The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-10-22
THE PACKERS WIN.

Chicago Stock Yards Employees Surrender
observation-disclosures Eight-Hour System
Abandoned-The New Men to BE Re
tanned.
CHICAGO, Oct. 19.-The great strike at the
Stock Yards was brought to an abrupt
close yesterday afternoon, when the
strikers resolved to give up the fight for the
eight-hour day and accept the terms pro-
posed by the packers. This decision was
reached at mass meeting held in Germania
Hall, On Thirty-fourth place, late in
the afternoon. At first majority of
the men were inclined to rebel
against the proposition, after Mr.. Barry
had stated it, and many of them appealed
to their companions not to consider any
thing but the eight-hour-day plan, even if
by doing so they would have to remain idle
for an indefinite time. Mr.. Barry then
gave the strikers his reasons for ordering
them to return to work and the
packers terms. He pointed at the
fact that the latter have prepared
to fill the deserted packing houses
and run them under armed protection if
the strikers did not take immediate steps
to bring the trouble to an end. The new
men would soon become adopts at the bust
ness, and then the strikers would be
crowded out altogether, for the pack
ers would have to stand by the
men who had stood by them, at
any cost. Other speakers followed, among
them several strikers, who supported Mr..
Barry's argument with such strong argu-
ments Of their own that the meeting voted
unanimously to return to work to-day
making the single condition, however, that
Arm0ur's beef packers shall work only
eight hours as long as Morris and Swift
maintained that rule for their men.
Mr.. Barry went at once to the Office of P.
d. Armour & Co. and stated to the head Of
the firm the result of the meeting, and
asked Mr.. Armour if it was satisfactory to
him. The packer replied that it was; that
his old employees, or as many of them as
can be provided with situations, would be
taken back upon making application to
their respective foremen. He said, how
ever, that the men who have been brought
to the houses from cities to take the places
of the strikers will be retained as long as
they prove to be efficient workmen.
Mr.. Armour also agreed to continue the
eight-hour system for his beef butchers
as long as Morris and Swift do the same
for theirs. This was exactly the sort
of reception Barry expected at
the hands of the great packer, and he
was not disappointed when his re-
quest for the dismissal of the new men
was peremptorily refused. He then vis7
tied the Offices Of S. A. Kent, S. W. Aller-
ton Hately Bros, Fowler Bros. and Charles
Bosworth, and received from each of them
assurances that they would re-employ the
strikers as fast as they applied for their
old places. All of the packers protested
to be delighted at the action Of the strikers.
Several days will probably elapse before
the packing industry will have revived to
its old-time standard, and before the 1900
strikers can be all re-employed, because it
will take time to bring enough hogs to the
yards to get all the houses fairly started.
Thus closes a most remarkable strike.
Fifteen thousand men, comprising elements
Of all kinds, have been out of work nearly
two weeks, endeavoring to force their en-
ployers, by remaining away from their
posts, to recognize eight hours as a work
ingday. During the whole time they have
deported themselves as quietly and respect
ably as any large body of men could be ex-
pected to deport themselves