Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-12-04
A POLITICIANS TRICK.

Some Inside History of the Recent Strike
AWarning to the Knights of Labor to
Stick to Their Principles and Be ware OF
Politicians.
CHICAGO, ILL, November 26 The inside
history of the recent strike at the PACK ing
house end the stock yards, when 10000
men we're thrown out of employment, lis
printed here this morning. When the pack
ers decided to return to the ten-hour work.
ing day, on October IA, the workmen, SNIP
posing they would be backed by the Knight.
of Labor, rebelled, and all went out except
the beef butchers, who had q contract with
the firms OF Armour. Swift and Marise, re-
curing four days notice before the opening
of hostiliti g. Despite this agreement the
beef butchers of Armour d Go. were ordered
out Oh 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 new spaper reporter that he had
difficulty, and to members of the Knights
of Labor he said that he simply had been
cent to investigate. At the same time But
Ter had made hi- 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 & Co. g
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 certain degree. The
executive board of the local assembly how
ever concluded to get Powderly's views and
sent the following telegram. "Has execu-
tive board district 81 power to Tepudiate
agreement made by executive board of loca
assembly 1902?
To this question Powderly vouch-safed no
direct reply, but did send an answer to
Barry, who asked the executive board of
the local assembly the following day regard
ing the existence of the agreement with the
packers. Barry Investigated the matter,
and found that Master Workman Butler had
made mistake. Barry wanted the butchers
to return to work, but the damage had been
done. Butler made evasive replies. Nobody
was in reality looking after the interests of
the Is. 800 men who had been allured into the
strike. In the meantime the packers were
making extensive preparations for q long
fight. Rev. P. ". Flanagan, pastor of st.
Anne church, telegraphed a long statement
of ell the facts to Powderly, declaring that
unless the men were ordered to return to
work, incaloulable injury and misery would
result. Barry was Immediately telegraphed
10 order the men to return to work, but did
1ot do SO until the following Sunday. |
AuuOuS tao SlOicut OpP''ACAess w sAAo OIA0I |
vas Butler, who told Barry that the order |
would cause him {B1tler) to lose 200 votes at |
he coming election. Before leaving Barry
Invested Butler and the executive board of |
he district of all power to create another |
trike, institutinp a committee to have
barge of all matters affecting these work |
men. Butler, who, it is claimed, saw he |
vas making q losing political fight, succeed
d in having the committee overthrow. A
ommittee Of twenty-five, with himself as
hartman, was appointed contrary to the
constitution of the Knights of Labor. The
attle butchers, in returning to work, had
in having the wages Increased
rom $4 to $27 week, agreeing to work
IN hours. On the day before election sew
raj drunken men rushed in among the
'orkman ordering them to quit work, and
hey did 80. This panic had been carefully
tanned. On the following day all of those
q the strike voted for Butler, who later
slled out Armour's men on Thursday sue
seding the election. Master Workman
aunt protested and he and two followers
ere expelled from the order. Barry re- an
cared on the scene and the order from
owde rly, which was suppressed for TO q
avs, caused the ending of the strike.