The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-27
A STRIKES INSIDE HISTORY.
How Twenty Thousand Men in Chicago's
packing-Honses We're Duped.
Interesting Review of the Late Stockyards
Troubles-Action of Barry and Butler
What Was Done by a Solicitors Pastor.

the tnen superintendent or SwfC q Co. 8
slaughter house. It was said that Mr.. Foster
had been instructed to prepare notices to the ef-
feet that the eight-hour day would be adopted
by the firm. These notices were TO be posted
only in case the men decided upon strike, but
Mr. Foster is charged with having posted them
without Mr.. Swift's sanction. The other firms
were compelled to follow Mr.. Swifts action,
which, it will be remembered, was held to be un-
explainable at that time.
Mr. Foster subsequently became candidate
for sheriff before the Republican convention,
but was defeated for the nomination. Then he
dropped out of Swift & Co. g employ Some hold
that his resignation was asked by the firm
while others claim that he resigned voluntarily
in order to become manager for the Marquis de
Morse new packing establishment in Kansas
City. A great many Of the old men who have
not yet presented themselves for work since
Powderly's famous order will find employm
under Mr.. Foster.
After the eight-hour day had been established
there was no organized effort on the part of the
packers to return to the ten-hour system until
Oct. l, many rumors to the contrary notwith-
standing. The men at first worked with a will.
much work in eight hours as they used to do in
ten But this proved only squirt, and such a
condition of things occurred in the early part Of
October that the packers felt called upon to or
ganize. The Packers Association was formed,
and Oct. IA was fixed upon the date for the
resumption of work at the basis of ten hours
day. Surprising that they would be backed by
the Knights of Labor, the men rebeed and all
went out except the beef butchers, who had
contract with the firms of Armour. Swift and
Morris requiring four days notice before OPEN
ing of hostilities
Despite this agreement the beef butchers of
Armour & Co. were ordered ont on the following
Thursday by District Master Workman Butler.
who deliberately broke the existing contract
T. p. Barry also arrived upon the scene. He
had been instructed by Powderiy
to settle the difficulty, and to
members of the Knights of Labor he said that
ne had simply been sent TO investigate. The
convention at Richmond was then in session,
balloting for members of the general executive
board, and Barry had his own election in view.
At the same time Butler had made his debut in
the town of Lake politics under the guidance OF
Commissioner Buck" Mccarthy. Butler bad
been notified by Master Workman Gaunt, of the
Butchers assembly, of the existing agreement
but as has been said, he ignored it.
The butchers of Armour 81 Co were loath to
obey Buffers order, but the presence of Barry,
who was a member of the general executive
board of the order, treasured them to a certain
degree. The executive board of the local assem-
bly,, however concluded to get MIR Powderly's
views, and it sent the following telegram:
T. v. Powderly. Richmond, Va:
Has executive board of district 81 power TO repudi
ate agreement made by the executive board of local
assembly 1902 and in clause of which reads: Zone
day shall be considered sufficient time for calling
meeting of both parties of first and second parts and
no definite action shall be taken inside of three days
after such a meetinef Have they the power to call
out men governed by this schedule, without comply.
day.
To this question Mr. Powderly vouchsafed no
direct reply, but he did send, it appears,
answer to Mr. Barry, who asked the executive
board of the local assembly the following day
regarding the existence of the agreement with
the packers Mr.. Barry investigated the matter,
and found that Master Workman Butler had
made mistake Mr. Barry wanted the butch
ers to return to work, but the damage had been
DONE Mr. Butler, as usual made evasive re-
plies, being always prone to advance his own po-
ltical chances rather than the strike. Nobody
was in reality looking after the interests of the
18 500 men who had been allured into strike.
In the meantime the packers were making ex
tensive preparations for long fight The more
determined the packers showed themselves, the
mora desperate became that portion of the strik-
which hung about the yards.
When things looked bad for the men Mr..
Barry had beer reelected member of the gen.
eral executive board, and then he concluded
upon immediate steps. But here he met with
determined resistance on the part Of the packers,
who would not recede from the position taken.
On the night of Friday, Oct %, Mr.. Barry in
formed the reporters that the strike was on and
that 1T was now a question of endurance. This
was Immediately after conference with P. D.
Armour and S. W. Allerton. Mr.. Barry then
made his threat of q general boycott While he
was talking loud about extreme measures other
men were trying to heal the breach between
employers and employees. Notable among them
ElannapaD.
Church in Englewood. He sent the following to
the general master workman:
ST. AxN's CHURcH
t. v. Powderly, Richmond, Va:
In behalf Of the 90 600 employees of the Union
Stockyards and their families send this telegram to
say that something must be done and done at once
or the misery and suffering of these people must
dure in the near future will be fearful contemplate
The packers fully determined that, under cir
cumstances they afford here in Chicago to work
the eghthour-a day basis while in the rest of the
country work is done on the tenhour-aday basis
while they ready to do just the shorter
day becomes universal. that all may stand on the
same level. At the same time they are resolved to
carry their business They are importing and will
continue to import foreign workmen and unless this
disagreement be Immediately settled this immense
army of workmen, some of whom have abored here
many years, many of whom have their homes and
families here, will find themselves replaced by
others, and be taken back. You are
known all over this country a of good
judgment, cool and selfpoised and judicous every
side, and have doubt that you here or would
take this matter in hand you would settle difficulty
full of dreadful possibilities in very short time
aud settle it effectuay. In your whole life do not
think you will again have opportunity of
doing such service to vast number in this in
stance believe it is your duty to do what you can
in the interest of peace and humanity, and am
fdent you will regard it in the light 1t is for
this reason, and this lone, that speak this word
have pastor of this church and in this neghbor
hood for many years. l thoroughly conversant
with the circumstances and the condition of the great
majority of these people. clearly foreseo the power
( suffering follow,
and bloodshed that will almost certainly follow in the
wake of this strike it be permitted to drift along to
the inevitable catastrophe. P. M. FLANAGAN.
Pastor St. AIMS Church.
Fifty fifth street and Wentworth avenue Englewood,
Ill
Barry was Immediately telegraphsd to order
the men back TO work, but he did not do so until
opponents to this order were Master Workman
Butler and his immediate followers 1t is said
that he told Barry that the order to resnma