malley, however, refused to go, and stated that having been appointed by the Knights he had a perfect right to go where he pleased. He then resumed his work, jotting down names of men and notes in his book, and seemed to forget about the foreman’s presence. Once again he was ordered out, but refused to go. A police officer was summoned and O’Malley was safely landed in the Desplaines street station. Yesterday he was taken before Justice C. J. White, pleaded guilty, and was fined $25 and costs.

ITEMS.

A meeting was held last night at No. 99 West Randolph street of the clothing-makers, pressers, and operators. After a short secret session, at which about fifty new members were received, and open session was held. A number of socialistic speakers were present and, getting control of the meeting, proceeded to disseminate their peculiar doctrine. A protest against this was made, but ineffectually, and finally the non-socialistic element retired from the hall and gathered in groups on the sidewalk, leaving the socialists masters of the situation.

The galvanized-iron cornice-makers and jobbers, to the number of two or three hundred, met last night at No. 45 North Clark street. After a spirited discussion as to the advisability of demanding eight hours’ work, a committee of six was appointed to wait upon the proprietors of all the shops, obtain their views on the matter, and report at a subsequent meeting.

The committee on entertainment of the trades-assembly, which has in charge the eight-hour ball to be given Saturday evening at the cavalry armory, met last night. The reports of the various subcommittees showed that five thousand tickets had been distributed among the unions. Invitations have been sent to all the employers who adopted the eight-hour system. The executive board of the trades-assembly desires to inform all labor organizations that there will be no parade Saturday—simply the ball at the armory for the benefit of the strikers in the southwest.

The Box-Makers’ and Sawyers’ assembly held a meeting last night at the corner of Centre avenue and Eighteenth street, L. W. Nash in the chair. The offer of the manufacturers to increase the wages 10 per cent for ten hours a day work was freely discussed, and it was unanimously resolved not to accept it, but to keep on working on the same terms as at present and not to demand eight hours a day yet. There will be another meeting on Friday week at No. 54 Lake street, when the matter will be further considered.

There was a mass-meeting of carpenters at No. 208 Blue Island avenue last night. The meeting was principally composed of French-speaking carpenters and addresses were made in that language. A large number joined the Knights of Labor and the Carpenters’ union.

The Painters’ assembly held a largely attended meeting last night at No. 106 Randolph street, seventy–five new members were initiated, and there was a long discussion over the eight-hour question, but final action was not taken.

Rand, McNally & Co. have agreed to allow their printers ten hours’ pay for a nine-hour day after May 1. The employes of the J. M. W. Jones Printing company intend demanding a similar rate of pay and time of labor.