Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-27
BUTLER.
INSIDE HISTORY OF THE LATE STOCK
YARDS STRIRE.
How The Order Of Grand kaa9 Workman Puwd6ly
Was Suppressed br The furthxancs Of District
Master Workman Buffers Political
Schsme-A Lesson 10 Knights.

CHICAGO, November 26.-The inside
history Of the recent strike in the packing
houses at the Stock Yards, when twenty
thousand men were, thrown out Of en-
ployment is printed here to-day. When
the packers decided to return to the ten
hour working day on October II, tho
workmen supposing that they would DO
backed by the Knights Of Labor, rebelled
and sll went out except the beef butch.
ers, who had contract with the firm Of
Armour, Swift and Morris, requiring
four days notice before opening hostili-
ties Despite this agreement the beef
butchers of Armour * Co. were ordered
out ON the following Thursday BY District
Master Workman Butler, who deliberately
broke the existing contract. Then Barry
arrived upon the scene. He stated to
newspaper reporters that he had been in
structed by Powderly To settle the difficult
ty; and to members OF the knights OF
Labor he said he had simply been sent to
investigate At the same time Butler had
made his debut in the town Of Lake
politics rs labor candidate for Sheriff Of
Cook county. Butler had been notified by
Master Workman Gaunt, Of the Butcher
Assembly, OF the existing agreement, and
as has been said, he ignored IL
THE BUTCHERS APPEAL TO POwDERLY.
The butchers of Armour 4 Co. were loath
TO obey Buffers order, but the presence Of
H. . Of Sh.
Executive Board Of the Order, treasured
them TO q certain degree. The Executive
Board Of the Local Assembly, however,
concluded to get Mr.. Powderly's views,
and it sent the following telegram:
T. J. Porderiy, RichmoaS, Va:
Has Executive Board Of District 81
power 10 repudiate agreements made by
the Executive Board Of Local Assembly
1902 and in clause Of which reads: n
day shall he considered sufficient time for
calling meeting Of both parties Of first
and second parts, and no definite action
shall be taken inside Of three days nfter
such meeting" Have they power TO
call out men governed by this schedule,
without complying with this clause, that
are working eight hours o day.
To this question Mr. Powderly vouch-
saied no direct reply. but he did send an
answer to Mr.. Harry, who asked the En-
ecutive Board of the Local Assembly the
following day regarding the existence of
the agreement with the packers. Harry
investigated the matter, and found that
Master Workman Butler had made mis-
take. Barry wanted the butchers 10 re-
turn to work, but the damage had been
done. Butler made evasiye replies. No
body was in reality looking after the In
teTests Of the men who had becn lured
into strike In the meantime the packers
were making extensive preparations for
long fight.
BrTLER's SCHEME EXPOSED.
Rev. J.. NJ. Flanagan, pastor Of IT.
AIMS Church, tclegraphcd long state
ment OF all the facts Ia powdefly, dcclAr-
ing that unless the men were ordered
To return 10 work incalculablc injury and
misery would result. barry was immedi-
ately tslsgrsphed 10 onler the men 10 re-
turn TO work, but did not do No until the
following Sunday. Among the violent
opponents to this order was Butler, who
told Barry that the order would cause him
(ButIer) 10 lose two thousand votes at the
approaching election. Before leaving.
Barry divested Butler and the Executive
Board of the district Of all power 70 start
another strike, instituting committee 10
have charge of all matters affecting thass
workmen. Butler, who, II is claimed,
saw he was making losing political hght
succeeded in having the COMMITTEES of Ave
overthrown and committee Of twenty
three, with himself ~ chairman, appoint
ed, contrary 10 the Constitution Of tho
Knights Of Labor.
The cattle butchers in returning 10 work
had succeeded in having their wages In
creased from S2i 10 81 a week, agreeing 10
work ten hours. On the day before elec.
ton several drunken men rushed upon the
workmen at Swilt's house, ordering them
to quit work, and they did NJ. This panic
had been carefully planned. On the fol-
lowing day all tho@e on strike voted for
Butler. The latter called out Armour's
men on the Thursday succeeding the cleo
tion. Master Workman Gaunt protested,
and he and two followers were expelled
from the order. Barry reappeared on ths
scene, and the order from Powderly, which
was Suppressed for four days, caused tho
ending Of the strike.