Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-12-04
A POLITICIANS TRICK.

Some Inside History OF the Recent Strike.
A Warning TO the Knights OF Labor 20
Stick TO Their Principles and beware OF
Politicians.
CHICAGO, Ill, November &c The inside
history Of the recent strike at the packing
house end the stock yards, when 10000
men were thrown out Of employment, Is
printed here this morning. When the pack
ers decided to return to the ten hour work
ing day, on October IA, the WOrkm6n, sup
posing they would be backed by the Knights
OF Labor rebelleC, and all went out except
the bsef butchers. who had a contract with
the firms OF Armour, s FifE and Marise, re
curing four days notice before the opening
of hOsuliUl 8. Despite this agreement the
beef butchers OF Armour a. Go. we're ordered
out on the following thursday, by District
Master Workman Butler, who deliberately
broke the existing contract. Thomas p.
Barry also arrived upon the scene. He
stated to a news paper reporter that be had
been instructed by Powderly 20 settle thu
difficulty, and to members of the Knights
of Labor he said that he simply had been
sent to investigate. At the same time But
Ter had made his debut In the town of Lake
politics as a labor candidate for sheriff OF
Cook county. Butler had been notified by
Master Workman Gaunt, OF the Butchers
assembly, Of the existing agreement, but he
ignored it. The butchers at Armour & 90. Is
we're 10th to obey Buffers order, but the
presence Of Barry who was member Of
the general executive committee OF the or
der assured them TO a certain degree. The
executive board of the local assembly how
ever concluded to get POWderly's views and
sent the following telegram. ''Has eZecu-
tive board district 81 power to repudiats
agreement made by executive board of lOca
ass6 mbiV 5SUzG
To this question POWderly vouch-safed no
direct reply, but did send an answer to
Barry, VINO asked the executive board OF
the local assembly the following day r5gsrd-
ing the existence of the agreement with the
HHg.H#
and found that Master Workman Butler had
mad a mistake. Barry wanted the butchers
70 return to work, but the damage had been
done. Butler made eYaslV5 replies. Nobody
was IN reality looking after the interests Of
the Is 800 men VINO had been allured into the
strike. In the meantime the packers were
making extensive preparations for a long
light. Rev. =. NJ. Flanagan, pastor of ST.
Anne church, telegraphed a long statement
of all the facts to POWderly1 declaring that
unless the men were ordered TO return TO
work, 1ncalOulable injury and misery would
result. Barry vas Immediately telegraphed
to order the men to return to work, but did
not do so until the following Sunday.
Among the violent opponents to this Orlsr
was Butler, who told Barry that the order
would cause him (BuJIeT} DOlOss 200 votes at
the coming election. Before leaving Barry
Invested Butler and the executive board of
the district of all power to create another
STRIKE 1nstltutlnR a committee to have
charge OF all matters affecting these work
men, b4L45tJ WlO5 II L5 lLalLueug saw ne
was making a losing political tight, succeed
ed in having the committee overthrow. A
committee Of twenty-five, with himself as
chairman, was appointed contrary to the
constitution of the Knights of Labor. The
cattle butchers, in returning to work, had
succeeded in having the wages increased
| from s24 to ST a week, agreeing TO work
| ten hours. On the day before election sew
sral drunken men rushed in among the
workman ordering them to quit work, and
they did so. Lhis manic mad been carefully
planned. On the following day all of those
on the strike voted for Butlsr, who later
called out ArmOur's men on Ihursday sue
/ Get ding the election. Master Workman
| Gaunt protested and he and two followers
were expelled from the order. Barry reap
/ peaTed on the scene and the order from
POWderly, which was suppressed for four
days, caused the ending Of the strike.