The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-11-27
THE CHICAGO STRIKE.
Interesting Story of Its inception,
Progress and Termination.

CHICAGO, Nov. 26.-The inside history of the
recent strike at the packing houses at the Union
Stock Yards, where 10000 men were thrown out
of employment, Is printed here this morning.
When the packers decided to return to the ten
hour working day IN October IA, the workmen,
supposing THAT they would be backed by the
Knights Of Labor. rehelled, and all went out ex-
cept the beef butchers, who had contract with
the firms of Armour, Swift and Norris requiring
four days notice before opening hostilities. De.
spite this agreement, the beef butchers of Ar
mour & Company wers oroered out on the follow
ing Thursday by District Master Workman But
ler who deliberately broke the existing contract.
I. p. Barry also arrived upon the scene. He
stated to newspaper reporters that he had been
instructed by Mr. Powderly to settle the difficulty,
and to members of the knights Of Labor he said
that he had simply been sent TO investigate. AT
the same time Butler had made his debut IN the
town of Lake politics candidate for Sheriff OF
Cook county Butler had 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 & Co. were
10th TO obey Buffers order, but the presence of
Barry, who was a member Of the General Execu-
tive Board of the order. reassured them to a GER
tain degree. The Executive Board Of the Local
Assembly, however concluded to get Mr.. Powder
ly's views, and it sent the following telegram:
r. Y. Polrderlv, Richmond, "a:
Has Executive Board of District 81 power to
repudate agreement made by the Executive
Board of Local Assembly 1902 and in clause Of
which reads: zone day shall be considered suffi-
cient time for calling meeting of both parties Of
the first and secoad parts and no def;
three days after such meeting? Have they
power to call out men governed by this schedule
without complying with this clause that are work
TO this question MI Powderly vouchsafed no
direct reply, but he did send an answer to Mr..
Barry who asked the Executive Board Of the Lo-
cal Assembly the following day regarding the ex-
istence of the agreement with the packers. Barry
investigated the matter and found that Master
Workman Butler had made a mistake. Barry
wanted the butchers to return to work, but the
damage had been done Butler made evasive re-
plies Nobody was va IN IN reality looking after the
into a strike. In the meantime the pack
ers were making extensive preparations for
a long fight. Rev. P. M. Ffonnagan pastor
OF st. AIMS Church, tsegraphed long statement
of all the facts to Mr. Powderly, declaring that
unless the men were ordered TO return to work in
calculable injury and misery would result. Barry
was Immediately telegraphed to order the men to
return to work. but did not do so until the follow
ing Sunday. Among the violent opponents to this
order was Butler, who told Barry that the order
would cause him. (Butler) to loose 1000 votes at
the approaching election. Before leav-
g Barry hoard 6vesed st The ssrct Of and the
er to create another strike, institutng a
committee to have charge of all matters affecting
he was making a. losing political fight,
succeeded in having the committee of five overt
thrown and committee Of % with himself
asehairman, appointed, contrary to the constitu-
tiOn of the Knights of Labor. The cattle butchers
in returning to work had succeeded in having
their wages increased from S24 to s27 week,
agreeing to work ten hours. On the day before
election several drunken men rushed among the
worknen az Swift's house. ordering them to quit
work, and they did so. This panic had been care
fully planned On the following day all those on
strike voted for Butler. The latter called out
Armonr's men on the Thursday succeeding the
election. Master Workman Gaunt protested, and
he and two followers were. expelled from the
order. Barry reappeared on the scene and the
order from Powderly. which was suppressed for
four days, caused the ending of the strike.