The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-18
About 900 Men Have Been
Discharged.
Over 200 Let Out on Saturday
Night.
STRIKERS DISCREET,
Both Company and Men Are Con-
fldent of Victory.
K. B. Armour Gives a State
ment of His Views.

Kansas City, May 19.-The Armour
Packing company stilI further reduced
its force Saturday. About 200 men in
various departments were given their
time and informed that their services
We're no longer needed. In the oleo
department the men were worked un-
til o'clock at night, when they were
paid off in fun and discharged This
means that the entire force in this de-
partment has been let out
The men in the tinshop were also
worked overtime and the majority of
them were paid off in full and dis
charged. The force in the cellars was
also reduced.
The strikers and the discharged en-
plOyes are feeling confident OF VIC
tory and that at an early date. They
are certainly displaying very good
judgment in regard to their conduct.
Not an intoxicated striker has been
seen in the vicinity Of the plant ana
they are acting with credit TO them
selves.
Mr. X b. Armour, general manager
of the Armour Packing company, said
that all reports that any OF the COM
pany's goods had been returned We're
absolutely without foundation ON
the contrary he said, shipments have
continued without interruption; no out
of-town complaints have been received;
no orders have been counIermanded;
not a single step to change the manner
of shipments has been taken, but all
goods are shipped under the usual
brands. All the insinuations on those
subjects are part and parcel Of the war
to which we are being subjected. me
truth is that the hurtful consequences
of the boycott viii fall on the city at
large much more heavily than upon US.
IF trade is diverted from US to any APP
precia BILE extent, it viii be in out Out-Ot
town custom, which constitutes very
much the greater part of our business
7farar 41f ta- n
us would be to so to other cities and
not to our home competitors. The past
week shows a loss in the clearings OF
Kansas City OF a tribe over u per cent,
nearly if not all Of which is due to the
troubles that packing houses are hav-
ing with labor unions. In another week
this percentage of decrease viii PROB
ably be greater, and if the boycott sue
ceeds the falling OF VIII be disastrously
great.
My voice is always for the best
wages which can be paid without op-
Grating at loss, for instance, although
our real competitors have paid less to
fremen than we have, was willing TO
keep UP our schedule, and in the re-
cent controversy was willing to make
the further concession of eight hours
a day at 20 cents per hour, 50 as to
make sure that our employees might be
satisfied. But although the hremen
were content, I understand that other
members of their union insisted on q
strike, followed by a boycott.
This company has felt the effects of
the financial depression which has pre-
vailed during the past three years
Nevertheless it has kept its plant in OPP
Grafton and stood by its laboring force
Such a. demand as is now made would
transform our operations into a serl-
GUS annual loss. There is no reason why
we should submit to this. Certainly
such an investment as ours is emitted
to some return. Because we decline
to shoulder a loss, our business IS TO
be closed by a boycott. If the scheme
succeeds there will be most serious
loss to the other local interests which
are connected with the packing in
dustry. The loss viii be very great,
much greater than any one at first
blush would suppose.
I'VE have always made it q point to
patronize home Industries to the fullest
possible extent. We pay out for Ia Dor,
live stock, fuel, COOperage and other
items nearly 81 600 600 per month w e
are fortunate in having a sufficient
amount of products on hand to do bust
ness for several months with the aid of
q very small force. In time We may be
able to resume full operations.
Secretary August McCralth of the
American Federation of Labor has
reached Kansas City and has made
brighter the hope that the coming week
VIII see the end Of the big fight be-
tween the Armour Packing company
and organized labor. The labor lead
ers who have had charge Of the cause
of the striking dremen have repeatedly
/ asserted during the past week that they
would be willing to effect a settlement
on a fair and equitable basis. and it
was for this purpose solely that q MEM
Der Of the executive board Of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor was asked
to come to Kansas City to look into
the situation.
The Armour company has not indi-
Gated on what basis, If any, a compro-
mise may be effected. but it is the gem
eral belief that if the boycott on its
products is Withdrawn there viii be
no difficulty in agreeing on terms.