Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-27
A HEEL ON LAB0R'S NECK
MASTER WORKMAN BUTLER,s
RASCALITY EXPOSED.

EroRd Taken Out from Thousands Of
Mouths in His Effort to Secure tho
Shrievalty OF Cook COunty-CommItg
teeman Barry Put in a Bad Light ba
His TArdiness in Obeying Mr. Pow4
derly's Order.
CHICAGO, Nov. 26-The inside history
ofthe recent strike at the packing houset
at the Union stock yards, when 10000
men were thrown out of employment, IA
printed here this morning. When the
packers decided to return Co the ten hour
working day, on Oct. IA, the workmen.
supposing that they would be backed by
the knights OF Labor, rebelled aud ali
went out except the beef butchers, who
had contract with the firms OF Armous
and Swift * Morris, requiring four days
notice before opening hostilties. Despite
this agreement, the beef butchers Of
Armour 81 Co., were ordered out on the
following Thursday by District Master
Workman Butler, who deliberately broke
the existing contract. 4. z. Barry also
arrived on the scene.
DOUBLE DEALING.
He stated to new spaper reporters that
be had been instructed bv MIR. Powderly
60 settle the difficulty, and to the mem.
bers Of the Knights OF Labor he said
he bad simply been sent to Inyesti.
gate. At the same time, Mr.. Butler had
made his debut in the town OF Lake
politics as Labor candidate for Sheriff Of
Cook county. MIR. Butler had been notiI
fled by Master Workman Gaunt, Of the
Butchers Assembly, of the existing
agreement, but as has been said ha
ignored it. The butchers OF Armour q
Co. were 10th to obey Mr.. Buffers orr
der, but the presence OF Mr.. Barry, W nd
was member OF the Genera Executive
Board of the order, treasured them to 4
certain degree.
TURNING TO PowDERLY.
The Executive Board OF the local aa
sembly, however, concluded TO get Mrl
Powderly's views, and 1t sent the follow
ing telegram:
T. Y. Potodevly Richmond, Vd.:
Has the Executive Board of District No,
81 power 10 repudiate the agreement made ID
the Executive Board OF Local Assembly 7es3l
one clause OF which reads: "One day shall BID
considered sufficient time for calling a meet :
inR Of both parties OF the first and second
parts. and no detln action snail be taken
inside or three days after such meetlngYn
lave they power to call out mea governed bY
this sch dule, without complying with this
clause, thaL are working eight hours dayp
PowDERLY FAILS TO REPLY.
To this question Mr.. Powderly vouch,
safed no direct reply, but he did send an
answer TO MIR. Barry, who asked the Exc.
cutive Board OF the local assembly tn d
following day regarding the existence OF
an agreement with the packers. Mrl
Barry investigated the matter and found
that Master Workman Butler had made a
mistake. Mr.. Barry wanted tue butchers
to return to work, but the damage had
been done. Mr.. Butler made evasivs rel
plies. Nobody was In reality looking at
ter the interests of the Is. 800 men who had
been allured into the strike. In the mean
time the packers were making extensive
preparations for long fight. Rev. z. Dti
Flanagan, pastor OF st. Ann's Church,
telegraphed a long statement of all ths
facts to Mr.. Powderly, declaring that un1
less the men were ordered 10 return I'd
work incalculable injury and misery
would result.
BARRY's TARDTNEs s.
Mr.. Barry was Immediately teegraphed
10 order the men to return TO work, bus
did not do so until the following Sunday
Among the violent opponents to this ors
der was Mr.. Butler, VINO told Mr.. Barry
mat the order would cause MIN (BuLlerl
TO lose 1900 votes at the approaching
election. Before leaving Mr.. Barry di-
vested Mr.. Butler ana the Executive
Board OF the district OF all power to ores
tee TO have charge Of ali matters affecting
these workmen. MIR. Butler, who, 1t il
claimed, saw he was making losing pos
litical fight, succeeded in having the comt
mittee OF five overthrOWn and COMMITTED
Of twenty-three, with himself as chaIry
man, appointed, contrary TO the cOnstitus
ton Of tue knights OF Lanor.
IN A DEMAGoGUB's CLUTCHES.
The cattle butchers, In returning to
work, had succeeded In having their
wages increased from S24 TO $27 week,
agreeing TO work ten hours. On the day
before the,electlon several drunken meu
rushed among the wOrkmeu at Switt's
house, ordering them TO quit work, and
thev did so. Inis pauic bad been cares
fully planned. Do the following day all
those on strike voted for Mr.. Butler. Tha
latter called out ArmOur's meu ON the
Thursday succeeding the election. Mas
ter Workman Gaunt protested, and be
and two followers were expelled from tha
order. Mr.. Barry reappeared on the
scene. and the order from Mr.. P0wderly.
Whicn was suppressed Tor four days.
caused the ending OF the strike.
sUU,pp