The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-26
ULTIMATUM TO EMPLOYEES
KINGAN q CO. REFUSE TO GRANT
INCREASE IN FACE OF STRIKE.
Considerable Excitement Caused at
the Plant When Notice Was Read
Strike In Not Probable.

At noon yesterday Kingan & Co. made
clear it's position regarding the demands Of
the meat cutters employed in it's plant by
Issuing general notice to their men, re-
fusing to grant an increase in wages. in
the face OF a threatened strike. The
notice was posted yesterday In all de-
partmen.s OF the plant where the men
could read 1t as they passed out TO their
dinners.
The ultimatum states IN full the position
OF the employers In refusing to grant any
Of the demands of the butchers, saying that
the company has always endeavored to
treat its employees with fairness and con-
sideration and that the wages now paid
the men are higher than at any period in
the history OF the company. The ultimatum
was reached yesterday morning at a con-
ference Of the officials OF Kingan & CO.
Considerable excitement was caused
among the men when they left work at
moon and read the notices. However, moth
Ing further than comment was made and
the men returned to work again at 1
o'clock The fact that the company has re-
fused the demands OF the butchers does not
make a strike inevitable. as the settling OF
the differences has been placed in the
hands Of International officers Homer ID.
eaton, IT is said. Is very conservative in
his actions and It II not believed he will
order a strike. It Is thought that the set
tlefaent OF the strike at Chicago will go
long ways toward keeping the local butch
ers from walking out OF the plant
COMPANY's ULTIMATUM.
The following Is the position OF Kingan
& CO., set out in the notices posted yes
terlay:
Being recently waited upon by some of
our men regarding their remuneration,
we have carefully considered their state
ments. and now in replying think it right
that all our workmen should be informed
at the same time OF our position.
This company. since it's beginning. has,
through its management, treated directly
with it's men. That its arrangements OF
wages and general treatment OF its men
has been considered fair is evidenced by
almost complete freedom from strikes over
period of more than twenty-five years.
The wages now paid, both skilled and
unskilied labor, are as high or higher than
at any previous time, and at no period
during It's existence has there been any gen.
ersl reduction OF wages.
when times were bad in other indus
tries, and a surplus OF labor anxiously
seeking employment. this company re-
tanned its old scale, and when Its own
trade was bad no attempt was made to
no opportunity for extending its depart
ments had been neglected. thus AFFORD
ing increased employment to its work
"1he management, after due considera-
ton. has decided that IL cannot at this
time, conform to this request for higher
wages. The great industries Of the country
have recently been reducing their output
and their working forces. Many men are
now seeking employment outside their own
lines OF industry. The tendency is GER
tafnly not toward higher wages and prices,
but toward lower wages and prices in all
lines OF production. including farm products
and the cost OF living must inevitably be-
come less.
Individual applications regarding either
work or pay Will always receive careful
consideration.
'-The company would therefore ask its
workmen to consider well, each man for
himself, the ultimate effect of organized
agitation upon his own employment.
''sVill any portion of our old employees
go In for a changed relationship with this
company, thereby FORGETTING their right to
Individual recognition OF services?