Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-11-12


Coopers. neutrality-suspicious.. 800
While all this was going on up town, and
previous to the interview between Mr.. Bar
ry and Mr.. Armour, q secret meeting was
held at the Germania Turner Hall, at which
fully 1,S00 Knights of Labor were present
The meeting had been called by Delegate
Barry, who at the meeting of last Saturday
had been given full power to act for the
men. AS the latter assembled yesterday
afternoon it was evident that surrender
was expected.
Master Workman F. NJ. Butler presided,
and Mr.. Barry addressed the meeting at
great length. He said:
This is no pleasant task for me. The
move We are about to make is an inevitable
one if we wish to preserve the organization
which 1t has taken years to form. An hon
orable retreat is better than complete de-
feat. The packers have us at disadvan-
tage. They have the hungry army of two
million idle men to draw from, and, be-
lieving that they have the right side of this
dispute, they do not hesitate to take this
terrible advantage. Moreover, we are not
fully supported by the official sentiment
of the Knights of Labor. We are con-
fronted by the recently published circular
in which he says the time for the intro
duction of the eight-hour day has not yet
arrived. There is organization yet to be
accomplished before we can march on to
certain victory. I believe firmly in the
eight-hour day-yes, I believe that the fu-
ture working day will not exceed four
hours. There is work, and hard, systematic
work, to be done before that time comes.
You are not prepared for long strike, and
any one can see that it would take months
to win this fight, if it was ever won. Many
| Of fo o,,I
would be hungry wives and children in your
families before another week passed by.
For months many have not been working
to exceed three days week, and no man
can lay up money on that system. The
wise thing to do is to make an honorable
retreat. In short time you will all be at
work. A 'scab' is not fond of good COM
pany. IA voice: we will throw them
out.l No, that is not the proper thing to
do. They will soon disappear. The
bosses do not want inefficient men. BY
returning peaceably to work you will prove
to the world that you are true Knights of
Labor. A knight of Labor does nothing
dishonorable when he obeys the command
of his superior officer"
Mr.. Barry then read formal order d.
recting the men to resume work on the ba-
sis of ten hours day, followed by another
directing the beef men to present them
selves for employment on the basis of eight
hours for days work.
There were few who considered the Or
ders premature, claiming that the defeat
was not complete and fighting chance
still remained. The chairman called for a
rising vote on the motion that vote OF
confidence be extended to MIR. Barry and
the committee having the strike in charge,
and that the order as read be obeyed.
The motion was carried without dissent
ing vote.
The men seemed glad that the strike was
ended. An occasional protest was heard
but the kicker was soon quoted. Among
the merchants on Halsted street and the
other business thoroushfares there was but
one feeling-that of satisfaction.
There were few stormy incidents in
Packingtown, in which the Pinkerton men
played an important and generally dis.
astrous part. The full force had beer
placed on duty early in the morning
The men were marched in squads to al
parts of the yards, each man being assigned
certain regular beat. No one was adj
mitted to the yard unless he could satisf,
the sentry that he had legitimate business
there. Many OF the strikers managed
however, to gain entrance, and in severa
cases serious collisions between them ant
the guards were imminent.