THE EIGHT-HOUR PLAN.

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Freight-Handlers Make Demands Which Will Not Likely Be Granted.

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Brunswick & Balke Discharge Their Men and Say They Can Never Return.

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Grand Master Powderly Said To Be in Bad Repute with the Knights of Labor.

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Milwaukee Planing-Mills Close Up -- The Cardinal's Recent Pastoral Letter.

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Other Industrial Affairs.

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CHICAGO.

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THE RAILROADS.

The threatened movement of the freight-handlers in the direction of shorter hours, with pay equal to that received at present, does not seem to excite the same attention or arouse the same interest in the general offices and among the managers as the late switchmen's strike. Recognizing that the eight-hour movement is not a matter solely affecting railroads, and that all business is threatened, the managers are making no particular effort to meet it. While but few demands have as yet been formulated, all of the roads expect it to come, and it is safe to predict that all will meet it in the same way. This is tersely put in the reply of the Burlington to a committee which waited on the head of the department Tuesday last. The answer was to the demand for eight hours' work and ten hours' pay: "We will not change either the rates of pay or the working hours. The condition of business is such that neither change would be warranted."

The managers deny that any consultations have been held among them in regard to the matter, or combinations entered into to resist the movement. Under any circumstances there are but a small number of men compared with the army of employes whose labor would come under the operation of the eight-hour movement. This number of hours has been the legal day's work in Illinois for years past, and that very fact has caused the roads wherever practicable to adopt the hour, contract, or trip system, in order to avoid any possible complication. For this reason, a strike begun on this ground would not affect the roads to the same extent as one based on the recognition or non-recognition of labor unions. The superintendents claim that the freight-handlers are paid higher wages than any other class of unskilled labor. The minimum rate is $1.50 a day of ten hours, and runs up in some cases as high as $75 a month. The idea broached that any high degree of expertness is required, or that, as has been stated, it costs $100 to break in a new man, is ridiculed. The work is heavy and severe, but it is a mere expenditure of manual force. If there is to be

A GENERAL STRIKE

among the freight-handlers to-day will probably develop the fact. The most formidable movement so far has been among the St. Paul employes. The company has a force of a little over two hundred men handling freight. A very large majority of these signed a demand for eight hours' work and ten hours' pay, which was presented to the local agent yesterday. Mr. J. T. Clark happened to be in town, and it was referred to him, and by him to General Manager Roswell Miller. An answer will be returned this afternoon. The Burlington men got their answer as stated above. In the afternoon the crew of one of the freight-houses of the Northwestern approached the local agent with the same request. The matter was referred to the officials at the general office and will be replied to to-day. It will be remembered that some days ago the men employed in the shops at Cicero petitioned General Manager Marvin Hughitt for a reduction of the hours of labor without reduction of pay. The committee waited on Mr. Hughitt yesterday, and was given an answer to the effect that the company would positively refuse to accede to the demand, the situation not warranting the assent of the company to the proposition. There was a rumor circulated that the shopmen had concluded to withdraw their petition, but it was not verified. The rumor involving the Rock Island proved to be untrue, as up to a late hour yesterday afternoon not a word had been heard from its men on the subject. In fact, the instances mentioned above were the only ones that had materialized up to the close of the general offices.

Speaking of the eight-hour question, one of the managers pointed out the impracticability of it so far as the freight-handlers were concerned. Work commences briskly at 7 in the morning and continues uninterrupted till 6 in the evening. Although the majority of the wholesale houses close at 5 the teams deliver up till 6 o'clock, the shipping clerks filling mail orders in the afternoon and sending out goods up to and often after 5 o'clock. To shut down the freight-houses at 5 would delay an immense amount of shipments for twenty-four hours, something that shippers would not endure. To commence at 9 A. M. would be equally impossible. In no shape could a demand come that would create more confusion than the attempt to limit the hours of freight-handlers to eight hours a day.

A freight-handler for the Wisconsin division of the Northwestern railway said yesterday that it was not true that the men had been working full time in the freight-houses and receiving regular wages. He had been put on half time for several months previous to April 1, and had never averaged over $6 a week. There were probably one hundred men who had worked for the company from six to ten years who had done the same. Now that business was improving it was not too much to ask the company to make up by a slight increase in pay

THE LOST TIME

that the men were compelled to suffer from. The most feasible way was to receive ten hours' pay for eight hours' work, and although the men of the Wisconsin division had not made any demand as yet, it was likely to occur just as soon as the freight-handlers of the other branch of the road--the Galena--had put in their demand. He thought that the stoppage to the business of the railroad would be too serious a thing for the demand to be ignored. The Milwaukee and St. Paul freight-handlers made their demand for eight hours' work with ten hours' pay in writing, and gave the company until 4 o'clock to-day to decide. The hour which they selected for an answer to be returned is the very busiest of the day. At that hour the shipments from the large wholesale houses in every branch of trade begin to come it, and the teams frequently stand four deep at the principal freight-house waiting for a chance to unload. A stoppage of work at 4 o'clock means that considerably over half the out-freight in the city would remain untouched, and throw the entire freight department of the road into confusion and irretrievable delay. When freight is not handed promptly the two or three hundred clerks of the department are idle, the switchmen, engineers, and general yardmen have nothing to do, and such stagnation occurs as it takes the clerical force sometimes months to recover from.

The rumor that to-day a general strike will occur in all the freight-houses, some of the men going out without warning to the road, appears to have some foundation, one of the foremen in the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy out-freight house saying that he had reason to believe it a fact. The eighty-six men under him had been told by the officials that the road could not be run on the eight-hour plan, and he presumed the men would quit work to-night if the matter was not

AMICABLY ARRANGED

beforehand, a consummation that was very likely to occur. Regarding the filling of the places of the freight-handlers, Mr. P. E. Wilson, of the Milwaukee and St. Paul road, said it was an easy thing to do provided the new-comers were not intimidated by the old hands. That was the chief difficulty to be met in the event of a strike. It is estimated that there are in the neighborhood of two thousand men employed as freight-handlers in the different houses, exclusive of the foremen and receiving clerks.

A committee from the freight-handlers of the Galena division of the Northwestern met Mr. A. B. Brinkerhoff, the local freight agent, shortly after noon yesterday, and informed him that on and after May 1 they would work only eight hours, for which they required ten hours' pay. The agent said he would lay the matter before the proper authorities, and give an answer as soon as possible. With this the committee appeared contented, and returned to work. No time was stipulated for the company to decide, but it is not likely the men will go to work Saturday morning unless a favorable answer is received.

THE EIGHT-HOUR DAY.

The eight-hour question continues to bother employers, whether corporation or private individuals, from day to day, as they are all expecting their workmen to wait upon them and demand ten hours' pay for eight hours' work. It was rumored about yesterday morning that the conductors of the South and West division street railway companies had "struck" for eight hours to constitute a day's work. When a reporter for The Times called upon Mr. O. B. Holmes, superintendent of the cable-car company, and asked him whether there was any truth in the rumor in so far as his company was concerned, he was very much surprised, and said: "There is not the slightest foundation for the rumor, and I haven't heard a whisper of any dissatisfaction among our conductors and drivers. On the contrary, they are very well satisfied, as they are, I believe, earning better wages than the employes of any other street-car company in the city. If they should make such a demand it would necessitate the company's increasing the number of conductors and drivers 50 per cent. We did have a demand for the adoption of the eight-hour system from the employes of our car-shops yesterday, and we conceded it. On the 1st of April the company voluntarily raised the wages of all the car-shop workmen 15 percent, but they have asked for eight hours a day work at their old wages. The demand was reasonable, the men were themselves the parties most directly interested, and the request was complied with without a murmur. The average wages of the men in our shops is about $2 a day. We do not anticipate any further demands from our employes in any department."

"No, sir," said De Witt C. Cregier, superintendent of the West division company, "I haven't heard anything about a proposed eight-hour demand from our conductors and drivers. I suppose your informant got mixed. I will say to you, though, that I received a communication unanimously signed by the employes of our shops this morning, through our foreman, demanding,--or requesting, rather,--eight hours work for the wages they are now receiving."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"You must ask me something easy. I don't know, because I haven't had time yet to give the matter sufficient attention."

"There seems to be an impression that your shopmen are not paid as much as they might be. How is that?"

"Well, I don't know. I had an idea that they were about as well paid as the workmen in any other shops in the city, but I may be mistaken. However, I won't give any decisive answer until I know what the other companies are going to do. If they glide gracefully into the eight-hour move we will

GRACEFULLY FOLLOW SUIT."

"What are the journeymen bookbinders going to do in the eight-hour movement?" Mr. W. P. Henneberry, of the firm of Donohue & Henneberry, was asked.

"I haven't heard that they were going to make any demand. They are working mostly by piece-work, and it is to their interest to put in all the time they can to increase their income. I hardly think they will ask to reduce their working hours."

"But, supposing they should demand eight hours' work with ten hours' wages?"

"Then we simply wouldn't stand it, because we couldn't."

"Don't you expect a demand from any of your employes?"

"Well, partially. I understand that our printers are thinking about holding a meeting to-night for the purpose of discussing the advisability of striking for ten hours' pay for eight hours' work. I am prepared to answer any such demand in advance, and the answer is that we will close down our entire business before we will grant it. I don't wish to antagonize our men, but such a demand as asking for ten hours' wages for eight hours' work is simply preposterous. It looks very much as though some branches of tradesmen wanted the earth, and that when they find out their employers are making a nickel they conspire to get hold of it. If such a demand is insisted upon we will throw up both hands and make the men a fair offer if they labor under the impression that the firm has a bonanza. We have a plant here worth $150,000. If the men insist upon raising their wages on a basis of two hours each day, for which we get no return, we will gladly lease them the plant for 6 1/2 per cent. a year for wear and tear, and 6 1/2 per cent. a year of the profits, and let the strikers run the concern themselves. This isn't such an exorbitant percentage to ask, considering that it has to be divided among the members of the firm. Just let the would be strikers take such propositions as these into consideration, and see how many of them will be willing to accept them."

Mr. J. M. W. Jones said: "My printers haven't made any demand upon me for eight hours' work or eight hours' work for ten hours' pay, and insofar as the last named proposition is concerned they needn't. I hate to let my temper get the best of me, but I hate to see good, level-headed workingmen, who have by their honest toil made homes for themselves, be led astray and mastered by--tramps calling themselves walking delegates or walking something else. Mind I have the utmost regard for union men who live up to the rules of their union, and who demand and obtain their rights when they know that their demands are just, but I'll swear these tramps whose expenses are paid for on their travels by the overconfiding workmen ought to be squelched some way. Talk about giving my men ten hours' pay for eight hours' work; dear boy, do you realize what a percentage that means in the

INCREASE OF WAGES?

They'll never get it from us or any other firm that wants to continue doing business. Our men understand the situation and they are not so foolish as to demand impossibilities. Why, my capital has been employed for the past two years entirely for their benefit. I haven't drawn a salary, and by the piper that played before Moses, I haven't even paid the interest on my capital invested."

Mr. Knight, of the printing firm of Knight & Leonard, didn't care to be interviewed particularly, but he said simply: "I trust that the printers will not be so foolish as to demand ten hours' pay for eight hours' work, and I think I have every reason to know that they will not."

"What are the coal-heavers going to do?" Col. W. P. Rend was asked.

"I don't know. I haven't heard that they were going to ask the ten-for-eight system. I hardly think they will. But suppose they had the power to coerce the dealers--who do you think would have to pay the piper? Why the poor public, of course, for coal would go up per ton considerably."

Mr. A. A. Libby, of the packing firm of Libby, McNeill & Libby, said: "I haven't heard of any disposition of packing-house employes demanding the eight-hour count for a day's work. They will not, either, for their wages vary from $1.50 to $4 a day. There is not likely to be such a demand where there is such a wide range of wages."

Mr. Dodge, of the wholesale boot and shoe manufacturing firm of Phelps, Dodge and Palmer, had not given the eight-hour movement any consideration. "For," said he, "our men all seem satisfied with the way things are running at present, and there is no philosophy in anticipating trouble. I don't think our men want to change the order of things."

Mr. W. H. Rand, of the printing firm of Rand, McNally & Co., indignantly denies that the firm had made any concession to their men in the shape of allowing them ten hours' pay for nine hours' work. In a note to Mr. J. M. W. Jones, Mr. Rand goes further, and denies having had a conference with his men on such a subject.

William Burgess, the printer at Nos. 84 and 86 Fifth avenue, The Times building, will, beginning May 1, adopt fifty-two hours as constituting a week's work at ten hours a day's wages.

Hately Brothers, packers, state that their men are willing to work as they have been working--ten hours and at the same wages which have been paid.

A tour among the sash, door, and blind manufacturers developed the fact that the eight-hour question was a live one among the employes, and that it was also a matter of considerable interest to the employers. Palmer, Fuller & Co., the largest manufactory of this class of goods in the west, were found to be in a curious condition regarding the matter. The men employed by the firm number between five and six hundred, and owing to the extensive factory in which they congregate being some distance away from similar establishments, and also the steady employment the year round that the firm provides, it was found that the usual influences from outside were not at all active in the ranks of the men. They were alive to the fact nevertheless that to secure eight hours for a day's work was of sufficient importance to receive their attention. The men held a meeting and appointed a committee to confer with the members of the firm. It was decided not to demand ten hours' pay, but simply to ask for the eight-hour day with the wages reduced in proportion. This proposal met with favor from the firm, and on Monday the new arrangement goes into effect. It was learned, however, in an interview with Mr. Marsh, of the firm, that this settlement of the question was by no means a permanent one. He said that when the proposition was made and the firm agreed to it, the committeemen seemed to suddenly veer round, make some hints about increased pay, finally saying that the new scheme would be tried for a few days anyhow. "I know just what that means," said Mr. Marsh. "If this agitation for eight hours' work and ten hours' pay should prove successful, then the men here will

DEMAND THE SAME;

if, on the other hand, it should prove a failure, or the shops and factories close, then you see the men in this factory would continue at work, and have the advantage of their more hasty fellow-workmen."

"Will you concede an advance in wages in the event of the eight-hour movement turning out a success?"

"We may conclude to do so, provided the prices can be raised for our product. We can't say how that question will be met until it comes up."

Goss & Phillips, with whom A. H. Andrews & Co., is now associated in the manufacturing of interior finishing, and also in the [making] of ordinary sash, doors, and blinds, heard from a committee of their men last Wednesday and made a settlement with them on the basis of eight hours' work and nine hours' pay. The men asked for ten hours' pay, and three p[r]opositions were made to them. To work ten hours, and receive an increase of 10 per cent in wages; to work nine hours for ten hours' pay, or eight hours' for nine hours' pay. The last proposition was accepted--to take effect Saturday. The readiness of the firm to meet the men half-way is owing to the fact that this season will be their last in Chicago, the entire plant of Goss & Phillips having been sold to A. H. Andrews & Co. for $150,000, who will continue the business.

On Twenty-second street, among the wholesale lumber-dealers and planing-mills, an easy feeling prevails, owing to the fact that no skilled labor was employed, and the poor labor-

(continued on page 3, column 1)

ers in the yards and mills were only too glad to get a

DAY'S WORK OF ANY LENGTH

to think of striking for eight hours. They would prefer twelve hours if it was possible. The box manufacturers on the street have all united, and will resist the eight-hour day with ten hours' pay to the last gasp, their action in regard to the question having been printed in The Times already. The wholesale lumber-dealers have not yet employed many hands, the lumber vessels not coming in very rapidly yet, but no apprehension of any trouble was evinced by a single firm. All agree that the men are only too glad to get to work at any price.

The employes of the W. E. Frost Manufacturing company, who went out on a strike last Wednesday because the firm was not prepared to grant them an answer on the eight-hour question at that time, held a meeting yesterday and formulated their demand for eight hours' work with two hours' extra pay. In reply to the committee who presented this request, the firm made a counter proposition to pay them only for the eight hours put in. The committee withdrew to notify the strikers what had been proposed, and are expected to announce their ultimatum to-day.

The employes of the breweries are said to be satisfied with their present wages and hours of work. Mr. William C. Seipp said yesterday that the brewers voluntarily reduced the working hours on March 1 from fourteen to twelve hours. As two hours are allowed for meals, the men really work but ten hours, and, as they seem to realize the business is of such a nature it can not be run to advantage or profit on eight hours' work, no unreasonable demand is looked for.

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CABINET-MAKERS

At the immense billiard-table and saloon-fixture factory of the Brunswick-Balke-Collender company all was quiet yesterday. The payment to the strikers of their last week's wages had been deferred from the regular pay-day on last Wednesday till yesterday noon. At that hour the men were all paid up in full and were formally notified that they were discharged from the company. Many of them laughed at the information. Mr. Moses Bensinger, resident director of the company, and Manger Miller said later in the day that the men would find out before they got back to work that the notification of their discharge would be no laughing matter for them, as they would never be allowed to return to work in a body. "So help me God," said Mr. Bensinger, "these men will never get another concession from this company. They have got to the end of their string, and hereafter the company will run its own business. When any of them want to return to work they will have to apply at the office for work, and we will do as we choose about giving it to them. I have received advices by telegraph from all other directors to act in concert with the Furniture Manufacturers' association, and I'll do it to the very letter. Therefore, nothing will be done before next Tuesday, when the executive committee meets and will take the matter in hand. According to the agreement which all the 175 members of the association have signed, the committee will have access to the books and payrolls of all the firms, and it will establish a scale of wages. It will also have arbitrary power in determining when factories shall close or open, and will compel fair wages to be paid to the men, but will not permit unfair wages to be paid. No man will be employed by any firm that can not bring a letter of recommendation from his last previous employer or show a good reason why he did not have it. The men have forced the manufacturers into this position, and it will be lived up to. Even if the men were to come back and offer the old scale of wages after next Monday I can not start up the factory until I am permitted to do so by the executive committee. If they come back before then, and I believe they will, we will go ahead with the work. Otherwise we will see who has

THE STRONGEST UNION --

the men or the manufacturers. They will have to go to work at our terms. They gave me a distinct pledge, and then violated it without a word of explanation. They will never have another chance."

George Roeder, the lumber-measurer, who refused to join the union, drew his pay yesterday and announced to the firm that he intended to get a job elsewhere. He had in reality resigned on last Tuesday, before the strike, but had been kept upon the pay-rolls. The strikers knew of his action, but insisted upon making his presence on the pay-roll a pretext for the strike. The strikers held another meeting at No. 105 Wells street yesterday, and sent a committee to wait upon Mr. Bensinger and ascertain what proposition he had to make. He told them that if they returned to work before next Tuesday he would re-employ nearly all of them; if they did not return by that time the factory would be closed till the executive committee ordered it opened again.

The situation at R. Rothschild's large establishment was precisely similar yesterday to that at the Brunswick-Balke factory. The men were still out. There was one notable exception, however, and that was in the character of the strikers. While the men at the later-named place are nearly all socialists and Germans, there is a fair percentage of Americans in the Rothschild forces. This element was extremely sorry it was out on a strike, and together with many of the thoughtful Germans apologized to Mr. David Rothschild and Mr. Robert Kauffman, manager of the Chicago house, who arrived from Kansas City yesterday in response to a hasty summons. One of the American strikers said to a reporter for THE TIMES: "You have no idea of how ashamed I am of our action in this hasty strike. Why, if we had been left alone by the union agitators we wouldn't have struck at all. We are being used as a cat's-paw for a lot of crazy Dutch socialists over at Brunswick's. Why, no firm could treat their men whiter and pay them better than the Rothschilds do. We were all right till a fellow came into the ship and told us we were all slaves and we ought to stop work and come up to an assembly of the union and get protection. Well, we went to the assembly. The men from all the factories were there and they all had their grievances. It was more like

A LUNATIC ASYLUM

than a mutual protective union. Finally, when our case was reached some Dutchman that didn't belong to our shop moved that we go out on a strike. There was a yell, and in less than a minute we were ordered by the union to strike. I own up I was just as hard and as hot for the union as the rest of them until that time, but when I saw a lot of crazy Dutchmen shut off over $800 a day in wages without giving the question two minutes' consideration it made me sick. We're in for it now, but I tell you I was never so sore over anything in my life. I know we haven't got the sympathy of the public, and we don't deserve it for allowing ourselves to be led away as we have been. I'd bet my life that if it was left to the men in our shop alone we would all be back to work in the morning, and I am going to do everything I can at the meeting this afternoon to have it so."

Several of the employes told Mr. Kauffman that if they were sure of proper protection from the other strikers in the city they would all come back to work to-day. Mr. Kauffman promised them protection, but they shook their heads sadly, and said they wouldn't dare attempt it. The men met at Mueller's hall, yesterday afternoon and as usual the socialist element got the ascendency, and resolutions to hold out were adopted. A false report that the firm had yielded to the demands of their employes at Cincinnati came in good time to frustrate the attempts of those who wanted the strike to come to an end. Mr. David Rothschild was exceedingly wrathy over the report, while Mr. Kaufmann, who was quoted as the authority, stated that he had been entirely misunderstood. Mr. Rothschild said that unless the men would return to work at the old scale of wages and time before next Tuesday the firm would place the matter in the hands of the executive committee of the Furniture Manufacturers' association, and let the men deal with the committee.

Nearly every manufacturer of parlor furniture in Chicago met at the Leland hotel yesterday and

FORMED AN ASSOCIATION

called the Chicago Parlor Manufacturers' association, with the follow officers: C. C. Holton, president; William Giffert, vice president; A. J. Copp, secretary; A. C. Schmidt, treasurer; Williams Rothschild, William Giffert, T. W. Buhman, E. J. Riley, Joseph Demiel, executive committee. It was resolved that they would not accede to the demands of the Upholsters' union, No. 1, of Chicago, for an increase of 20 per cent on day work. The association includes the following firms, which comprise with one or two exceptions all the manufacturers in the city: Ketcham, Rothschild & Co., Kech, Buhman & Hansen, William Giffert, E. J. Riley, Copp & Hardacher, W. H. Everill, Andress Brothers, J. R. Sheridan & Co., Funk Brothers, Charles Zuericke, R. Deimel & Brothers, S. G. Wilkins & Co., A. C. Schmidt, C. C. Holton, S. Karpen & Brother, G. T. Childs' Chair company, Schutte Brothers, Hartley Reclining Chair company, and others.

There is some dissatisfaction expressed by members of the Chicago branch of the Furniture Manufacturers' association over the action of their colleagues at Grand Rapids. At the last named place the manufacturers have granted nine hours' pay for eight hours' labor, and have advanced the scale of piece-work wage 7 1/2 per cent. As Grand Rapids has become the greatest furniture producing point in the United States the manufacturers here recognize the fact that if they should be compelled to allow ten hours' pay for eight hours' labor they could not compete with the manufacturers at Grand Rapids. Their dissatisfaction arises from the encouragement the men here have received to persist in their demands, and it had a great deal to do with uniting the manufacturers here in their efforts to resist the eight-hour demand.

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IRON AND BRASS WORKERS.

The manufacturers of machinery and foundry-men of Chicago to the number of about twenty-five met at the Grand Pacific hotel yesterday afternoon to consider what action should be taken in regard to the demand of the workmen for the adoption of the eight-hour system in all the foundries throughout the city on May 1. The workmen claim that the eight-hour law, if adopted, will be for the best interests of both employer and employe, but the foundrymen yesterday took a very different view of the situation. The meeting was hurriedly called, and many of the manufacturers had but short notice of the convention, and therefore there was only about 50 per cent of the local firms represented. A. Plamondon was called to the chair, and W. J. Chalmers, of Fraser & Chalmers, was selected to act as secretary. The discussion that ensued upon the important question soon developed a diversity of opinion as to the proper mode of meeting the workmen which could not be easily harmonized at one session, but the general sentiment appeared to be that it was impossible to accede to the demands of the men, and that the present system of ten hours, with the current pay therefor, was most satisfactory to the employers. It was announced that the Crane Manufacturing company had made such an arrangement with their men as was mutually satisfactory, and it was thought by a number of the prominent manufacturers present that it would probably be better if each individual establishment made such terms with their own men as was possible under the circumstances rather than to attempt to form any association for uniform and concerted action. Several of the men threatened to shut down their works to-morrow and to remain closed until the demands of the men were either modified or withdrawn. The men demanded double pay for all work done over eight hours a day, and this proposition was regarded as too preposterous to be entertained for a moment. Finding it impossible to arrive at any definite decision, and as there was such a small attendance present, it was decided to adjourn until next week, when a meeting would be called by the chair, and when every manufacturer would be fully informed as to the position assumed by his workmen. The idea of treating individually with the men, however, seemed to receive the warmest indorsement and it is probable that each foundry will adjust its own difficulties without consulting in council or forming any association for defense and support.

Everything was quiet at the works of the Adams & Westlake and Union Brass Manufacturing company yesterday. Mr. J. McGregor Adams, the head of both concerns, stated that reports of strikes at either place yesterday were without foundation in fact. When the reporter for The Times called, John Reid, one of the employes, was, as a committee of one, holding a consultation with Mr. Adams. Mr. Reid assured Mr. Adams that the men had no complaints to make against the firm, but they were all anxious to see the eight-hour system adopted, as they believed that it would serve to give employment to more men. The majority of them would be willing to sacrifice two hours a day and work for eight hours' pay on the present scale to secure that end. Mr. Adams replied that it would be impossible to run the establishment on eight hours' time, and repeated the reasons therefor which he gave in an interview in The Times of yesterday's issue. The business had been unprofitable for the past three years. During that time he had lived upon his private capital. There was no bench-room for more men, and it was out of the question to secure more room and pay greater rents to maintain an already unprofitable business. By hard work he had been able to keep all the men employed without loss. A reduction in production without a corresponding reduction in rent and other expenses would necessitate a permanent closing of the works. A strike there is not anticipated.

Twenty molders at Tannart & Ramsey's foundry, No. 24 Indiana street, struck yesterday. The molders want to work eight hours, and will take eight hours' pay, while they demand for the laborers and boys ten hours' wages for eight hours' work.

There was a great uneasiness in the foundries throughout the city yesterday, and it was a generally expressed opinion that a strike would occur at all the foundries in the city this evening.

The L. Wolffe Manufacturing company have settled the difficulties existing for the past few days between the firm and the employes regarding the eight-hour question. In refusing to concede the original demand for eight hours' work with ten hours' pay, Mr. Wolffe made the proposition to give the men nine hours' wages with a slight reduction in wages, graded according to the class of labor performed. The men took two days to consider the matter and yesterday agreed to take eight hours' pay for eight hours' work, which is to go into effect tomorrow.

The Metal-Workers' union held a crowded meeting last night at No. 99 West Randolph street. The principal business was the initiation of new members, and over one hundred joined. The eight-hour question was discussed, but nothing definite was reached.

The Foundry Employes' assembly, Knights of Labor, received something like one hundred new members at its meeting at the corner of Lake and La Salle streets last night.

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PACKING HOUSES.

A meeting of stock-yard employes was gotten together last evening at No. 3,109 South Halsted street, the object being, on the part of the agitators, who appeared to be running things, to drill them into believing that they were being sorely oppressed, and upon their part to consult as to what course they should take in the eight-hour movement. The attendance was confined to about one hundred persons, but most of the packing-houses were represented.

The meeting was called to order by John Sheehan, who presided, and to start with the men were told of the concessions which had been made by the Chicago Packing and Provision company, to encourage them, after which George Schilling related his experiences of the day in calling upon the Fairbank Canning company. He had seen Mr. Seyers, a member of the firm, he said, and had talked eight hours to him, and the nearest he could get at any thing was that he had said he thought there was a remote probability of some sort of a compromise being made between the firm and the men, though he had no authority to speak on the subject. One of the propositions Mr. Seyers advanced, he said, was to give nine hours' pay for eight hours' work, and to allow pay and a quarter for overwork, which he thought would be a very favorable compromise for the present. But what was wanted, he went on to say, was the establishing of eight hours in all of the establishments first, without regard to pay, and this being done the men could organize and soon be prepared to fix the question of wages. He urged upon them, in conclusion, to sacrifice most anything to get the concession of eight hours, and also the necessity of their joining the Knights of Labor in order to strengthen themselves for future demands.

Following Mr. Schilling's speech Mr. Sheehan called upon the men for expressions of opinion and for any reports from the houses with which they were connected. Several responses were made, but there were no reports except of a hearsay character, most of which were to the effect that they had heard somebody else say that they had heard reports to the effect that this, that, and the other establishement were friendly to the eight-hour movement. This kind of a story was told especially as to Armour's concern, and on the strength of it a committee consisting of Thomas Driscoll, Martin Cody, John Keenan, and Patrick Clark--all employes--was appointed to wait upon the firm to-day and get something definite from it. They will demand eight hours' work with ten hours' pay, but will compromise on nine hours' pay rather than fail. In fact, the temper of the leaders of the gathering seemed to be such that if they were even refused any concessions whatever they would be very slow to quit work or attempt to precipitate a strike.

Following this attempts were made to appoint committees to wait upon the other firms to-day in the same matter, but with the exception of Fowler's place nothing was done, for the reason that the men seemed disinclined to come to the front or else the establishments were not represented. The understand was reached, however, that the committees should be formed to-day, that they should present their claims to the firms, and that they should report to an adjourned meeting to-night.

A representative from the stock-yards company's employes afterward reported that a petition had been gotten up among the men during the day, asking for eight hours' work and ten hours' pay, which would be presented this morning. Mr. Schilling questioned the propriety and policy of asking too much, but upon being assured by the representative that the men could do their work in eight hours, concluded to withdraw his advice.

After adjournment a delegate from a secret meeting of Fairbank's coopers came into the hall and announced that the coopers had agreed to make the demand to-day for nine hours' pay for eight hours' work, and a price and a half for all overwork, and in the event of the demand being refused he said the men would quit work at once.

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IN HYDE PARK.

Hyde Park is at present in a state of dreadful uncertainty as regards the labor question. Its ten thousand or more workingmen probably know as little as the public in general concerning the events of the near future, and concerning, in particular, what stand will be taken in the eight-hour movement. It may safely be said that the majority of all the labor organizations and combinations in the village will be governed by the actions of the organizations in the city of Chicago. At present nothing in the shape of an organized movement has risen to the surface. The only public meetings favoring the eight-hour movement have been held at Pullman. Such a meeting was held last evening, and the subject discussed by both local and outside workingmen. No definite action on the part of the workingmen has been made public, and the company has received no formal communication from its employes on the subject. The fact that socialists have been imported from Chicago to meet the Pullman workingmen and incite them on to unlawful acts is generally unfavorably commented on by the better class of employes. Said a Pullman official last night to a reporter for The Times: "I do not anticipate the slightest trouble to-morrow. Although the men have talked on the subject in both public and private, I doubt if they will act rashly, unless outside influences are brought to bear on them. There is plenty of work on hand for them; most of them are on piece-work and are earning good wages. If they are left alone I am confident there will be no trouble."

At Grand Crossing the three principal industrial establishments there--foundries--employ between four and five hundred men. The employes are nearly all residents of that community. As in Pullman quiet meetings have been held, but not formal action taken. It is the general impression that no organized movement will be made in that locality.

At South Chicago local disturbances of minor importance have already taken place. They have been merely differences of opinion concerning the wage question, and have always been settled satisfactorily. The North Chicago rolling-mills, with their 2,500 workingmen, are working at their full capacity.

In regard to the eight-hour movement the men do not seem to have the time to spare to talk about it. The officials say that no intimation has been received that the men have any desire to adopt the eight-hour system. The day men in these mills are comparatively few in number. The piece workmen are earning good wages, and the greater number of hours they work in each day the more money they make.

At Cummings the state of affairs is decidedly mixed. The Knights of Labor have added greatly to their strength in that locality. There is trouble between the Knights of Labor and the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers, and the result of the present complication of affairs can not be foretold. The Calumet mills are running with non-union nailers, no compromise having been effected. It is not a settled fact that there will be no trouble in Cummings to-morrow.

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LABOR NOTES.

A NONDESCRIPT ASSEMBLY.

Keystone assembly, No. 6,125, Knights of Labor, was organized at Fitzgerald's hall last night. It is composed of workmen from different trades, and it was given out that a great many Halsted street business men, chiefly grocers, had joined the union for the purpose of sustaining it principles and to aid the workingmen in their crusades against capital. This statement was, however, not substantiated by inquiry among business men who would be acquainted with such a movement if it existed.

CARPENTERS.

Branch No. 1 of Carpenters' Brotherhood union, No. 21, met last night at No. 213 West Madison street, R. Rowe, the president of the branch, in the chair. There was a large attendance, and the meeting was addressed by Mr. Jones, the president of union No. 21. He urged on all present to organize and join the union, and pointed out that the only reason the carpenters in New York were getting more wages than those in Chicago was because they were organized. There were just as good workmen here as in New York, and they should get the same wages. About one hundred new members were initiated.

The Carpenters' assembly of the Knights of Labor held a well-attended meeting last night at Greenebaum's hall, and initiated over 125 new members, giving them a total membership of about 400. The feeling among the members of the craft is that they are not as well paid as other mechanics, but that a demand for increased pay can not be successfully made until the large number of non-union men are gathered in.

CARRIAGE PAINTERS.

The carriage painters held their second meeting last night at No. 106 Randolph street. They are getting in shape to join the Knights of Labor, and have applied for a charter. They claim that although their trade demands considerable skill, many of them receive less than house-painters. The chief object of the organization is not to secure eight hours but to weed out of the craft the large number of "daubers" and white-washers who claim to be carriage-painters. They propose also to establish one branch composed of apprentices, and in their aims have the support of the employers.

PATTERN-MAKERS.

The Pattern-Makers' association of Chicago, which now numbers 150 members, met last night at No. 213 West Madison street. Officers were elected, but the association did not make them public. A discussion on the eight-hour movement took place, and it was stated that some of the shops had already agreed to conform to the eight-hour movement, and it was probable that all would do so. It was agreed to demand eight hours a day from those bosses who had not yet signified their intention of granting it. Forty-five new members were initiated.

FURRIERS.

The furriers, at their meeting at No. 71 West Lake street last night, appointed an executive committee of twenty-seven to open up a correspondence with both employers and men in all parts of the country. The object of the conference is to see what can be done to benefit the trade in general. Another meeting will be held some time next week.

PICTURE-FRAME WORKERS.

The Picture-Frame Workers' assembly held a mass-meeting at No. 45 North Clark street to take action on the eight-hour question. There was a very large attendance, and after a long discussion it was resolved to adopt the system. A committee was appointed to wait on the employers to notify them of this action and make a formal demand for eight hours.

LATHERS.

The Lathers' union held a regular meeting at No. 54 West Lake street last night, nominated officers, and did other routine business. This trade adopted the eight-hour system last fall and have since been working on that basis. The trade was reported to be in a very satisfactory condition.